Click here to view the embedded video.

What can I say, I’m a sucker for Tostada Pizza.  For the most part I’m the first to choose a locally owned original restaurant, but sometimes you have to give in to the large eating establishments. There are SO many chain restaurants!!!  California Pizza Kitchen is one I end up at least once or twice a month.  This write up is actually two separate visits to said CPK. (within 2 weeks of each other!)

Visit #1:

There are some tasty new tid bits (called small cravings by CPK) on the menu now.  My lunch partner and I decided to be “good” this particular day so we split an order of one of these enticements. The Sweet Corn Tamale Ravioli - filled with poblano peppers and cheese, tossed in a roasted pepper cream sauce with fresh sweet white corn and fresh cilantro won over the other choices.  I must say we weren’t disappointed with our decision!  They had a little bite to them, but were tamed down with the cream sauce to make my tongue do a happy dance.

We also split the entree, as I said before we were being “good” so that meant no Tostada Pizza.  A sad day indeed, but the Asparagus & Spinach Spaghettini - A light pasta with sautéed asparagus, spinach, fresh tomatoes, basil garlic and Parmesan cheese was also quite tasty (just not a hugs pasta fan).  Upon finishing the above meal I felt like I had cheated my stomach… a trip to CPK is almost always a sure bet on Tostada Pizza smothered in Cholula, but I digress… Overall a great lunch and splitting a “small craving” and the main dish was a perfect serving!  Not too light and not too full, my weight watchers leader would have given me a Bravo star!  (Let’s forget that roasted pepper cream sauce when we tell her the story though.)

Visit #2:

Would you consider it a problem to be craving something daily for 2 weeks?  Since my first visit to CPK I craved on a daily basis the Tostada Pizza.

After attending a movie near the very CPK I went to on Visit #1 I suggested to my friends, “Why don’t we go to CPK, its so close!” My stomach had been looking for a way to justify going back there in such a short amount of time and this was the perfect in!  Oh Happy Day!!! Luckily they agreed. These, my fellow veggie friends, were in fact the very couple that had introduced me to the Tostada Pizza at CPK a few years earlier. I found this truly fitting as I wouldn’t be dealing with this addiction if it weren’t for them.

I guess you don’t really need to guess what we ordered.  Two Tostada Pizzas for the table and we were in heaven!  What is a Tostada Pizza you ask?  Southwestern black beans, sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses topped with chilled shredded lettuce, homemade roasted tomato salsa, green onions and crispy tortilla strips with our herb ranch dressing. You really should also ask for the bottle of Cholula upon ordering so you don’t waste any time once the pizza arrives at your table.  Need I say more?

There were NO leftovers…

I absolutely LOVE this place!  Word of warning though, I went on a Saturday morning so the parking situation was utter chaos, but totally worth it!  I heard that they do offer a free valet service at lunch time though and always have curbside service for pick up.  La Grande Orange is located in the Arcadia district of Phoenix.  It’s a fabulous neighborhood with adorable houses and a unique feel.

La Grande Orange is a Grocery Store, Restaurant, Bake Shop, and at 4pm it magically turns into a Pizza Parlor!  They have a wonderful menu that has many options for Vegetarians, Vegan’s and Gluten Free folks.

As stated before I was there Saturday morning so opted for something off of the breakfast selection.  My eyes and stomach wanted to order one of everything (meat free that is).

*Disclaimer – I have a strange and somewhat disturbing affinity for and obsession with crepes.  On the menu they  have Famous French Pancakes with honey, fresh fruit and creme fraiche. They were calling out to me, I had a little internal argument about trying new things and getting out of my crepe OCD  so opted for The Venice Beach Burrito – it’s a whole wheat tortilla filled with tofu “chorizo”, corn, spinach, potato, egg whites w/charred tomato salsa.  The cost was $7.50 which I found to be totally reasonable for the fun atmosphere and quality ingredients.  The burrito was really fresh and completely filling.  The blend of ingredients was really quite good with a wonderful consistency.  There was a sweet taste while eating it that I wasn’t expecting, I’m not sure if it was the corn or the whole wheat tortilla.  The charred tomato salsa balanced the sweetness and made it perfect!  

I must say I should have ordered the crepes as well.  I was coveting my table neighbors plate of them, so decided to strike up a conversation with her about said Famous French Pancakes when she caught me staring at her half eaten plate while waiting for my own breakfast.  She was really understanding and did a wonderful job making me feel less weird about the whole thing.  I will definitely be ordering the crepes on my next visit and most likely ordering a Venice Beach Burrito to bring for a snack in between breakfast and lunch.  :)

I had a Soy, Adam’s Chai Latte to drink that was exceptional. (I’m a self proclaimed Chai Late connoisseur) and it was ready in record time.  They make the Chai there themselves!  The cup it was served in caught my attention so much that I rinsed it out and brought it home!  It’s a paper cup (made of recycled fibers) that is constructed so that you don’t have to have a sleeve to hold it without your hands burning, hence less paper waste.  I don’t normally like to use paper or plastic cups, but was without my mug this time and broke down.

My breakfast partner ordered a Famous English Muffin with LGO preserves.  I didn’t realize it, but LGO makes their own English Muffins that are HUGE and apparently quite sought after.  I didn’t get to eat any of it there, but my friend said it was wonderful.  It looked really fresh and tasty.  They sell them in the grocery portion of the locale and I would highly recommend picking up a bag while you are there!

Eating at La Grande Orange is an experience everyone should have.  The food is amazing, atmosphere is fun and eccentric and the people watching is fabulous.  It will be a destination location for me as much as possible.  There are many things on the menu I NEED to eat and can’t wait to try the pizza after 4pm!

La Grande Orange – 4410 N. 40th St. – Phoenix, AZ 85018

I’m not a professional foodie and I don’t know how food should be prepared or taste.  I just LOVE eating and enjoy the entire process thoroughly!  That being said the first restaurant I wanted to write about is Sultan Palace Afghan Restaurant in Tucson, AZ.  WOW!  As a Vegetarian it can be difficult to find places to eat out and have a lot of variety. I have come to love eating in Tucson though because there are SO many options!  At the top of my list is Sultan Palace!

To start we had Pakawra, thin layers of potatoes covered in a light batter & deep fried (I have also seen these as eggplant). They were AMAZING to say the least, there was a chutney sauce to dip them in and I kept what was left of the sauce to slather on something in the future and/or take intravenously.

The main entrees come with a garden salad and house dressing that was bursting with flavor!  A little spice to it which worked great to offset the flavor of the chutney with the Pakawra’s.  One of my dinner companions also ordered the Shirazi Salad, Diced tomatoes, sweet onions, cucumber and mint mixed with special dressing. I’ve decided there is a type of crack in the “special dressing” because I also wanted to shoot this directly into my veins after tasting! Disclaimer: this is odd as I’m vegetarian, but; I abhor tomatoes and onions in their raw or normal state/form, I didn’t eat them with this salad, but the cucumber and mint was exquisite!   My friend also ordered another starter, a cup of the Mashawa, Lentil soup w/beans, wheat, rice, mung beans, herbs and spices topped with a sour cream mix.  I’ve always been a fan of lentil soup, but Mashawa is like no lentil soup I’ve had before, it’s on a whole new level and is a must have every time I visit Sultan Palace from now on!  (Said friend was gracious enough to share a taste, but was concerned after seeing the look in my eyes after one bite)

On to the main course, I had Chalaw, a bed or white basmati rice served with two side dishes of my choice.  I chose Mixed Vegetables, carrots, green beans, zucchini, peas and cauliflower cooked in tomato sauce and spices and Kadu Buranee, pumpkin cooked with tomatoes, onion and spices; topped with a sour cream mix. Being of Filipino heritage anything with rice is one of my favs!  The spices in the sauce give the veggies a fabulous taste, and the pumpkin is something I think about often.  If you ever catch me day dreaming it’s a good chance I’m contemplating how to get back to Sultan Palace as soon as possible to partake in some Kadu Buranee!  I love pumpkin in all of it’s forms, but this was one of the most exciting styles I’ve tried and I was not let down!

Finished off the meal with Baklava, layers of pastry held together by sugar, honey and nuts.  I eat Baklava as often as I can, I’m not a self claimed connoisseur, but have eaten enough to say this one is by far the best I’ve had!

I would HIGHLY recommend visiting Sultan Palace if you are looking to try something new that won’t let you down. There are LOTS of options for the carnivores as well, (more than for the veggies, but the veggie options are superb).  You and anyone you go with will not be let down!

Sultan Palace – 943 E. University Blvd. – Tucson, AZ 85719

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnahLGcYhA4

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.