Murphy's Law Irish Pub -- Chandler, AZ

Kenny and Sarah Love decided to take a break from the busy grind of life on that Saturday, December 7th, and pay a visit to downtown Chandler for a pretzel tasting. There we embraced the fact that every town, suburb, and city has a story to tell, and the history of Chandler is one we would like to share with you.

In the year 1891, Dr. Alexander Chandler, the first veterinary surgeon for the Arizona territory, had purchased land in the Salt River Valley near Phoenix. At the time, Dr. Chandler was interested in and studied irrigation engineering techniques. This knowledge helped him to establish a system of early canals in the area; obviously, imperative for life in a parched desert! On what was originally an 18,000 acre property, he began planning to develop a townsite which became known as Chandler Ranch. The townsite office opened on May 16th, 1912, which is the official birthday of Chandler, Arizona. Over the years the city has grown and evolved to the fourth most populous municipality in Arizona and hosts some amazing eateries, breweries, and great times for all. Because of Dr. Alexander Chandler's contributions to the southwest we discovered Murphy's Law Irish Pub and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. If you wish to read a more comprehensive summary please reference below.*

Murphy's Law Irish Pub -- Downtown Chandler, AZ

12/07/2024

"Pub Pretzels"

Menu Description: Murphy’s Bavarian Style Pub Pretzel served with Grain Mustard and Murphy’s Cheese Sauce.

Hot out of the kitchen came our pretzels which resembled the shape of hot dogs or brats. The color varied a bit for each delicious looking treat but would be considered a dark to moderate deep brown overall. A buttery coating resulted in a slight shine which had caught our eye... while the salt distribution was not accounted for on each individual pretzel stick as some had more than others.

Biting into the savory snack gave way to a nice legitimate crunch with a light buttery taste. The accompanying sides were cheese dipping sauce and mustard. The thick fondue tasted like American cheese. Where the mustard was slightly sweet with a sharp zing, having a grainy texture.

These pretzels are ranked higher amongst our tastings and we were most definitely pleased.

4.75/5.00

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

*History of Chandler, Ariz.

**This post is also available on Wix.

Graveyard Post III -- Arizona and Nevada

08/25/2024 - 11/23/2024

Per the previous posts, Sarah Love's phone had been lost along with all the pretzel data from May 2024 through December 2024. Hence, everything in this Graveyard Post is solely based off pictures and memories. 08/25/2024 BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse -- Goodyear, AZ "Big Twist Pretzel with Beer Cheese" Menu Description: Pizza-oven-baked pretzel | pretzel salt | side of BJ's Brewhouse Blonde beer cheese + honey dijon mustard for dipping BJ's pretzel was very large in size. It came out of the kitchen hanging by a thread, a bit broken, kind of like how Kenny and Sarah Love felt about the pretzel data being lost. The treat was pale, light beige in color and sported an adequate amount of butter and salt.

09/02/2024 Arizona Wilderness DTPHX -- Roosevelt Row, Phoenix, AZ "The Regen Pretzel" Menu Description: Regenerative organic certified pretzel made with white Sonora Wheat from Oatman Farms served w/ Wilderness beer cheese*** and beer mustard ***contains bacon $12.00 Though Kenny and Sarah Love do not recall the actual rating of this pretzel they know they have to go back and do another review. The deep mahogany brown, plentifully salted snack, was delicious. Perhaps it was the bacon beer cheese. From what we remember, the pretzel was pretty darn tasty.

10/06/2024 The Beast -- Las Vegas, NV "Bavarian Pretzel" Menu Description: Salted Bavarian Pretzel, Served with Nacho Cheese and Creamy Grain Mustard $15.00 Kenny and Sarah Love had the pleasure of welcoming a very good friend to join us on this pretzel tasting. We had the opportunity to visit her home town of Vegas and during our adventuring we happened upon a pretzel to continue our tasting tradition. This snack was also served hanging on a rack. It was extremely large in size, providing an ample amount of appetizer to adequately feed three. The color was brown and the baked pretzel was coated in an abundant amount of salt.

11/23/2024 Papago Brewing Company -- Phoenix, AZ "2 Rustic Soft Pretzels" Menu Description: with deli mustard; add cactus valley beer cheese $10.90 (beer cheese +$3.00) Fortunately, Kenny and Sarah Love had the chance to visit Papago prior to them being permanently closed. Their pretzels were absurdly triangle in shape, nothing like we have seen before. There was a light sprinkling of salt decorating the medium brown, baked good.

Thank you for sticking with Kenny and Sarah Love over these last three posts, lovingly known as the Graveyard Trilogy. We will be returning to our normally scheduled program starting next month! Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Happy National Pretzel Day!

04/26/2026

Happy National Pretzel Day! Here's a short and sweet bonus post for you.

Greetings from The Salted Knot in Mesa, Arizona.

Kenny and Sarah Love wanted to wish you happy tastings and tidings on this special day celebrating our favorite salted snack. Although this blog started off as a joke and Simpsons' reference, it has evolved into a full-time hobby which we thoroughly enjoy.

Today we visited one of the most spectacular (if not the only) local pretzel bakery in the area, The Salted Knot. Their selection of breaded baked treats is nothing short of exemplarily. The menu ranges from sweet to savory pleasing every taste and desire imaginable. Patrons can choose from the classic "Butter and Salted Knot" or if they're feeling a bit more adventurous, maybe the "Garlic Parmesan Knot" or "Jalapeño Cheddar Knot". And if it is something sweet you're craving, the "Sweet Knot" covered with cinnamon sugar does not disappoint.

On this most auspicious of occasions, National Pretzel Day, Sarah Love and Kenny received a free "Butter and Salted Knot" pretzel with their purchase of the "Pretzel Dog" and "Pepperoni Pizza Knot". They were all equally mouthwatering!

Unfortunately, this will be our last visit to this much esteemed pretzel bakery as they are closing their doors permanently on May 31st, 2026. The amazing couple that run this establishment are moving in a new direction to explore other creative facets. Their pretzel shop will be dearly missed. If you have a chance to visit before they say goodbye we do highly recommend stopping by for a final delicious treat.

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Tombstone Brewing Company -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ

 05/11/2024 Sarah Love and Kenny still had some time to kill prior to the opening of the PHX Vintage Market at the Brewery which had unexpectedly been pushed back from the 12 o'clock hour to 4:00 PM. As they sat at the bar in the PHX Beer Co. the idea had been hatched to find another nearby brewery and experience a second pretzel tasting. Kenny and Sarah Love set off exploring for an additional venue. A location nearby in Phoenix was the obvious choice since they were already in the vicinity. After a brief search they had decided upon the Tombstone Brewing Company in Arcadia. From the PHX Beer Co., Sarah Love and Kenny hopped in a Lyft and headed to the brewing company for their additional tasty treat. This location was tucked away near a shopping center off 40th and Thomas. While the brewery is in an area of Phoenix known as Arcadia, their first establishment originated in the famous, or infamous, Tombstone, Arizona. You may recognize the name Tombstone as being associated with the stereotypical "wild west" motif. Located in southeastern Arizona, and what was once home to US Marshall Wyatt Earp, there are a plethora of unique stories about this quaint town and his time served there. The area also hosted the well known gunfight at the O.K. Corral between noble lawmen of the southwest consisting of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the brothers Virgil & Morgan Earp and a band of outlaw cowboys. In a nutshell, ironically the gunfight was a brief 30-second shootout over enforcing gun laws leaving three of the lawmen wounded and three cowboys dead. Now, the gunfight is an everlasting symbol of the lawlessness of the old west and a strong juxtaposition between order and chaos.

Meanwhile back in Arcadia, Kenny and Sarah Love sat down in the relaxed open spaced brewery to enjoy their second pretzel tasting of the day. The server was very positive and highly attentive which is always welcomed during any dining experience.
Tombstone Brewing Company -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ “Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel” Menu Description: House made beer cheese.

Upon reception of their salted, twisted treat, Sarah Love and Kenny noted the gargantuan pretzel was light brown in color and had a visual appeal that was reminiscent of Snyder's of Hanover's Braided Twists. The buttery snack glistened under the bar lights with a seemingly perfect salt ratio. The tasting went well. The pretzel had a doughy texture that paired well with the house made beer cheese, resembling a light queso with a slight hint of spice. In addition, the simplicity of the yellow mustard provided an excellent complement. 3.0/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

The Perch Brewery -- Chandler, AZ

The Perch Brewery -- Chandler, AZ

Sarah Love and Kenny took a casual Sunday drive into downtown Chandler. It was a little bit of a hike from their standard stomping grounds; they usually frequent places around Phoenix. Chandler is home to a variety of dining establishments, including a few breweries. One brewery in particular had piqued our interest as it houses a gigantic enclosure holding a small variety of exotic rescue birds. Kenny parked in the parking lot caddy-corner for easy access to the destination. Then we set off.

Kenny and Sarah Love arrived at peak lunch time hours on a Sunday and had to wait for a little while. There were naughty children outside waiting for their own family's table which was quite vexing. When it was our turn to be seated we found ourselves in an open air dining area. The beautiful and spacious outdoor patio was perfectly suited for the April weather.

The bird sanctuary next to us was large and displayed many different, unique birds. Each bird is a rescued pet; they had been unwanted, neglected, abused and abandoned and the Perch decided to make it their mission to give them a good home. To ensure their safety, the birds are not sold, bought or bred.*

There was a chill vibe to the restaurant. The venue contains an outside, inside, and upstairs portion but Kenny and Sarah Love decided they weren't necessarily in an exploring mood. Instead they sat and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside. In the bathrooms, there were colorful flyers advertising fun events. It would be a great place to visit during the week, both for some entertainment and to hang out with the birds. Unfortunately, it is too far for Kenny and Sarah Love to make the trek during the week.

On an ironic note, The Perch Brewery does serve buffalo wings just in case you were morbidly curious.

04/14/2024

The birds were quite loud as we sat waiting for our food. Soon the waitress, who was very pleasant, brought out our pretzel. The snack was toasted brown and smelled of butter. There were odd visual textures. The lightly coated salt was interestingly enough flaky. There were bubbles baked into the pretzel's crust which are supposedly called microblisters - sounds appetizing, doesn't it? The shape was normal and the size was enough for two as an appetizer. As we bit into the treat there was a light and airy feel. The taste was decent. Accompanying the pretzel was a thin beer cheese with a tiny kick of spice. Not too impressed, but not disappointed, Kenny and Sarah Love enjoyed the treat and were excited to have another pretzel tasting under their belt.

3.25/5.00

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

*The Perch Brewery - Meet the Birds!

State 48 Funk House Brewery - Westgate Entertainment District -- Glendale, AZ

This day our pretzel tasting experience was at State 48 Funk House Brewery
located in the Westgate Entertainment District. It was Sarah Love's friend's 30th birthday party with many unique people in attendance. Attached to the brewery was a typical bowling alley where we spent our time trying to bowl a decent scoring game.

The Funk House is a large venue that has a decent sized food and drink menu. The attached bowling alley accommodates traditional & glow-bowl games, billiards, and shuffle board as well. While perusing the menu's Small Plate selections, the pretzel of course, caught our eye and we had to give it a taste in between our ten-pin game.

November 19, 2022

Fresh out of the kitchen came the salted, tasty treats which were served on a culinary

board. The number '48' was written in mustard in the upper right corner. The three baked pretzels were shaped in the fashion of long, skinny logs; the color was a light golden brown. Our thought on the amount of salt was just shy of perfection.

Upon tasting, they had a crunchy exterior with a complementary soft, moist interior that completed the baked goods perfectly. Accompanying the pretzels was a cheese fondue that packed a bit of a bite.

3.5/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Ric’s On 95th Sports Grill FKA The Nest -- Glendale, AZ

The Nest is one of Sarah Love's favorites; she just feels at home there. It has since been renamed to 'Ric’s On 95th Sports Grill' and they revamped the joint so it is definitely less dive than before. The Nest has always been an amazing place to just go chill or catch a football game. Although they fixed it up so it's a little fancier, it still has the same great food and drinks.

On this particular Sunday, Kenny and Sarah Love were at the Nest sitting outside watching football. Commandeering two TVs to be exact in order to watch Sarah's favorites - the Bills and the Eagles, of course!

Sarah Love was extremely excited to share this special place with Kenny. And of course, we had to try the pretzel menu option.

October 2nd, 2022

Out from the kitchen came four mini 'loaves' of pretzels, not bread. Each fried mini-loaf was about four inches long. There was a nice crisp to the outside. The color was golden brown and it tasted a little buttery, though not overly so. The salt was light and evenly distributed.

The spicy nacho cheese was a great addition.

4.0/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Hotel Valley Ho -- Scottsdale, AZ

First, we apologize for our absence and thank you for your patience.  Due to a myriad of reasons, Kenny and Sarah Love have decided to update our pretzel blog posts every month instead of bi-weekly.

Here's the next post for your reading pleasure.

On a random weekday, specifically Thursday, July 14th, 2022, Kenny and Sarah Love experienced the most interesting of tastings to date. We walked into a room with vintage decorum and a shabby chic feel. After we sat on the high stools at the bar top we were greeted by a bartender and procured a menu. 

The whole place had a 1950's atmosphere. Exploring the hotel was an appealing thought, but we were not guests, so we didn't.  Luckily, we did not have to be guests to experience our first official, "unofficial" pretzel review at ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho.

July 14, 2022

Hotel Valley Ho -- Scottsdale, AZ

GARLIC PRETZEL BOMB! (Yes, it was legitimately capitalized.) The lightly salted cream puff shaped pretzel was stuffed with garlic and mascarpone.

It was like a personal pan sized pizza but out came a hot a magnificent pretzel instead.

For the actual pretzel part, the nice crunch of the baked outside made way for a moist, soft and chewy (though not too chewy) inside. It felt different chewing the treat because of the stuffing, but it was just part of the deliciousness.

We were very impressed. Instead of a regular old pretzel we were presented with a nontraditional, culinary masterpiece; it was quite the unique snacking experience and one that spoiled us for sure!

Sadly, it appears they no longer have this exact item on the menu. It is a travesty for all those that did not get to experience it!

5.0/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company -- Goodyear, AZ

We started off our Saturday in the west side of the valley exploring one of our favorite antique malls, the Brass Armadillo. The mall sells an eclectic variety of old timey items and is a pure joy to visit and explore. We have found wares ranging from wall art, to toys and collectables, to jewelry, movies, books, clothing, and particularly hats, which are Sarah's favorites! There is something for everyone at this establishment.

The Brass Armadillo is great for spending an afternoon in a cooler, indoor environment. Especially in mid-May Arizona, when it is warming up prior to the extreme summer heat. After working up a bit of an appetite, we decided to pay a visit to a local brewery and had the experience of a lifetime.

We landed at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, around dinner time and were seated outside near a wall covered in ivy. The ambience was pretty chill, and our server was extremely personable. He answered questions about the beer menu for us and even made a few drink recommendations to quench our thirst. Of course, we immediately scouted out the menu for a pretzel and were delighted to see there was one! It was here we had the privilege of tasting our highest rated pretzel to date!

So without further ado, let us dive into the review.

May 14, 2022

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company -- Goodyear, AZ

Never have we ever tasted anything like this since starting our pretzel tasting reviews. The delectable appetizer was caramel brown in color and seasoned with a plentiful amount of salt. It had the exact shape of a heart with two twists joining in the center. (Sarah Love related to the heart shape in her own sort of way.)

As we tasted the braided, twisted treat, we noted that the exterior had a nice crunch which was complemented by a light and fluffy interior. The pretzel was warm and savory which went well with the side of creamy beer cheese, and as far as we could tell, sweet horseradish ground mustard.

Although we are passionate about all our pretzels this particular pretzel was hands-down, one-hundred percent stellar!

5.0/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love