Urge Taphouse Kitchen -- Scottsdale, AZ

Urge Taphouse Kitchen -- Scottsdale, AZ The Scottsdale Civic Center is located in the southern part of the city and backs up to an area known as Old Town Scottsdale. The grounds house lovely gardens where Kenny and Sarah Love enjoy spending time together. The Civic Center provides a whole cultural experience with eateries, a hotel, an outdoor theater, a museum, a performance hall, and a few small shops. On this particular day as we went to visit, we were greeted by the alluring aroma of the gorgeous flowers and the warmth of the mid-April sunshine. You will find beautifully manicured lawns and vegetation at the park in spring. Kenny removed his shoes and socks finding the soft, green grass to be his favorite, and took a moment to 'ground' himself.

Not long after Kenny's meditative experience, he and Sarah Love found a unique culinary shopping experience in which to engage. They meandered toward Old Town and ended up at The Spice & Tea Exchange of Scottsdale. The shop displayed a quaint hub of teas, herbs, and spices. There were countless tea leaf bins, all smelling quite different. There were spice racks that filled entire walls. And the herbs almost stretched from floor to ceiling. As they explored the merchandise, Sarah Love found one blend of spices named "Crazy Chicken Seasoning." It smelled so highly appealing, we had to buy it. Not only did they have spices and teas but there were other novelties, too. The roasted garlic linguine, an herb infused pasta, caught our eye and that went home with us as well. Although, it did not live up to expectations. The last thing we found ourselves gravitating towards was a Rosemary Basil Sea Salt. We have yet to try it, but the plan is to give it a whirl on a fresh caprese salad. The Spice & Tea Exchange of Scottsdale is a fun place to visit if you cook, enjoy new tastes, and have an extra dollar to spend. It definitely fits the bill as a specialty shop in Old Town Scottsdale.

04/13/2024

After a few hours of strolling we found a place to wet our whistle and satiate our growing appetites. The Urge Taphouse Kitchen was a few miles away and perfect for this sunny afternoon. Sarah Love and Kenny sat at their high top table deep in conversation, quite thoroughly enjoying one another's company. Out from the kitchen came the server, hastily approaching, yet politely setting the salty, twisted treat on our table. The pretzel was a light golden brown and the butter that coated the dough sizzled before the snack cooled. Decently sized, the regular braided pretzel shape was large enough for two. As we were getting ready to take a taste, we noticed a liberal amount of salt. In the first bites, we experienced a soft, doughy, and pillowy texture which was quite delicious. The taste itself was extremely reminiscent of what one would expect of a standard hard pretzel actually. Along with our delectable baked good was an accompaniment of beer cheese that was plenty thick and creamy and only added to the taste profile. This particular pretzel was extremely tasty and it is a shame that the Urge Taphouse Kitchen has closed its doors since. 4.2/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Miner's Saloon -- Golden, CO

Miners Saloon - Golden, CO

Our first day in Colorado we experienced a quiet, beautiful snow day. For breakfast Kenny, Pokey and Sarah Love decided to brave the cold on our way to the coffee joint, Devil's Cup (which has since closed). It was only down the road a few blocks but the snow was messy. The contrast between the chilly March weather outside and the warmth of the coffee shop made the place all the more welcoming. Breakfast was served, a tasty parfait for Kenny while Sarah Love enjoyed a delicious breakfast sandwich.

Once we were finished eating we trekked back through the snowy streets bound for home. The rest of the day we played games as we waited for Pokey's husband to finish his work day and join us. By that point, everyone was hungry.

Thankfully, the evening before we had stopped at the grocery store prior to the snow starting and picked up some snacks. One of our favorite dishes to delight our hosts with whenever we visit is a fresh Caprese salad. We also bought some limes to squeeze and cucumbers to muddle for a perfectly refreshing concoction which we enjoyed thoroughly.

The next day Sarah Love and Kenny ventured into the heart of Denver to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens. The grounds were blanketed with a soft, beautiful snow; the air temperature was quite chilly. Kenny took amazing photographs (as usual) that captured the essence of the botanic garden to its fullest extent.

It was unique seeing the gardens covered in snow. The beauty was not wasted on us despite the lack of fauna and foliage available to see. Due to the weather, the place seemed vacant which was especially pleasant.

In accordance with our past adventures, we knew we needed to experience another pretzel tasting. The four of us drove to Golden, Colorado to meet up with a mutual friend at the Miner's Saloon. Kenny and Sarah Love were delighted to find a pretzel on the menu.

Given it was Saint Patrick's Day, the bar truly embraced the holiday spirit. Not only did they serve the traditional green beer, the room was dominated by the green lighting that definitely did not contribute to a realistic snapshot of the pretzel. The ambience was also permeated with a very chill vibe. It literally felt like an old timey mining saloon. If you are ever in Golden, Colorado we definitely suggest you visit this establishment.

03/17/2024

Under the "First Picks" section of the menu we spotted the Jalapeño Pretzel which was served with Dijon mustard and a cheese sauce. We were immediately intrigued. We had to try it! As the treat arrived at the table we noted its deep brown color and that it was a regular shaped pretzel. Also, it had a decent amount of salt, although it was unevenly distributed. Upon biting into the baked good there was a nice crunchy crust which yielded to a soft inner dough that provided great juxtaposition. Sarah Love noted the jalapeño heat was real while Kenny seemed unscathed. The Dijon mustard went well with the bready snack and the cheese sauce was nothing shy of phenomenal! Please note, Kenny wants you to know the condiments served with the pretzel were not indeed green even though it was Saint Patty's Day and it looks like it in the picture. 3.75/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Greetings from Golden, Colorado!