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!

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