The Route 66 Daytrip

Like most fellow Phoenicians my summer months are spent either questioning my decision to live in this brutal clime or daydreaming of another weekend getaway to San Diego.  But don't fear dear friend for as hot as our Valley is there are myriad suitable escapes just mere hours from the heat.  This new series will highlight the many great dining options that exist on the many great Arizona roadtrips.

We will start our culinary adventure by dining at some great spots while we are busy getting our kicks along the old route 66.  And for all intents and purposes that means your best eating options are either in Flagstaff or Winslow.

And this is just the beginning at the Turquoise Room

Let's fuel up our appetite and start with the most spectacular culinary mecca between Phoenix and Denver, the Turquoise Room in Winslow.  The restaurant and the La Posada Hotel, in which the restaurant is located, is in a whole other league when compared to the perfectly satisfactory but somewhat 'Americana' kitsch from the Route 66 realm. With a menu of Southwestern cuisine based on Navajo and Hopi crops, the Turquoise Room demonstrates how sophisticated and deliciously complex the local cuisine can be.

Don't quite hit the road yet as there is one more spot that is worth your stay in Winslow.  Head down the street and get some more traditional Mexican at the Casa Blanca Cafe. This place is as old as the famed road itself and serves up the great standards that we've grown to love from Sonoran and New Mexican recipes.

 Before you hop in the car and head west to Flagstaff take a stroll down town.  You will need to clear your stomach for more gastronomic adventures that lay ahead .The air may be lighter up here but the food is as ambitious and filling as anywhere else in the state.  The mascot of the local University, NAU, after all is the 'Lumber Jack' so expect to bring an appetite.

Josephine’s Modern American Bistro

One of the grand perks of visiting a college town is the great diversity of experience; this really shows in the culinary scene in Flagstaff.  This little mountain hamlet boasts some of the best Cajun, Southwestern, Italian, and modern American in the state. 

One of our favorites is the acclaimed American bistro Josephine's.  The menu is updated frequently to showcase the best produce and seafood of the season.

Flagstaff also happens to be the 'greenest' community in the state. Savor the granola and take advantage of the best sustainably grown dishes in the west.  We like how they've greened up the great American classic sandwich at Diablo Burger. The Criollo Latin Kitchen takes local to a whole new level. A few days and meals up here and you searching your closet for your old pair of Birkenstocks.  This town proves that living green is no longer a pipe-dream, it is something achievable.

A good 1-2 days are ideal to sufficiently take in the charm of the Route 66 experience in Northern Arizona.  Between these restaurants and the many local sites your itinerary will be full and your belly satisfied.  The crisp and clean mountain air is the perfect remedy for the sun drenched summer days of Phoenix.