No tears at Beckett's Table

 After a day of antiquing (god I'm getting old) with my mom, we decided that eating at where my boyfriend cooks would be the best way to have our momma daughter dinner date and for once not cry. My mom and I have this thing that every time we eat out together, we talk about sensitive subjects (i.e. people that have died, our goals, our life direction, shaving etc). Given that we have close to an hour or two these topics tend to get deep and have meaning, therefor causing our emotions to sky rocket whilst our palettes are being wrapped in flavors probably assisting to said tears.

The service was outstanding but I'm one of those diners that doesn't need the constant reassurance that my water still feels cold. In fact, I find it slightly annoying when I can't see how much water of this glass I did drink because it is already filled up before I can swallow the first gulp..this is just my own awkwardness of dining. I also like to talk. A lot. I usually only get to feel like the conversation is going somewhere when dining or driving long distances. Yet, another reason why you can keep your stellar service to a minimum at my table.

 We started with a few cocktails before even looking at the food, a usual appetizer for our evening..perhaps why the crying happens..I just had an epiphany. Anyway, I got the AZ Farmhand: Gin, Honey and Ginger were the main ingredients I recall. My mom got the Palmaire and I have no idea what was in hers but both cocktails were delicious.

 Since we both take delight in a variety of foods and my mom is a pescatarian and I'm really picky, we split the Grilled Cheese with Roasted Red Pepper Soup (sans Pancetta) and the Shrimp Enchiladas. The flavors were incredible. Instead of spooning the soup in our drooling mouths, we just dunked the grilled cheese in it as if it were a sauce made for dipping. The enchiladas had the perfect amount of red sauce, which by the way I have never enjoyed as a topping of my Mexican food. It was a treat to taste a good red sauce and a true first attempt at willingly trying it.

 With our bellies contently satisfied, our cocktails empty and a successful non-tear meal thus far, we decided to continue on, safely adding another cocktail and the sharing of 2 desserts. I got a Pimm's and we chose the Creme Brulee and soon to be famous (if not already) Pecan Fig Pie. The Pimm's was refreshing and I can proudly claim it as my new favorite cocktail with its muddled cucumber and airy summer taste.

 The desserts came and to put it bluntly/for lack of a better word, I'm stubborn. For the majority of my life if I tried something once and didn't like it or how it was cooked or what it was cooked with..I NEVER ate it again or claimed I was allergic to it. Sometime..somehow..in the last year, I have begun lifting that stubborness and taking the rules out of my food consumption. I had Creme Brulee, I believe at a place similar to Sizzler or Fudd Rucker's when I was a young with a naive palette. I despised it and swore it off for all eternity..until Beckett's. I am ashamed for having passed up such beauty to treat my tastebuds with. I loved it, infact I'm craving it right now as I am remembering the fresh berries and cool custard. The Pecan Fig Pie was topped with a cream cheese lemon zest ice cream I believe, which gave this slice of heaven a 10 in my book.

  Plate's cleared, mom escorted to the restroom by the waterboy, cocktail empty, belly full, 60 dollar tab and no tears.

 What an excellent meal.

Postino's

  Postino's might be THE place to get bruchetta in Phoenix. With a variety of 11-12 slabs of these delicious concoctions to choose from, I have to call out the roasted red pepper and goat cheese as my all time favorite. The patio seating at the Central location makes for great atmosphere as a relaxing and welcoming set up. I suggest setting aside a good amount of time if planning on dining here, it's definitely a place to experience the entirety of what it has to offer. Order a bottle (or 2) of wine and get your grub on.

   (Above = Top to Bottom: Tomato Jam and Sheeps Milk Cheese, Brie and Apples with Fig Spread, Ricotta with Dates and Pastachios, Roasted Red Peppers and Goat Cheese)

http://www.postinowinecafe.com/