Category: Date Night

Appetizer, cocktails, Date Night, Dining Out, Food Opinion, Good Food, Restaurant Review, Things-to-Do, Wine, Wine Tasting

Copper & Sage – The Restaurant Meal That Defined 2024 and Will Keep Me Coming Back in 2025

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Copper & Sage Goodyear – Dinner

I am about to share the best dining tip you will ever get. Order as many dishes as your budget allows. Share them with your party.  Trust me, you will want to savor as much as possible from Copper & Sage’s incredible menu. Here is what my friends and I ordered during our visit:

Shareables:

  • Bourbon Deviled Eggs – $9
  • Fried Green Tomatoes – $12

Main Dishes:

  • Walleye Fish & Chips – $27
  • 2 Wagyu Short Ribs with Parmesan Risotto – $39 each

Dessert:

  • Beignets – Complimentary

Side:

  • Mac & Cheese – $10

Cocktails:

  • Holy Water – $13
  • Riesling – $9
  • Strawberry Hill – $14

There were three of us in our party, and this was more than enough food for everyone to enjoy.

The Dish That Defined 2024

Hands down, the showstopper was the Wagyu Short Rib with Parmesan Risotto. This dish typically comes with grits. We noticed risotto paired with another dish on the menu. We asked if we could make the switch.  Our request was graciously granted, and it was the best decision we could have made. The tender, flavorful short rib combined with the creamy, cheesy risotto melted in our mouths. It was so good we ordered two plates of it!

Wagyu Short Rib with Parmesan Risotto

But before I get carried away with the main courses, let us talk about the appetizers.

Star-Worthy Appetizers

Fried Green Tomatoes

To date, I have only had one other fried green tomato dish that wowed me as much as this one. That was in Atlanta.  Copper & Sage has officially joined that list. Their perfectly fried green tomatoes are topped with a sprinkle of chevre cheese. A balsamic reduction ties everything together beautifully. Every bite had us saying, “Ohhh, okay! Yum.  This is amazing.”

Fried Green Tomatoes

Bourbon Deviled Eggs

I love it when restaurants elevate classic dishes, and Copper & Sage’s Bourbon Deviled Eggs did not disappoint. Instead of the usual candied bacon topping, they added bacon jam—and wow.  If the phrase “bacon jam” gives you pause, do not hesitate. It is a game-changer.

Bourbon Deviled Eggs

A Second Main Dish Worth Mentioning

The Walleye Fish & Chips was another standout.  Some might find the fish a bit crispier than expected. However, this is exactly how fried fish should be. It should be crispy, crunchy, and seasoned to perfection.  This dish could easily hold its own as a satisfying lunch option.

Walleye Fish & Chips

I almost failed to mention the side of Mac & Cheese. I would not order the mac & cheese again. It was not giving what mac & cheese was supposed to give. Copper & Sage, if you read this: more cheese and cream, and this might make my recommendations list.

Macaroni and Cheese

A Sweet Finale (Almost)

Normally, we do not have room for dessert. However, we were celebrating my friend’s birthday. Copper & Sage generously provided complimentary beignets for the table.  They had great potential, but a few weren’t fully cooked in the center. My tip? Ask for the beignets to be cooked well-done.  I will be giving them another shot on my next visit.

Beignets

Drinks to Celebrate

As part of the birthday festivities, we indulged in some delicious cocktails.  Copper & Sage has an extensive house menu and a full bar to accommodate any request.  The Holy Water and Strawberry Hill cocktails were refreshing. They were perfectly balanced. The Riesling was a light and crisp addition to the meal.

Holy Water
Strawberry Hill
Riesling

Why I Will Be Back in 2025

As soon as I got home, I told my husband that Copper & Sage was the Restaurant Meal That Defined 2024.  I am already planning a return trip.  This might even be our Valentine’s Day outing next month.

If you are in the area, do not miss out on this gem.

Location Visited:
Copper & Sage Goodyear
1975 N Globe Dr, Goodyear, AZ 85338
https://copperandsageaz.com/
#copperandsageaz

Classes, Coffee, Date Night, Food Opinion, Living, Self-Care, Things-to-Do, Travel, Tutorials, Wine, Wine Tasting

Think Wine Tasting, but with Coffee: My Experience at Press Coffee Roaster’s Interactive 101 Class

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Think Wine Tasting, but with Coffee: My Experience at Press Coffee Roaster’s Interactive 101 Class

When I signed up for Press Coffee’s 101 class, I wasn’t entirely convinced that I’d walk out a coffee aficionado. But as it turns out, I left with some serious coffee knowledge.  Everything from where coffee originates, to how it’s processed, to what it takes to get it from the farm to your cup.

I stumbled upon this class thanks to Eventbrite’s “events you might like” feature (they know me so well), and seeing Press Coffee’s name didn’t hurt.  Press Coffee is always listed as one of the valley’s premier coffee roasters.  After all, they have 12 locations around Arizona and even supply coffee to multiple retail spots across the valley.

The Scene at Press Coffee

We arrived to find Press buzzing with coffee drinkers in the front, some sipping and socializing, others laser-focused on laptops.  In the back, there’s a spacious second level for more seating, but we stayed downstairs, where three enormous coffee bean roasters sat in all their luxuriousness, along with our cozy 12-person classroom setup.  It was perfect for both tasting and learning.

Our host welcomed us with a steamy cup of Gesha coffee.  This rare, high-end coffee ($50 per cup, just FYI!) has a unique profile that’s more tea-like than coffee-like, and he wasn’t kidding.  It was a delicate, almost floral flavor, unlike anything I’d tasted in coffee form.

The Class Kicks Off

From there, we dove into the rich world of coffee.  We learned about origins, flavors, and roasting techniques.  A cool part of the tasting was letting each blend cool down a bit and then trying it again.  Who knew a little time could bring out so many different notes?

My Favorite Coffee Roast

My favorite roast was Brazil Mogiano for its boldness, but it was also subtle. I like a medium roast. Right up the middle. My husband? He was into them all!

Behind-the-Scenes of Coffee Bean Roasting

We wrapped up with a behind-the-scenes look at the roasters and even learned about the farm Press Coffee owns, which supplies their unique beans.  If you love coffee, want a fun outing with friends, or cool date idea, I can’t recommend this class enough. And yes, you even get a code for a free bag of coffee with a subscription (no pressure to keep it, but why wouldn’t you?!).

Press Coffee 101 Details, Sign-Up, and Cost

So, who’s ready to sip like a pro?

Appetizer, Best Food in Seattle, Date Night, Dining Out, Food Opinion, Seattle Eats, Things-to-Do

Seattle Eats

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Jackson’s Catfish Corner

Jackson’s Catfish Corner was recommended by someone I met online that was from the area. It was the perfect off the plane, grab something to eat meal. The catfish was seasoned well, the fries were great. If you have to choose between the sandwich and the strips, get the strips. The side sauce is A1.

This is what we ordered:
1/2 Fillet Catfish Strips with Hushpuppies – $16.99
Catfish Sandwich – $12.99
Total Bill: $31.95

Location Visited:
2218 S. Jackson Street
Seattle, WA 98144

Communion Restaurant & Bar

Let me start by saying, make sure you make a reservation well in advance. I made our reservation about 10 days ahead of time, and there was only one early 4PM dinner reservations left. We almost opted out, but decided to follow through, and I am so happy we did. Everything from the host, our waitress, to the food was AMAZING! The fried chicken was probably the best fried chicken I have ever had outside my home. I was afraid of the pork chop, but my husband said we are on vacation, let’s try new things. It was delicious. We also had hoecakes, and macaroni and cheese. I love me a hoe cake, and macaroni and cheese always rounds out this type of meal.

This is what we ordered:
Unc’s Wings – $21
Pork Chop – $42
Better Than Yo Grandma’s Mac & Cheese – $12
Sweet Potato Hoecakes – $8
Total Bill: $134.61

Location Visited:
2350 E. Union Street
Seattle, WA 98122

Biscuit Bitch

The biscuits at Biscuit Bitch were soft, fluffy, and buttery. I could not stop talking about how airy, and pillowy the biscuit was as I ate it. Even with the softness of the biscuit it did not fall apart, as we ate it.

Tip 1: Order a sandwich to eat then, and order one for later or for the following morning.

This is what we ordered:
Bitchwich Sausage – $8.50
Bitchwich Hot Link – $9.00
Total Bill: $21.83

Location Visited:
Biscuit Bitch Belltown
2303 3rd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121

Tip 2: Order ahead to cut down on your wait, and be sure to arrive at the proper location. Two locations are blocks away from each other.

Pike Place Chowder

Apparently there is a local competition about who has the best clam chowder in the Seattle area. We asked about 7-10 people, and Pike Place Chowder won, paired with their online reviews. My husband or I eat clams, but we actually thought this was pretty good. I would not choose to eat clam chowder in general, but I am with someone else who would like to make this stop, I would not mind.

This is what we ordered:
New England Clam Chowder – $15.95 (shared)
Total Bill: $17.59

Tip: Upgrade to the Sourdough Bread Bowl

Location Visited:
Pacific Place Shopping Center
600 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98101

Razzi’s Pizzeria Downtown

It was cold rainy night and we did not want to venture to far away from our hotel, and the concierge suggested Razzi’s Pizzeria. I thought it would at least be edible. Razzi’s turned out to be more than edible. If Razzi’s was in my local town, it would be on a weekly rotation. The pepperonis were so crispy and flavorful. I seen someone else order pesto on the side. I said to my husband, they must know what they’re doing, and they did! The wings were sauced great, and cooked just right. Razzi’s has a good thing going on for a quick, fast, and delicious meal. We noted Razzi’s as a spot we would come back to even if we were traveling with our kids.

This is what we ordered:
Small Pepperoni Pizza – $17.00
BBQ Wings – $21
Total Bill: $44.93

Location Visited:
Razzi’s Downtown
1314 Howell Street
Seattle, WA 98101

Tip: If you see a parking space upon approaching Razzi’s, get it. Parking spaces are far and few between.

*Beverages, tax, tip, and some items were not listed in the total bill.

Date Night, Family Travel, family-travel, inexpensive-hotels, practical-hotels, Things-to-Do, Travel, Travel with Kids

Hotel & AirBnB Recommendations

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This is a practical list of hotels or Airbnb we have stayed in with and without the kids. We would stay at each of these hotels again. I did not include any hotels that we would not stay at again.

Tip 1: When traveling with our kids, I always choose a hotel that is a suite and has complimentary breakfast.

My favorite hotel brand to stay in with the kids is Embassy Suites by Hilton, and second is Residence Inn by Marriott. When it is just my husband and me, we stay in a Hilton, Hyatt, and sometimes a Marriott.

Tip 2: Pick 2-3 hotel brands you like or love and consistently stay at those brands to accrue points to redeem for free nights.

Arizona

  • Avondale
    • Homewood Suites Avondale
    • Homewood Suites Phoenix-Avondale
  • Goodyear
  • Flagstaff
    • Embassy Suites Flagstaff
  • Phoenix (area)
    • Hampton Inn Phoenix-Biltmore
    • Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs
    • Springhill Suites Phoenix-Chandler
    • Springhill Suites Phoenix-Glendale/Peoria
  • Prescott
    • Holiday Inn Express Prescott
  • Scottsdale
    • Embassy Suites Scottsdale Resort
    • Hampton Inn Phoenix/Scottsdale
    • Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas
    • Holiday Inn & Suites Scottsdale-Old Town
    • Marriott at McDowell Mountains
    • McCormick Scottsdale Resort
    • Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas
  • Tucson
    • Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel
    • Hampon Inn Tucson-Airport
    • JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa
    • Omni Tucson National Resort

California

  • Long Beach
    • Hotel Maya a Doubletree
    • Hyatt Centric-The Pike Long Beach
  • Los Angeles (area)
    • Doubletree Los Angeles-Norwalk
    • Hampton Inn Los Angeles-Orange County-Cypress
    • Embassy Suites Arcadia/Pasadena
    • Embassy Suites Orange County-Irvine
    • Residence Corona Riverside
  • Newport Beach
    • Holiday Inn Express Newport Beach
  • Oakland
  • Ontario
    • Hyatt Place Ontario/Ranch Cucamonga
  • Redondo Beach
    • Marriott Torrance/Redondo Beach
  • San Diego
    • Comfort Inn & Suites Zoo/Sea World
    • Hampton Inn San Diego Downtown
    • Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Liberty Station
    • Hampton Inn San Diego Mission Bay
    • Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside
    • San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
    • Omni San Diego Hotel
    • Marriott Vacation Club Pulse
  • San Francisco
    • Doubletree San Francisco Airport North
  • Santa Ana
    • Doubletree Club Orange County Airport
    • Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Ana/Orange County

Florida

  • Jacksonville
    • Hampton Inn & Suites Jacksonville-Airport
  • Miami
    • Comfort Suites Miami Airport North
    • YVE Hotel Miami

Georgia

  • Atlanta
    • Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport North

Idaho

  • Sandpoint
    • Best Western Edgewater Resort

Illinois

  • Chicago
    • Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown River
  • Kentucky
    • Lexington
      • Hyatt Place Lexington

Louisiana

  • New Orleans
    • Doubletree New Orleans Airport

Montana

  • Great Falls

Nevada

  • Las Vegas
    • Boulder Station Hotel & Casino
    • Flamingo Hotel & Casino
    • Harrah’s Las Vegas
    • Palace Station Hotel & Casino
    • Sahara Las Vegas
    • Springhill Suites Las Vegas Convention Center
    • Treasure Island Hotel & Casino

North Carolina

  • Charlotte

Ohio

  • Cincinnati
    • Sonesta ES Suites – Sharonville West

Oregon

  • Portland
    • Hyatt Regency Portland at the Convention Center

Texas

  • Arlington
    • Comfort Suites Arlington – Entertainment District
  • Dallas (area)
    • Candlewood Suites DFW West-Hurst
    • Embassy Suites Dallas Lovefield
    • Townplace Suites Desoto Dallas South
  • Fort Worth
    • Homewood Suites Forth Worth Medical Center
    • Hyatt Fort Worth City View
    • Hyatt Place Fort Worth Alliance Town Center
  • Houston
    • Doubletree Hotel & Suites by the Galleria

Washington

  • Seattle
    • Hilton Garden Inn-Seattle Downtown

Canada

  • Vancouver, B.C.
    • Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown

Mexico

  • Jalisco
    • Puerto Vallarta
      • Peninsula Tower Condominiums
  • Sonora
    • Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point)
      • Las Palmas Beachfront Resort
      • Sonoran Sky Resort
Date Night, Dining Out, Food Opinion, Things-to-Do

Drunk Munk Tiki Bar & Restaurant

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Drunk Munk Tiki Bar & Restaurant

Drunk Munk Tiki Bar & Restaurant

You know when you see a mass of people waiting to be seated at a restaurant, long lines at a retail shop or anywhere, you think, whatever they are selling must be good.

This was Drunk Munk.  Twice, I had eaten at a restaurant across the street and each time I noticed the loads of people at Drunk Munk, having such a good time. I made a mental note to add Drunk Munk to my must-try list.

My husband and I finally stopped by for happy hour. This is what we had:

  • Bottle Rockets $12
  • Pork Pot Stickers $12.50
  • Spicy Teriyaki Ribs $14.50
  • Bikini Girl Cocktail $14.50
  • Flower Goddess Cocktail $12.50

I listed the regular menu pricing.  During happy hour there are select menu items half off.  Everything we ordered was on the happy hour menu. 

Although everything we had was scrumptious, I would not pay full price for anything we had.

The Bottle Rockets were the best!  Shrimp, cream cheese, scallion, wrapped in a spring roll wrapper, and fried.  The Bottle Rockets were served with sriracha and sweet chili orange sauce.  The Bottle Rockets are even worth trying to duplicate at home. 

The Pork Pot Stickers were good but nothing special.  A bag of Trader Joe’s pot stickers is comparative for much less and a larger quantity.  My family hates it when I compare dining out food costs to grocery food costs. haha

Spicy Teriyaki Ribs were tasty, tender and dipped in the standard teriyaki sauce you would find at your local Asian restaurant.  While eating the ribs, I said to my husband, it felt like it should have included a side of rice.

The cocktails!  The drinks!  The libations!  Whatever you want to call them, they are why everyone at Drunk Munk always seemed so happy and having a wonderful time. The cocktails were superb. 

My husband had the Bikini Girl cocktail, much like a Pina Colada.  I had the Flower Goddess Cocktail, mimicking a Sex on the Beach cocktail.  There was no skimping on the liquor.  I had to ask the bartender to add a little more juice to balance out the drink for me. 

So, if you are looking for great drinks, hit up Drunk Munk for cocktails, sit under the cute tiki hut outside, and order a few appetizers.

Total bill without tax and tip:
$66 regular menu price
$33 happy hour menu price

Location Visted: 
The Drunk Munk Tiki Bar & Restaurant
7133 E. Stetson Drive, Suite 1
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251