Hungry for something sensationally seasonal? Local restaurants have diners covered with creative and craveable dishes that celebrate the unmistakable flavors of fall.
Chief among the signature ingredients this season is pumpkin.
Z’Tejas (ZTejas.com) recently debuted Pumpkin Enchiladas ($18). The recipe begins with a smoked chicken that has been cooked slowly to keep it juicy. It is mixed with freshly made pumpkin enchilada sauce, wrapped in a flour tortilla, and then smothered with additional pumpkin enchilada sauce and topped with lime-infused cream and roasted pepitas.
STK Steakhouse (STKSteakhouse.com) pairs the gorgeous orange gourd with shellfish, creating a Pumpkin Ravioli & Dungeness Crab ($59) dish with sage, butter, champagne, confit mushrooms, pecorino, a prosciutto crisp, and pine nuts.
At Snooze An A.M. Eatery (SnoozeEatery.com), nearly every section of the menu is infused with pumpkin—or its cousin, the sweet potato. There are Pumpkin Pecan Pie Pancakes ($11.25) with vanilla cream cheese, caramel sauce, and candied pecans; a Sweet Potato Veggie Smash $12.25) with avocado, asparagus, onions, and mushrooms; a Pumpkin Latte ($6.25) with house-made pumpkin syrup; and a Pumpkin Martini ($10.75) made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, pumpkin syrup, and oat milk.
Snooze is not alone in sweet pumpkin treats and drinks. Both Streets of New York (StreetsOfNewYork.com) and Kona Grill (KonaGrill.com) have seasonal desserts in a Pumpkin Mousse Cheesecake ($9) with a graham cracker crust and Pumpkin Pie ($12) with whipped cream, pepitas, caramel sauce, cinnamon, and orange zest, respectively, and Over Easy (EatAtOverEasy.com) is featuring an Iced Pumpkin Chai ($8.89) with the choice of vanilla vodka or cinnamon whiskey.
Both root vegetables and squash also shine this season. Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar (TommyBahama.com) has a mouthwatering Spaghetti Squash ($26) entree. To make, the spaghetti squash is roasted and then sauteed with organic broccoli florets, Campari tomatoes, roasted cipollini onions, roasted mushrooms, and sweet corn salsa before being deglazed with lemon Parmesan broth with garlic butter folded in. Once plated, it is topped with fresh basil chiffonade, pumpkin seed gremolata, Aleppo chilies, and freshly grated Grana Padano.
At 32 Shea (32Shea.com), the seasonal Squash Risotto With Scallops ($22) sells out almost nightly. It is a celebration of saffron- and sage-infused arborio rice, caramelized roasted butternut and acorn squash, brown butter leeks, and perfectly seared scallops.
Known for its palate-pleasing specialties that change with each season, of course, LON's at The Hermosa Inn (HermosaInn.com) has something special as well in its Warm Roasted Delicata Squash ($16), which is paired with bacon lardons, frisee, micro arugula, tart cherries, Meyer lemon Crow’s Dairy quark (a cross between yoghurt and cottage cheese), and mesquite vinaigrette made using Queen Creek Olive Oil.
And at Persepshen (PersepshenArizona.com), do not miss the Acorn Squash ($17), which is paired with za'atar spice and a Calabrian chili vinaigrette, and then finished with toasted pepitas.
Moving on to root vegetables, ZINGARA Coffee Shop, Bespoke Market and Wine Bar (ZINGARAMarket.com) features an earthy, robust dish of Roasted Beets ($13) for the season. They are paired with lemon, mint, dill, and a Middle Eastern yogurt cheese called labneh before being topped with candied walnuts, which add a delicious crunch.
And over at Arboleda (ArboledaAZ.com)? They make the rustic root drinkable with their Up-Beet ($18). This vibrant cocktail combines the sweetness of beets, the herbal notes of aloe liquor, and the richness of almond orgeat syrup with Tequila Corrido Reposado.
Prefer apples and spice this time of year?
The Sicilian Baker (TheSicilianBaker.com) just added an Apple Cinnamon Cannoli ($6 each or $35 for a six-pack) to its menu. Inside the shell, expect sweet, spiced apple cinnamon ricotta cream. Outside, the treat is topped with freshly chopped spiced apples and powdered sugar.
Famous 48 (Famous48.com) also brought back its popular Bourbon Crumble ($12.50) with warm bourbon-spiked apples spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, topped with a crispy golden crumble coating and finished with vanilla bean ice cream, a caramel drizzle, and toasty almonds. Bonus: Famous 48 also has savory fall taste buds coverage, as well, with its Skillet Cornbread ($11.50), which is paired with sides of local honey and homemade apple butter.
Both the Grey Hen Rx at Century Grand (CenturyGrandPHX.com) and B&B Cocktail Lounge (BourbonAndBones.com) are also getting into the seasonal spirit with inspired offerings. At Grey Hen Rx, guests can indulge with the Hero du Monde ($18), which is the ultimate twist on an espresso martini. It blends Hardy Legend 1863 Cognac, Plantation O.F.T.D. Blended Rum, Caffè Borghetti Espresso Liqueur, and Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur with chicory, tamarind, cacao malted milk, and a whole egg to create a silky texture. B&B boasts a warming B&B House Manhattan ($22) with Grade A maple syrup, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Cinzano 1757, and Blackstrap Bitters.
Finally, there is Francine (FrancineRestaurant.com), which boasts an assortment of filling, rustic fall offerings. Among the most popular is its Daube Provencal ($18), which is much like a beef stew, except it uses melt-in-your-mouth short ribs and is served over luscious potato gnocchi.
At Persepshen, do not miss the Acorn Squash, which is paired with za'atar spice and a Calabrian chili vinaigrette, and then finished with toasted pepitas.