Mountain Oasis is a Comfy Stop in Flagstaff.

Mountain Oasis International Restaurant

11 East Aspen Street
Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001

Phone: (928) 214-9270      

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MountainOasisFlagstaff/











It was a cold day with light snow when we ended up at Mountain Oasis; a kind of happy accident, since we didn't know what we wanted to eat for lunch.  As we walked from eatery to eatery, reading the menus posted in the windows, we only became more confused on which one to choose.  Then we happened upon Mountain Oasis, spotted "Gyro" on the menu, and knew this was the one.  Upon entering, you are immediately hit with the cozy atmosphere, greeted in a friendly manner, and given time to read the menu and take in all the décor.  This bistro, as it portrays this term perfectly, is about 14 years old; it reminded us of a favorite bistro in Cortez, CO we like to go to, but on a smaller scale.

Our waitress was named Grace which seemed so perfect for her; she so reminded us of the actress, Bailee Madison who plays Grace on "Good Witch", the TV series.  She was very sweet, but also knowledgeable about the entire menu; we wanted something warm to drink and could tell us all about the various teas.  Now Mountain Oasis serves tea just the way we enjoy it, in huge cups that require two hands to hold them.  I had the Peppermint Tea which was so soothing, while my hubby had the Organic Kukicha Twig which was a stronger, slightly bitter tea perfect for warming the body.


I chose the Pork Lettuce Wraps for an appetizer, since my hubby had never eaten anything like this before.  The sauce is vinegar based and was sweet, spicy, but a mild heat; it made our mouths hum, and it was very difficult not to lick the plate clean.  The pork was tender and the vegetables, especially the lettuce, had that freshly picked from the garden taste.






For our main lunch courses, I went with the Gyro; the meat was juicy with a slight char on the edges, fresh vegetables and a delectable tzatziki sauce; on the side was a cup of the tomato vegetable soup which was very herbal and savory.  Hubby had the Cheesesteak with a perfect blend of peppers, onions, cheese and meat on a warm, crusty roll; pumpkin soup was his choice and it was sweet with a rich, pumpkin flavor.  By the way, all the sauces and soups are house made; no bottled or canned stuff loaded with preservatives; Mountain Oasis is proud of being fresh!

Gyro and Tomato Vegetable Soup

Cheesesteak with Pumpkin Soup.

No matter what time of year it is, if you are looking for cozy and comfort in your dining, and just happen to be in the Flagstaff, Arizona area; definitely check out this little bistro...Mountain Oasis International Restaurant.

Mary Cokenour

Duke’s, the Real Bistro in Bluff.

 

Duke's Bistro at Desert Rose Inn and Cabins

701 West Main (Route 191)

Bluff, Utah, 84512

Phone: (435) 672-2303

              (888) 475-7673

Website: http://www.desertroseinn.com/

 

In 1997, Amer and Cindy Tumeh, invested in property, just outside of Bluff, to open up hospitality cabins.  Within two more years, the Desert Rose Inn and Cabins was created and has only continued to flourish, but something was missing.  In 2015, that something developed into Duke’s Bistro which serves lodgers, locals and visitors with amazing breakfast and dinner selections.

 

On a long trip back from gallivanting around Historic Flagstaff; AZ, the warm, welcoming lights of Duke’s was a beacon to we two hungry travelers.  Right now the bistro is in winter hours, 5pm to 8:30 (ish), as the sign states, Monday thru Sunday; and it was already busy.  Many tables were taken, and the rest filled up quickly as time went by.  Duke’s is what I would call a “high end” bistro with absolutely beautiful décor; exquisite tables, chairs and place settings.  Normally a bistro, in its original Parisian incarnation, is a small restaurant, serving moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting.  We were wondering if our casual dress would define us as “not belonging” in this type of dining environment.  Boy, were we anxious about nothing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were greeted with smiles, and our server, Nona, was awesome – attentive, friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Duke’s and the menu items.  While many items are not locally sourced, this is due to Duke’s policy of finding only the best, quality foods to serve its guests.  Desserts, soups and sauces are made in-house; the staff is well trained to know the ingredients which is very helpful for those on special diets, or with food allergies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I stated, I consider Duke’s high end, but the menu prices are not very much different than other local eateries.  So, let’s get to the food; we ordered burgers which come with oven roasted potatoes.  The Anasazi Burger is 7 ounces of ground Angus beef with all the fixings, and they’re not kidding.  Nona asked if I’d like Swiss or Cheddar cheese; to which I responded “Yes!”; in other words, I received both cheeses and at no extra charge!  The fixings were piled high, the burger was perfectly cooked at medium-well; the pretzel bun was not overly salty, toasted with wonderful flavor and texture.  The potatoes were lightly salted, rustic, fluffy inside and a great accompaniment to the burger.

 

Roy ordered the Pineapple Delight Hamburger; 7 ounces of Angus beef, grilled pineapple, slices of avocado, fixings, on that delightful pretzel bun with oven roasted potatoes.  Again, the burger was cooked to a perfect medium-well; the pineapple and avocado sliced thin to meld with each other, instead of fight for dominance.  I did have to swat at his hand as he kept trying to pilfer my potatoes.

 

 

 

 

While the described desserts sounded mouthwatering (homemade cinnamon ice cream…oh my!), we were very content with the meals we had just consumed.  We made sure to tip Nona well, she deserved it; and home we finally went.

While Duke’s will be closed on winter holidays, they do offer catering for a holiday party in a separate, private room.  Simply call them and speak with the manager who will happily work out all the details with you.

Personally, I’m looking forward to those warmer months when the breakfast menu comes into swing again.  Now who doesn’t love a great breakfast before going adventuring!

 

By the way, make sure the Bistro you stop at, when in Bluff, is Duke's; not that other so-called bistro that serves hot foods ice cold; has snobby staff that has no knowledge of menu items; and an owner that attacks anyone who criticizes by blaming the customers for not having a good time...and makes you pay the bill in full.  Check the poor, terrible and average reviews on Tripadvisor.com; consider yourselves warned!!!

 

Mary Cokenour

Craving Sweet Cravings.

Sweet Cravings

550 N. Main Street
Moab, Utah, 84532

(435) 259-8983

Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Cravings-Bakery-Bistro/228373887246023

Sweet Cravings opened up in 2012; owned by Cinda and assisted by her mom, Barb, these friendly ladies know how to make their patrons feel welcomed.

 

The interior is open, well lit and roomy; the brightly colored plaques, pictures, coffee mugs and knick-knacks all about the shop are for sale.  Behind the glass counters are erasable boards listing selections for breakfast and lunch. Sweet Cravings is open daily, but only until 3pm; so don't dawdle on getting there, or you can always get your order to go and enjoy it after your day's adventure in Moab.

Except for the breads used for the sandwiches, subs, wraps and paninis, the baked goods are made on the premises. A new item is Mini Monkey Bread in a "to-go" cup; pop in the mouth smaller versions of their regular Monkey Bread (also known as Pull Apart Bread). These little gems are delectable and you'll be too busy sucking the cinnamon and glaze off your fingers to be bothered with a napkin.

 

The meats for the sandwiches are real; no pressed together cold cut products full of preservatives and lacking in flavor.  I had the Adventure Inn panini which is turkey (tender and moist), Swiss cheese, cranberry sauce, jalapeno jelly and cream cheese on sour dough bread.  To say this panini was delicious would be an understatement indeed; it was stupendous!  All the flavors just melded together in such a perfect way; the jalapeno jelly gave a cozy warmness to the mouth as it combined with the cool cream cheese.

 

  

My hubby had the Roast Beef Sammy, thinly sliced roast beef piled high, cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato slices and a divine caramelized onion spread. Once again, "wow" would be an understatement; the freshness just kept coming through again and again.

 

Sweet Cravings will be giving that chain sandwich shop a true run for its money;  the key word for this bistro is "freshness".  If you're looking for delicious food in a welcoming setting, head on over to Sweet Cravings.  Heck, my hubby and I were halfway home when we started to both think, at the same time, "I sure could go for another of those sandwiches from Sweet Cravings." Don't forget the Mini Monkey Bread to munch on while you stroll the streets of Moab. 

 

Mary Cokenour