Blue Coffee Pot is for Settlers.

Blue Coffee Pot Restaurant 

US Highways 160 and 163
Kayenta, Arizona, 86033

Phone: (928) 697-3396







When I say this restaurant is for settlers, it's basically because the choices for dining, in Kayenta, are few.  The structure of Blue Coffee Pot resembles the female style Navajo Hogan; the interior is bright with rustic decor upon shelves (love the antique hutch in the entry way with the coffee pots).

Be warned, this restaurant only takes cash.

We went here after having a quick tour through Navajo National Monument, didn't want fast food, and wanted to try someplace different.  After being seated, we noticed other diners, but they were very quiet, looking down at their food and eating.  The atmosphere inside, though bright lighting, seemed a bit depressing.  Our party of three were very talkative about our day out, so we were making the most noise.  Upon leaving, we were laughing, held a door open for a Navajo woman, said a cheerful hello to her, and she seemed shocked at our behavior.
The menu is a combination of American, Mexican and Navajo cuisines; alcohol is not served on tribal land, but the fresh brewed coffee is a good choice with a meal.

After ordering, two of us got a trip to the very small salad bar; lettuce, tomatoes and dressings mostly; however I highly recommend the honey mustard dressing.











Our ordered meals came quickly.  First there was the Country Fried Steak with corn, mashed potatoes and loads of brown gravy.  The bread coating on the steak was overdone and tasted like oil used many, many times; mashed potatoes were instant, corn from a can.  I understand food products are trucked into this area, not much farming in desert, but spruce it up!






The Hot Turkey Sandwich was basically a mess of packaged cold cut turkey slices, bread, mashed potatoes and the same brown gravy served with the Country Fried Steak.












The Steak and Shrimp Kabobs were a little better; the steak was tender and juicy; the shrimp was double coated in breading and fried in the same old oil as the Country Fried Steak.   The baked potato was good, but again the corn was from a can; at least there was none of that brown gravy to ruin the kabobs.






We have eaten in Navajo run restaurants before, and it depends on the attitude of the owners and staff; some have great food, and others are just settling.  We wonder though, if we had ordered Navajo cuisine, would it have been prepared much better than the American platters?

Mary Cokenour

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

The Sweet Shoppe and Nut House of Flagstaff.

The Sweet Shoppe and Nut House

15 East Aspen Avenue
Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001

Phone: (928) 213-9000

Website: http://www.sweetshoppecandy.com




Strolling through historic, downtown Flagstaff, AZ, is an adventure for the senses; smells from the various restaurants, old and new sites to see, all manner of small shops to explore.  One shop that calls to everyone's inner child is "The Sweet Shoppe and Nut House" with its candy like sign, and all those wonderful caramel apples displayed in the window. 

Walking inside, you are immediately hit with the sweet, sweet smell of candy and chocolate.  To the left are rows of Jelly Belly jellybean canisters to fill up bags with your very favorite flavors.  Baskets of old fashioned candies; rows of chocolate bars are stacked in the center of the shop, or along the walls.

On the opposite side are two display cases full of the most delectable chocolates; caramels, chocolate covered pretzels and cookies, and so many more; but our very favorites are the truffles, especially the butterscotch and mint.  By the way, these chocolate delights are large, double the size of any I've ever seen inside any candy box.

Next to this wondrous display is fudge, blocks and blocks of the one flavor to multi-flavored swirls of the most luscious fudge.  The fudge is sold in 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound chunks, so you can mix and match to your sweet tooth's content.  Not sure if you like a particular flavor, the friendly and happy sales people will give you a sliver to tease the tongue.  Hint:  try out the turtle butter....amazing!

At the very back of the shop is a gelato counter full of Italian ice creams; silky smooth and here's a great excuse to eat it, less fat than regular ice cream.






Can't get to Flagstaff and try out this wonderland of candies, chocolate, nuts and various goodies; go to the website, place an order for home delivery, and be prepared to be amazed!  Oh, and what caramel apples did we end up with?  Heath Bar Heaven and, what else, Tiger Butter!

Mary Cokenour

Jacob Lake Inn; Kaibab National Forest, Arizona

Jacob Lake Inn

HWY 89A & AZ-67
Jacob Lake, AZ 86022

Phone:(928) 643-7232

Email: jacob@jacoblake.com
Website: http://www.jacoblake.com/

Nestled in the Kaibab National Forest, on the way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, is a beautiful oasis; the Jacob Lake Inn.  I can't tell you anything about the lodging, you can look that up on their website; but I can tell you about the restaurant and bakery.  The day we were there, a tour bus group had taken over the main dining area, so we sat at the counter.  It reminded us of the old time diners and the décor is farm country meets the southwest.  













The menu offered a nice variety of items from sandwiches to burgers, salads and hot entrees.

The "bull" burgers caught our interest, so I ordered the Kaibab Bull while hubby got the Grand Bull.  Might as well tell you now, we inhaled our meals; they were so delicious!

The Kaibab Bull Burger has "hunter sauce" (a sweetened brown sauce), grilled onions/ green peppers/mushrooms medley, bacon, tomato and Swiss cheese on grilled bread.  The meat was cooked well, yet still juicy; bacon thick cut and crispy; the "hunter sauce" was mildly sweet and brought out the flavors of the vegetables.  Skin-on, shoestring fries were crispy on the outside, tender on the inside; but I did miss the fry sauce (it's a Utah thing).

The Grand Bull Burger has mild green chiles, tomatoes, grilled onions, Cheddar cheese and bacon on grilled bread.  Again, meat cooked well, but juicy; thick cut and crispy bacon, yummy grilled onions and a slight, but sweet heat to the chiles.  We tried each other's burgers and both agreed that the "hunter sauce" on the Kaibab Bull Burger added so much to the overall flavor. 










Next to the counter area is a small store with dry goods, souvenirs and candy; but we were fascinated by the bakery counter.  A large assortment of freshly baked, soft, huge cookies of wondrous combinations: chocolate raspberry, German chocolate cake with a coconut topping, lemon zucchini, lemon raspberry, chocolate parfait and many more...I'm starting to drool.  We purchased a dozen to take home; yes they made it, and even after a few days, they were still soft and delicious.

Heading to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon?  Save your appetite and stop at Jacob Lake Inn for a good meal and delicious baked goods.  You won't regret the wait all the way to get there.

Mary Cokenour

Village Inn Restaurant and Bakery

Village Inn Restaurant and Bakery

3715 N Kasper Ave
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

(928) 526-5330

Website: http://www.villageinn.com/


After a long five hour drive to Flagstaff, we decided to stop at the first diner looking place we saw, and that was the Village Inn Restaurant and Bakery. Considering it was lunch time, there were very few customers inside; but we were greeted in a very friendly manner and drinks were served immediately.


The food here is average, budget friendly for travelers, and while average, still tastes fresh and good depending on what you order. I had the Club Sandwich with Fries; what I really liked about this sandwich was that they used real, roasted turkey breast and baked ham; not thinly sliced cold cuts you can get in any supermarket. The fries were seasoned, crispy outside, fluffy inside; I was pretty satisfied with my choice.


My husband though was not very happy with his sandwich; the Grilled Chicken with Swiss cheese and Avocado slices. He said that the chicken was dry and rubbery, he could barely taste the cheese, but the avocado was a nice touch to an overall "blah" sandwich.


Since it was Wednesday when we ate there, we received a free slice of pie. We both chose the Blueberry Lemon Supreme, since the photo staring us in the face looked so enticing. The pie was very good; crust was light and flaky, the cream cheese filling was smooth and creamy and the mixture of lemon with blueberry was perfect. The hostess and waitress bragged about the pies at the Village Inn, and rightly so.

To be fair, if I was staying in Flagstaff for an extended period, I would give Village Inn another try; most likely the breakfast menu, so I could try the Eggs Benedict.

Mary Cokenour

Flagstaff Chocolate Company

Flagstaff Chocolate Company

120 North Leroux, Suite 103
Flagstaff, AZ, 86001

(928) 779-5611

Website: http://www.flagstaffchocolates.com/

On the corner of Birch and Leroux are located the Old Town Shops of Historic Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona; and this is the home of Flagstaff Chocolate Company.



Besides their handmade chocolates, truffles, brittle and fudge; there is an assortment of covered apples. They sell many of the popular name brand, and not so famous, candies; also bulk candies such as jelly beans and gummies. I purchased a one pound box of assorted chocolates, and as you can see from the photo, they not only look pretty, but delectable. I can attest to the fact that they are! The chocolate is smooth and luscious; the fillings are packed with flavor.

Walking around the historic downtown of Flagstaff, there are many little shops to browse and buy in; but don't go home without stopping at the Chocolate Company and purchasing some of their delicious candies. Not going to be in Flagstaff any time soon, then go to their website and order online....no excuses there, just delicious indulgence.

Mary Cokenour

You don't deserve this break, so stay away.

McDonald's

Hwy 160
PO Box 1470
Kayenta, AZ 86033

(928) 697-8169

Website: www.mcdonalds.com

This review is short and definitely not sweet.

Unfortunately, if you're traveling from Utah to the Grand Canyon on a Sunday morning, and looking for a little breakfast to tide you over; Kayenta gives you a choice of this place or another fast food place. We chose McDonald's and it is definitely set up to trap "tourists".

The prices are much higher here and the food is actually smaller in size than usual; so getting your money's worth is not their policy. Service was very slow; and while clean inside, the exterior had a pest problem.

When entering or exiting the building, or just standing by your vehicle, don't be surprised to be approached by males, obviously intoxicated, panhandling. We were approached and we watched as it happened to many others. We were there almost an hour and no employee from McDonald's asked these men to leave the premises. Not a safe environment.

Mary Cokenour