Hop on Mesa’s Foodie Trail

Long before there was a Food Network, there was a “food network” in almost any area of the country you can imagine—even in largely urban areas that aren’t lined with lush groves and farmer’s fields. South Carolina has a “Sweet Tea Trail,” Oregon has its “Cheese Trail” and New Mexico has its “Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail”—one of my personal favorite food journeys. These foodie trails all have the same focus—those foods that are truly “authentic” to a region. We are all foodies, whether in search of organic products straight from the earth or seeking out the bistros creating cuisine from the local cornucopia.

Mesa, Arizona—just a few miles outside metropolitan Phoenix—offers an abundance of both.

Mesa, nestled on the eastern edge of the same valley that holds tourism rich Scottsdale/Phoenix, offers ranches with year-round harvests and unique food-driven experiences, as well as an historic village and creative spots to feast on those remarkable harvests with locals. All you have to do is just hop on the Mesa Foodie Trail!

Joe’s Utopia

I have to admit I could happily live in a place with a name that combines “utopia” and “agriculture.” Agritopia is visionary Joe Johnston’s planned community that revolves around preserving urban agriculture and integrating it into every aspect of daily life. Johnston’s way-of-life model was established in 2000, but it may never really be done. Lauded by the “New York Times” as the United States’ leading agri-hood, Agritopia continues to gain in popularity with young and old alike as Johnston’s vision as an idyllic multi-generational community continues to find new ways to please both inhabitants and visitors. After touring and listening to future plans, it is obvious that the scope of the community is as unlimited as the developer’s very fertile imagination.

Johnston, who is locally famous for preserving and breathing life into historic buildings in the town of Gilbert—which he calls the “largest” town in America and where he has two popular restaurants—turned to his childhood homestead for imagining Agritopia. Joe’s family bought the circa 1927 farm in 1960 to grow cotton and raise a family. Today, Joe and his wife, their grown children, grandchildren and his parents and brothers all live in his idyllic community, keeping four generations together in work and play.

One of the most alluring spots in Agritopia is The Coffee Shop with outdoor patio and casual indoor dining that features vintage touches. Enjoy breakfast or lunch here, but don’t pass up the desserts such as Birthday Cake whoopie pies, Oreo vegan cupcakes or double chocolate gluten-free vegan cupcakes. Another popular stop for locals is just across the path where the 24-Hour Farm Stand sits with bins and a cooler filled with the latest harvests. No one mans it round the clock. You buy on the honor system with a suggested price and a slot for money. Joe’s Farm Grill adjacent to the coffee spot was actually the home Joe and his brothers grew up in. In fact, the tempting diner that uses seasonal produce from the farm and stresses scratch cooking is decorated in his family photos of early years and designed with Johnston’s vision of “what would a burger place in 1967 might look like.”

Take a walk around the grounds with shaded grape arbors and plenty of spots to sit and the expanse of Agritopia unfolds. Stroll past u-pick groves with marauding chickens and the tidy gardens plots rented by locals to grow their favorite crops with everything provided, from tools to irrigation. Residential areas line the rear of the complex and provide single family homes, some with casitas, a retirement facility and even a private school.

Johnston has recently brought back to life the vintage 8,000-square-foot barn as an innovative artisan collective. “Barnone” features resident craftsmen working live across a wide array of disciplines. New restaurants here, Fire & Brimstone and Uprooted, feature the flavors of the seasonal crops. (http://thefarmatagritopia.com/ )

All about Olives

Not far from Agritopia is the 100-acre Queen Creek Olive Mill, Arizona’s only family-owned and operated working olive mill and farm. On this rural farm with patios and groves, olives are pressed for the production of high quality extra virgin olive oil and other olive products from soaps to tapenades. Queen Creek’s olives are grown at the base of the San Tan Mountains, an area known for its fertile soil that delivers high quality fruits and vegetables. The combination of long sunny days and cool desert nights provides ideal growing conditions for these olive trees. No chemicals are used in the process, and olives, once harvested, are pressed within 24 hours.

The art of winetasting takes a backseat to olive oil tasting at Queen Creek. Be sure to take the tour that comes with a complimentary tasting of several oils and become an expert in olive scents, tastes, uses and production. If you don’t take a tour, do your own self tour by wandering down the olive oil- and tapenade-lined aisles of the ranch’s well stocked store to sample at your leisure. Grab some free recipes that include your favorite oils from Meyer Lemon-infused olive oil to Mexican Lime olive oil.

After all that tasting, follow up with the tour-included lunch at the Queen Creek Olive Mill’s casual Tuscan-inspired eatery, featuring fresh gourmet sandwiches and panini’s as well as soups, salads, gelato and espresso. When the weather allows, opt to dine in the serene olive grove patio for a classic agrarian day. (www.queencreekolivemill.com)

Discover Ancient Grains

At Hayden Flour Mills located at Sossaman Farms, just a short distance from Queen Creek Olive Mill, you can see and taste the results of the hard work and craftsmanship that go into making the naturally produced, hand-ground wheat that graces bread, crackers and other baked delicacies in local restaurants and natural food stores. In fact, you may have seen this family-owned flour mill with distinctive rose logo when it was featured in the documentary “The Grain Divide.”

Don’t expect to find any silos or large-scale equipment here. In fact, there are only a half dozen employees at Hayden, all working diligently to produce the flour made from ancient grains that are grown on the farm and harvested by hand in small quantities. Focused on native seeds and growing heirloom wheat with minimal processing, Hayden offers a full-sensory culinary experience that starts with a tour of the flour milling operation with the skilled “miller,” Ben who has learned to work the Old World Austrian hand-operated mill. Some events allow visitors to participate in baking classes or educational seminars that are focused on the flavorful grain and its importance to the American diet, highlighting everything from artisan breads, pasta and wheat berries to Bourbon, craft brews, grain-based oils and more. You can buy some things on the tour, but most sales are online or in a few Arizona health food stores. You can’t drop in here, so check the website for tours and classes before heading to Hayden. (www.haydenflourmills.com)

Taste the Crops

After touring some of the farms, you may want to taste the crops in local restaurants that offer creative ways to showcase the Mesa Foodie Trail.

Dinner at TQLA in Mesa is a great way to celebrate one of the fastest growing spirits in the world. TQLA, which was voted one of the best Tequila Bars by USA Today, features a collection of tequilas on tap, hyper-cooled to 5 degrees Fahrenheit; check out the special tequila viewing room. By combining the freshest ingredients with a fun and energetic atmosphere, TQLA presents the heritage and flavors of the Southwest combined with some coastal Mexico flavors. TQLA uses locally sourced and organic products along with a mesquite fired grill to enhance the flavor profile of the area’s corucopia. Feast on signature dishes such as crawfish and spinach enchiladas, table-side guacamole, pumpkin seed crusted salmon and, for dessert, the Cuatro Leches is a must.

The historic downtown area of Gilbert, near Mesa, hosts several notable bistros worth a meal or a glass of wine and appetizer. The restored town is a treat in itself with old water tower that is the site of evening concerts and a farmer’s market. Begin your evening at the popular Postino East Wine Café that pours more than three dozen approachable wines. Pair your wine with Postino’s signature bruschetta topped with creative combinations of local ingredients. Try the brie and apples with fig or tomato jam with fresh sheep’s milk cheese for a treat. And, enjoy it all on a warm summer evening on the wraparound patio. (http://www.postinowinecafe.com/)

If you crave a frosty milkshake and a great Certified Angus burger, Zinburger, down the block from Postino’s in downtown Gilbert, will be one of your favorite bistros. Accompany the perfect burger (you can build your own from a long list of ingredients) with some hand-cut zucchini, sweet potato or truffle fries. For a small extra charge, splurge on the American Kobe burger and accompany with the “Zin” part of the name chosen from a fine list of Zinfandels and other wines and beers. The casual eatery is always friendly and fun. (www.zinburgeraz.com )

Stay in Wrigleyville West

Mesa’s newest hotel offering is one of the best in the state. Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West opened a few years ago and is poised on a flowing park with duck-filled lake and overlooks the Chicago Cubs spring training home, Sloan Park and Mesa’s Red Mountain. This prime Sheraton in the center of the east valley is also located in the heart of the city’s new multi-million development, Mesa Riverview. The hotel is within walking distance of the Mesa Riverview 250-acre shopping and entertainment complex, featuring nightlife and shopping.

The beautifully designed hotel, less than eight miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, greets guests with an open-air lobby and Stats Sports Grill. This 10,000-square-foot lounge with separate bar and living room areas is adjoined by a modern, glass-enclosed wine cellar featuring 300 wines from around the globe. The one-acre resort-style pool layout features two swimming pools, two wading pools and two hot tubs. The new hotel also features Starwood’s revolutionary health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness by Core Performance. (www.sheratonmesa.com)

Check out more travel and stay options around Mesa and Gilbert at Visit Mesa.