Chelsea's Kitchen | Phoenix, AZ

This Phoenix roadhouse located on the Arizona Canal specializes in high-quality, honest food that is always fresh and never frozen.

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Whenever Stephen and I travel out to Phoenix to visit our friends Rob and Pere, there are a few things that we can be certain of -- the guys will "geek out" on work-related topics, the girls will make time to shop (I leave room in my suitcase for new acquisitions), and everyone will gorge practically non-stop on food and drink until it's time for Stephen and me to head to the airport. We love our trips to Phoenix, and the trip we took last October was no exception.

Yes, yes, I know. October was six months ago. Despite being much better about writing on a regular basis, I'm still playing catch-up on my restaurant reviews. Go figure.

Pere and I have a well-established tradition of grabbing lunch before spending an afternoon combing the aisles of Nordstrom Last Chance for bargains we can't refuse. Most of my shopping excursions have proven successful, and, on this last trip, I managed to find a pair of L.K. Bennett pumps (similar), the same brand of shoes that Kate Middleton loves to wear, in my size.

*insert girlish squeal here*

I'm beginning to think Pere is my shopping good luck charm. Or that the food she leads me to before we hit the stores has mystical powers that allow me to locate items that not only fit me perfectly but also fit my budget perfectly.

This time, we had lunch at Chelsea's Kitchen, a restaurant that specializes in serving high-quality, honest food that is always fresh and never frozen. Ingredients are local and seasonal, which means every dish is packed full of flavor that satisfies the soul. To start, Pere and I split the Tuna Tartare & Guacamole ($14) served with tortilla chips. Tuna that is fresh and buttery is chopped and combined with diced radish and then dressed with a soy-lemon vinaigrette before being topped with a generous scoop of equally buttery guacamole.

To say that I loved the Tuna Tartare with Guacamole would be an understatement. If I'm ever lucky enough to get back to Chelsea's Kitchen on a future trip to Phoenix, then I might only order the tuna. Plates and plates and plates of it. With extra guacamole.

To follow, I ordered Ethan's Vegetarian Tacos ($15) featuring locally-farmed vegetables that had been roasted to bring out their natural sweetness, made-to-order corn tortillas, guacamole (yes!), fresh pico de gallo, and kale slaw. Because that day's selection of vegetables included carrots and parsnips, I wound up skipping the tortillas and ate the vegetables and accompanying sides like a salad.

It turns out that the combination of roasted vegetables and guacamole is quite tasty! And, for a meal that was completely meatless, the tacos were also amazingly filling. While the cost of the meal was a little more than I'd normally spend for lunch, the fresh ingredients were totally worth the price. Add a tall glass of unsweetened iced tea, and you have a winning combination!

Chelsea's Kitchen
5040 N 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(602) 957-2555 | Map

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One year ago: Jenny's Kuali - Bethlehem, PA

Two years ago: Carrot Cake with Buttercream Frosting

Three years ago: Hunting for Treasure at The Brooklyn Kitchen

Four years ago: Featured Friday, Volume 1.2

Five years ago: Creamy Parmesan Risotto with Roasted Shrimp and Peas

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