The butterscotch pudding is a to-die-for staple on the dessert menu. The menu changes regularly, but you’re likely to see innovative uses of locally-sourced ingredients like escarole, tomatillo, celtuce, pomegranate, and goat cheese in dishes you can pair with a choice selection of local wines and craft beers. Bianco also serves up non-pizza, Italian-inspired dishes made from local southwestern ingredients at his second restaurant, Tratto, just around the corner.Īrizona is the winter vegetable capital of the U.S., and veg-centric FnB (short for “Food and Beverage”) in downtown Scottsdale showcases local produce like none other. His award-winning pies have garnered shout-outs from celebs like Oprah, Martha Stewart, and Jimmy Fallon. Chef Chris Bianco is considered a pioneer in the slow food and artisanal pizza scenes, and is the only pizza-maker to ever win a James Beard award. No trip to downtown Phoenix would be complete without a stop at Pizzeria Bianco in Heritage Square. Phoenix hasn’t traditionally been considered a destination for gourmands, but thanks to its recent population explosion, it’s now got a burgeoning, vibrant food scene. That said, you may want to avoid going in March - there’s a huge spring training baseball event, so airfare and hotel prices skyrocket and everything is more crowded than usual.Īpril is LGBT Pride month in Phoenix, and the city’s Pride organization goes all out with events, including a festival, parade, and pageant. The Sonoran Desert offers sun and heat most of the year, but November through April generally offer the most temperate weather - clear skies and average temperatures in the high 60s, 70s, and low 80s. This queer, sunshine-loving traveler’s guide covers when to go, where to stay, where to eat and drink, and what to do to make the most of your adventure in greater Phoenix.
Coming off the end of a long, snowy winter, the desert heat was nothing short of transformative for me - it offered the perfect excuse to wear as little clothing as possible, find my way to a pool during the day, and keep an ice cold drink in my hand after dark. The Phoenix area also sees highs of well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer - but it’s that delicious, famously “dry heat” that evaporates the sweat right off your skin.