About Last Night...Virtu - Honest Craft

We'd planned to have a "chill night" at home but a work friend suggested, "Hey, I've never been to that Virtu place.  Wanna go!?"  Twist my arm, why don't yuh!?  We've visited Virtu on multiple occasions since it opened about a year ago.  We are fans. No arm twisting needed. Written up locally and nationally, Virtu has been a welcome addition to the Phoenix food scene.

from Esquire Magazine 

If you are NOT STARVING, I am NOT the guy you want to eat with because I pretty much want (and order) one of everything.   Tonight though, I relinquished control entirely (except for the wine...let's not get nuts!) and let the other three in our foursome order.  No one ordered my fave..the octopus.  Almost sat at another table by my damn self!  

Grilled Octopus

Meal was solid, as per usual.  Actually kind of fun to let other people make all the (non wine) decisions.  Here are some highlights:

Monkey Shoulder Scotch Blend

Fun blended Scotch (enjoyed neat...always) suggested by server.  New to me and excellent.  Started kind of like Johnnie Gold but fished with more honey notes.  I will be adding this to my collection.  

pork rillette, things pickled,  ate de membrillo, caper berries,  toast 

This was essentially a pork patte and a bunch of things pickled, most important of which were cherries.   Excellent!  We re-uped on toast multiple times to make sure all of the pork rillette got GOT!  

Duck Spagatini

Buttery, crispy duck bits, pasta goodness. The perfect amount.  Anymore and they would need to throw in a free cardiac cath.  

2010 Ladera Reserve Cab 

2009 was Ridicu-Good. 2010 was still super solid. Howell Mountain Cabs are among my favorite reds on the planet.

Zeppole with Strawberry Cognac and Nutella 

If you don't like donuts we cannot be friends...CAN-NOT. Italian for donuts, these zeppole were light, airy, confections which were just sweet enough. Add in a little strawberry cognac and 'ish-just-got-real!

Chocolate Sticky Toffe Pudding and Marscapone Gelato

Possibly the best thing on the table last night.  Every bite was moist and bursting with flavor.  Paired flawlessly with the marscapone gelato. Big big hit!

Virtu, thanks for reppin' phoenix CORRECT!  We will see you again soon!

Thanks for reading!

Doc Jay