As long time residents here in Arizona, my wife and will go out on occasion to find a bite to eat, but we soon found that we were running into a routine and going to the same old “haunts” over and over. We wanted to find a way to expand our search area of good places to eat around the valley. With the help of our Compadre Spencer, who works at Arizona Lodging Experts, the absolute best company offering rentals in Arizona and Scottsdale property management, we found a fantastic resource that has done just that! He turned us on to UrbanSpoon.com, which is a website dedicated to restaurant blogs from critics and food bloggers alike. These can be restaurants in your very own backyard that you never knew even existed! Thanks to Urban Spoon, my wife and I have found a wonderful variety of food in our general area that we wouldn’t have found on our own. We have tried Thai food and Vietnamese food recently, and we loved them both very much. We found a little café just minutes from our home that offers a great breakfast for a very affordable price. We have also taken the time to blog about the places we have eaten over the years, and if we enjoyed them or not. Urban Spoon is a great resource to expand your meals choices on your next night out on the town.

Pho Thanh

Saigon Crepe at Pho Thanh

Spicy Grilled Beef Salad at Thai House

Crispy Fried Shrimp with Sweet -n- Sour Sauce

My wife and I had lunch with our good friend Spencer at the Thai House Restaurant in Mesa, Arizona, located on the N/E corner of Power & Southern. Spencer and Lolis have had Thai food before, so I was the “Thai Virgin” I guess. I know I can speak for all three of us when I say we have a wonderful meal and we would definitely recommend the Thai House to everyone we know. The portions were very generous, the taste was authentic Thai and the service was very good as well. The Mesa location was rather small with 5-6 tables and a small bar, but well worth the stop. You can have a sweet and savory meal made with coconut milk, or try a spicy meal from level 1 to 5 with some amazing Thai spices, “if you have the guts”.

For dessert, we do recommend that you try the delicious Fried Bananas, which we all found to be unique and tasty treat.

Below is a short video we made, so you could see how delicious everything was.

Thai House YouTube Video

If you find yourself staying in a wonderful rental home in Mesa, Arizona, you might want to try the Thai House during your stay. It will be a wonderful experience for your taste buds. The Thai House has 3 valley locations, so there might even be a Thai House close to you..!

If you need assistance finding lodging from experienced Scottsdale or Phoenix property management, contact Spencer, Susan and Shea at Arizona Lodging Experts at 602-404-2982 and 866-785-2350. They have over 20 years of personal experience combined offering premier Arizona Home Rentals and they are ready to assist you today!

The Barrett Jackson Collector Car Event takes place January 17-23, 2011 and

 takes place at West World in Scottsdale, AZ

You can watch live auction coverage on the SPEED Channel.

 Schedule of Events:  

Monday January 17, 2011  

8am         – Gates open and Vendors and Sponsors open their booths

8am-3pm -  Cox Communications hosts Family Values Day

8am-3pm -  Entertainment provided by Radio Disney

10am       – The Tilted Kilt Patio opens

12pm-3pm – Appearance by Cox Communications on digital

7pm-11pm – Event Opener Gala *This Event Requires an Invitation

9pm-10:30pm – Fashion Show hosted by Dillards and makeup artist from CHANEL

 Tuesday January 18th, 2011  

8am-close -Gates open and Vendors and Sponsors open their booths

10am – The Tilted Kilt Patio opens

9am-2pm Automobile Memorabilia Auction

2pm-close – Barrett Jackson Auto Auction

5pm – Auction for Twilight

5pm-10pm – Auction is live on the SPEED channel

7pm-9pm – Celebrity Fashion Walk Show

 Wednesday January 19th, 2011  

8am-close -Gates open and Vendors and Sponsors open their booths

8:45-10am – Automobile Memorabilia Auction

10am-Close – Barrett – Jackson Car Auction

10am-12pm – Women who are into Speed panel

5pm – Twilight hours Auction

5pm-10pm Auction is shown live on the SPEED Channel

 Thursday January 20th, 2011  

8am-close -Gates open and Vendors and Sponsors open their booths

10am – Tilted Kilt opens their patio

10am-11am – Corvette Seminar for the Sports Car market

8:45am-10am – Automobile memorabilia auction

10am-close – Barrett – Jackson Car auction

5pm – Twilight hours auction

5pm-10pm – Barrett Jackson Auto Auction shown live on SPEED channel

 Friday January 21st, 2011  

8am-close -Gates open and Vendors and Sponsors open their booths

8:45am-10am – Automobile Memorabilia Auction

10am – Tilted Kilt opens their patio

10am-close – Barrett – Jackson Car auction

10am – Car polishing Seminar

11:30am – tips on restoring your classic car seminar

2pm – Dynacone wheel polishing seminar

3:30 – How to remove polishing swirls seminar

5pm – Twilight hours auction

12pm-11pm – Barrett Jackson Auto Auction shown live on SPEED channel

 Saturday January 22nd, 2011  

8am-close -Gates open and Vendors and Sponsors open their booths

8:45am-10am – Automobile Memorabilia Auction

10am – Tilted Kilt opens their patio

10am-close – Barrett – Jackson Car auction

10am – Car polishing Seminar

11:30 am – How to restore headlights seminar

2pm – Dynacone wheel polishing seminar

3:30 – How to remove polishing swirls seminar

5pm – Twilight hours auction

12pm-11pm – Barrett Jackson Auto Auction shown live on SPEED channel

 Sunday January 23rd, 2011  

8am-close -Gates open and Vendors and Sponsors open their booths

8:45am-10am – Automobile Memorabilia Auction

10am – Tilted Kilt opens their patio

10am-close – Barrett – Jackson Car auction

10am – How to remove polishing swirls seminar

12pm-4pm Barrett Jackson Auto Auction shown live on SPEED channel

If you like moderately priced Mexican food with a very family friendly atmosphere you should check out the Ajo Al’s which has four locations throughout the valley of the sun. “Ajo” in Spanish means garlic and that is what you will taste when eating at any of their restaurants. The salsas are blended with lots of garlic as well as chilies and cilantro.

     The atmosphere inside the restaurant is very warm and inviting without being obnoxious. You can choose from a comfy booth or a high top table in the bar area. The chips here are homemade and are very light and not too greasy. If you would like you can also sip on freshly made mango margaritas or choose from a large selection of Mexican beers. If you go to the Ajo Al’s located on 16th Street you even have the option of eating in the outdoor patio.

     Once you take your seat you will be greeted by a very friendly waiter or waitress that will treat you with the utmost respect and importance. If you are watching your carb intake the Salad Carbon is a wonderful option and it goes for around $9.00. What makes this salad so tasty is the ranch dressing with a jalapeno zip to it. If you are more in the mood for a spicy soup you would be very happy trying “Miguels Papa Chowder.” The soup is a mix of corn and potato that has been topped off with onions and jalapenos. This soup makes for a wonderful comfort food on those few chilly days we see in Phoenix. If you are really hungry you should try the “ugly enchilada” which features a mole sauce made with black beans and mixed up well with cheese and chicken and then smothered with a red sauce. It is not the prettiest presentation hence the name but the taste is out of this world. If you like coleslaw make sure you try the cilantro slaw which is a must have for those who love cilantro.

     The lunch menu has items ranging between $6-$10. They also have a kid’s menu that features many kids’ favorites like fries and burgers. As far as desserts there are not many but the ones they do have are delicious to the last bite. By far the best dessert option is the flan and the price is under $4. Be sure to order your own flan though because you will not want to share this yummy treat. Ajo Al’s also does delicious to-go platters for parties or events.

Locations:

7458 W. Bell Road., Glendale, AZ 85308 (623) 334-9899

5101 N. 16^th Street., Phoenix AZ 85016 (602) 222-9902

6990 E Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480-998-1734

9393 N 90^th Street., Scottsdale, AZ 85258 (480) 860-2611 

I think there are many of us who are happy to put 2010 behind us. It was quite a year indeed. I have a good feeling about 2011 already, especially with such a strong start at work as our phone are ringing off the hook with calls from people who want to enjoy a vacation rental in Scottsdale, Arizona. That’s where we come in! We are Arizona Lodging Experts, and we manage over 50 premier properties in Arizona in all the top areas, like Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Cave Creek. We have an experienced, knowledgeable staff ready to help you plan a wonderful Scottsdale Arizona vacation. We have been involved in Arizona home rentals for over 10 years now, so don’t waste time looking on your own, just call the experts today. If you want one of our Scottsdale rentals, or any other area in the valley that we might offer, we will do our best to find a great place for you to stay. “It’s what we do”!

We would like to remind all of our winter visitors that there are a ton of great activities and events to enjoy in town during your stay in a relaxing home rental in Arizona. Many people visit Arizona year-round due to the great weather, and many of these activities go hand in hand. You can enjoy the Insight Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, Barrett Jackson and the Arabian Horse Show, concerts and plays and so much more! They predict a warm winter for us, so we recommend you come and take full advantage of it. To begin, you need to contact the experts at Arizona Lodging Experts and find yourself a great property to rent. ALE (for short) offers Phoenix Arizona property management, rentals in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Goodyear, Anthem, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Paradise Valley and Carefree. They excel in customer service and attention to detail to ensure you find a great property to rent. Call the experts today at 602-404-2982 and 866-785-2350.

It’s my favorite time of year. According to the Farmers Almanac Arizona is posed to have a warm winter for 2011. With a multitude of upcoming outdoor events this is a good thing. My two favorite events are Barrett-Jackson Car Auction and Russo and Steele Car Auction. Not everyone thinks to rent a vacation home when they come out for these events, or maybe your only planning on staying for 1-2 days in which case a vacation home wouldn’t be a good fit. However if you are planning your family vacation around these two auctions and you plan on being in town for more then a week or two a Scottsdale Vacation Home would help make your stay in our town a relaxing and fun one. In  Scottsdale Arizona vacation rentals you have the option of cooking your own meals, or grilling out on your patio or even being able to pack lighter knowing you have access to your own private washer and dryer are all a plus. Whether you’re looking for an ultra high-end luxury vacation home or something a little more modest, we have everything from 1-bedroom condos to larger furnished townhomes that can sleep up to eight. Arizona Lodging Experts has it all.

Some people that are new to vacation homes or even just people that are new clients often ask, “How do I know if it’s safe to book with your company”

Arizona Lodging Experts is a fully licensed Real Estate Brokerage. We operate a trust account in accordance with Arizona Real Estate Law. We are also registered with the Arizona Department Of Real Estate, Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau and have been in the Property Management Business for over 10 years. In that period of time we have earned the trust of hundreds of vacationing families and have many clients that come back year after year. We look forward to having you as our customers and hopefully you will make Barrett-Jackson and Arizona Lodging Experts your annual family tradition for years to come.

I woke up to an unusual site today when I step out onto my patio early this morning. We had fog as thick as “pea soup” in Phoenix, which is very odd for the Valley of the Sun.

I bet visitors who are in town enjoying a winter rental in Arizona were a little surprised to see fog on the ground, and I bet they most likely booked their lodging through Arizona Lodging Experts, the premier Scottsdale property management with over 10 years experience in helping people to find great rentals in Arizona.

It was exciting to see the foggy conditions, because it’s so rare for Arizona, but it was also difficult to drive in the fog without feeling a little unsafe, you know what I mean. It all worked out well as the fog lifted at about 9am to reveal the clouds over the surrounding mountains, including Camelback and Mummy Mountain.

We are being told to be prepared for a warm winter, so we are expecting more visitors to make their way to Arizona, and we welcome them gladly. If anyone is looking for lodging in Arizona, all you have to do is contact Arizona Lodging Experts at 602-404-2982 and 866-785-2350. They will do their very best to find you a great rental from one of their Arizona home rentals, condos or townhomes. Call the experts today!

On the recommendation of two fellow employees at our office, my wife and I enjoyed a wonderful meal, complete with drinks, appetizers and great company, at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. It was a wonderful dining experience in every way.

First, we arrived early on a Saturday afternoon, so we beat the late night crowd. We began with drinks at the bar while we waited for our table. Our table was ready within 5 minutes of our arrival, so great service so far. Once we sat down and had a few minutes to look over the menu, we ordered some appetizers. We tried the Fried Calamari, Coconut Shrimp and Crabfingers, which were delicious as each was served with its own signature sauce of some kind. The Coconut shrimp came with some coleslaw is a spicy red sauce, and it was a big hit! Next it was time to order dinner. Lolis ordered the Jumbo Shrimp Brochette (char-grilled bacon wrapped shrimp filled with Monterey jack cheese & a sliver of jalapeno and dirty rice), and she loved it! Spencer went for the Hudson Bay Platter (shrimp brochette, grilled scallops & Caribbean lobster tail, with fresh green beans & dirty rice), and he enjoyed it very much. I decided to have the Costa Rican Tilapia Lafayette (grilled tilapia topped with fresh lump crabmeat, shrimp, tomato’s, capers & basil in beurre blanc with fresh green beans and spaghetti squash), and I am very, very happy with what I ordered. To top off the meal, we each ordered some wonderful dessert which included Crème brelee and Banana wafer pudding. The entire experience was fantastic from beginning to end, and the service from our waiter Ryan was top notch.

I would recommend Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen to anyone who is in Arizona, whether you are a local resident or a winter visitor enjoying a relaxing Scottsdale rental, (or one of the vacation rentals in Phoenix Arizona) and experience it for yourself. I think you will be happy you did. Oh, and don’t forget, if you need assistance finding a wonderful rental in Arizona, then you can call the experts at Arizona Lodging Experts. With over 10 years experience and lodging in many areas in Arizona, they will do their best to find you the best lodging available. Call the experts today at 602-404-2982 and 866-785-2350.

I couldn’t help notice the amazing sunset last night as I stopped by my local Fry’s Grocery Store. It kind of reminds me that Christmas is just 9 days away!

I love the Christmas Holidays because I get to spend time with my lovely wife and my family, but I have another reason to love it so much; my wife was born on December 25^th, so we get to celebrate Christmas and her birthday together, which is a true blessing.

As we make our way to the malls this year to do our share of shopping, we are noticing a lot of snowbird plates in the parking areas, which is nice to see. I think people are seeing the unusual warm weather we are having in sunny Arizona and they are making their way to the valley to enjoy all the fun and festivities as they stay in a comfortable Arizona home rental. Many activities we enjoy each year are outdoors, so this great weather has done its job and brought everyone “out and about”.

If you are not sure how to find a great rental in Arizona, then contact the team at Arizona Lodging Experts. They specialize in property management in Scottsdale, Phoenix and many other areas in Arizona, and they pride themselves on customer service with premium rentals. Call the experts at 480-429-3844 and 877-976-1234 today!