The Phoenix Traveler

It had been nearly two years since I’d seen my friend who lives/works on the west side of town, in Glendale. We’d tried to schedule get-togethers before, but they just never panned out. You know how it goes. I should have known we’d find time for chocolate and wine. Can anyone resist that? Um, not me.

Of all times to visit–during the holiday season–we finally managed to set a solid date and agreed to meet at a restaurant near her, the “Italian trattoria” called NoRTH — It’s a Fox Concepts restaurant serving what they call “Modern Italian” cuisine. I’ve been there many times; there are a few locations in the Valley (Check the Web site to find one nearest you.), and I prefer the one at Kierland Commons because of the outdoor patio. But this one’s nice as well, and close to an AJ’s if you need to pick something up at the market for the ride home.

It’s one of those sleek interior-stylized restaurants with dark wood tables and mini glass tiles in the bathroom (It was absolutely freezing cold in there!). The menu includes antipasti appetizers, pizza, Italian pasta dishes you’ve never heard of before–along with Italian wines you can’t pronounce. You think it’s going to cost way too much. (Careful, some meals do.) But we chose thoughtfully and creatively, opting for new-to-us dinners and wound up with this: 

Pasta Bolognese, Reggiano Parmesan, Flat Leaf Parsley, $16 (This was tube pasta with a very rich meat sauce, with tiny bits of carrots and veggies. I liked it.)

Strozzapreti, Mushrooms, Wilted Spinach, Pine Nuts, Parmesan Cream, $16 (This was long curly pasta with chicken, $4 extra, not as rich, and my friend said it was okay. I didn’t try it.)

We also picked a bottle of wine neither of us had ever heard of before and ordered that:

‘06 Valpolicella DOC – Le Salette, Veneto, Italy, $36 (It was a red wine, but I had to come home to look up where it comes from specifically. I found out it’s from a province in the Verona region, hill country. It had a nice light, fruity finish, not too tannic. I’d buy it again but would prefer a more hearty red wine with the meal I ate.)

We hung out at North for several hours, catching up, nursing the wine. And then it came time for dessert. I’m sorry to say I didn’t get the exact name of it, but we ordered the one with the ingredient that immediately caught our attention–chocolate, a chocolate mousse cake made with Nutella, $6. It was really, really rich and tasty. The texture was more heavy creamy than light and mousse-like. I definitely needed the coffee to wash it down. It was so rich, however, together we didn’t even finish it all. You need a third person for that.

Still, I suggest while you’re out there doing your holiday shopping, if you happen in be in Glendale (anywhere near 67th Avenue and the 101 Freeway), this would be the treat to satisfy your sweet tooth or hunger pangs in between store visits. Here are the before and after photos to prove what I mean:

If you go:

NoRTH Glendale
20004 N. 67th Ave., #500 (Map it.)
Call 623-537-4500 for reservations.

(Photos courtesy of Rebecca I Allen, via her Blackberry.)

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