Skyler Paladino

Skyler Paladino Just your everyday home cook who enjoys making food

11/24/2025

You have to try !

Everyone kept telling me this spot has a great breakfast, so you know I had to stop by. One of Old Town Scottsdale’s most charming breakfast and brunch spots, serving creative dishes, gorgeous cocktails, and all the cozy brunch vibes.

This place is known for taking classics and giving them a fun, flavorful twist, from brioche French toast to herb-loaded avocado toast to sweet-and-savory favorites that hit every craving.

Here’s what I tried
🍞 Classic French Toast - fluffy brioche topped with macerated berries, candied almonds, and chai butter.
🥑 Avo & Herb Toast - herb avocado, marinated feta, arugula, tomato, lemon vinaigrette, and pepita dukkah for crunch.
🥪 Monte Cristo - honey roasted ham, swiss, and pineapple–jalapeño mascarpone between herbed brioche French toast. A sweet + savory masterpiece.
🍗 Chicken & Toast - fried chicken paired with herbed brioche French toast and blueberry preserves. Absolute comfort food energy.

Drinks to pair with:
☕ Classic Latte - simple, smooth, and perfectly done.
🍓 Strawberry Matcha - creamy, earthy, and lightly sweet.
🌵 Desert Daisy - tequila, prickly pear, hibiscus, orange, lime. It was bright and refreshing.
💗 Cactus Annie (spirit-free) - prickly pear hibiscus, lime, and soda, light and floral without the alcohol.

If you love a good breakfast spot that’s fun, flavorful, and beautifully plated, Prep & Pastry is an Old Town must.

🥑 Prep & Pastry
📍 7025 E Via Soleri Dr 175, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

11/20/2025

Just some easy skewers

11/18/2025

You have to try .hug !

Tempe’s newest comfort-food spot built on friendship, culture, and the kind of cooking that feels like home. This place was created by four friends from Jordan, who grew up treating meals as moments, to gather, laugh, and share with the people who matter. ChickenHug is their way of bringing that same warmth here with food made with care, flavor, and that signature “hug” in every bite.

Here’s what I tried
🍗 ChickenHug Meal - a half chicken that’s unbelievably tender, flavorful, and falls right off the bone. It comes with their three-seasoned rice blend, fresh-cut fries, veggies (sweet potatoes, shallots, corn & baby potatoes), coleslaw, and their iconic garlic sauce
🍟 Fresh-Cut Fries - crisp, golden, and hit with their house seasoning
🍚 Three-Rice Blend - aromatic, seasoned, and way more flavorful than your standard side
🥕 Roasted Veggies - hearty, sweet, and perfectly cooked

And the sauces deserve their own spotlight
🥛 Yogurt Sauce - so good you could legit drink it.
🧄 Garlic Sauce - smooth, bold, and wildly addictive
🌶️ Spicy Sauce - tons of flavor, a bit too spicy for me, but heat-lovers will be obsessed

Whether you’re grabbing a plate for yourself or feeding a whole group (they have meals for up to 8 people), ChickenHug delivers comfort, community, and seriously good food.

🍗 ChickenHug
📍 2070 E Apache Blvd Suite 103, Tempe, AZ 85281

11/17/2025

Is this the best omelette in the history of mankind?

11/16/2025

You have to try !

This is where real Texas-style barbecue meets Arizona mesquite smoke.
They’re keeping it old-school here, no shortcuts, just slow-smoked meats over mesquite wood that gives everything that deep, rich flavor you only get from hours in the pit.

Here’s what I tried:
🍖 St. Louis-Style Ribs - tender, smoky, and perfectly caramelized around the edges.
🥩 Prime Brisket – sliced your way, lean or juicy, both melt in your mouth good.
🔥 Burnt Ends - smoky, sweet, and sticky in their signature sauce.
🌶️ Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage - house-made with real jalapeños and sharp cheddar in every bite.
🍗 Turkey - perfectly smoked and glistening with juice and flavor.
🐖 Pulled Pork - smoky, tender, and ready to soak up a little sauce.

The Sauces
We all know good BBQ doesn’t need sauce, but when you do reach for it:
🏠 House - classic, rich, and smoky
🥇 Gold - sweet, tangy, and addictive
🔥 Hot & Sweet - that perfect spicy kick

The Sides
🥔 Potato Salad - creamy and classic
🧀 Mac N Cheese - loaded with green chiles for an extra pop of flavor
🌽 Aunt Susan’s Corn Casserole - sweet, buttery, and nostalgic
🥣 Lala’s Pinto Beans - hearty and smoky
🌶️ Texas Red Chili - bold and comforting
🥗 Lemon Poppyseed Coleslaw - bright and citrusy

If you’re craving authentic, no-nonsense BBQ that balances smoke, spice, and soul, Caldwell County BBQ delivers every time.

🍖 Caldwell County BBQ
📍18324 East Nunneley Road, Gilbert, AZ 85296 (location I visited)
📍546 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234
📍25000 S 206th Street, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
📍Locations in Peoria and Scottsdale coming soon!

11/13/2025

Let’s see if knows how to cook

11/11/2025

You have to try !

A newer grab-and-go spot in Tempe that’s swimming with bold flavor and serious comfort food energy. Everything’s made fresh to order, using quality ingredients like Boar’s Head cheese and house-made sauces that taste like home (but better).

Here’s what to dive into:

🦈 The Spaghetti Shipwreck - a boatload of spaghetti with Alfredo, meat sauce, meatball, and Italian sausage, all topped and toasted with mozzarella. The definition of loaded.
🥓 Overboard Bacon “Mac” & Cheese - cavatappi baked in a creamy cheddar and pepper jack mornay sauce, loaded with bacon and Hatch green chiles, topped with mozzarella and breadcrumbs.
🌶️ Squalo dei Spaghetti - spaghetti tossed in Alfredo, sautéed red bell peppers, onions, Italian sausage, and crispy bacon with a touch of heat.
🍞 Hammerhead Garlic Bread & Great White Cheesy Bread - slathered in homemade garlic butter and melted Boar’s Head mozzarella.
🍗 Chicken Parmesan Sub - crispy breaded chicken, marinara, mozzarella, and parmesan on a toasted roll.
🥩 Spaghetti Sharkanoff - spaghetti with meatball and rich beefy onion cream sauce, think Italian meets comfort food heaven.
🍋 Chicken Scampi - grilled chicken and spaghetti tossed in lemon garlic butter sauce with crushed red pepper.
🥜 Peanut Chicken Noodle - grilled chicken with spaghetti, tossed in peanut sauce, chili crisp, coconut cream, and soy, savory, sweet, and a little spicy.

It’s fast, it’s fresh, and it’s seriously good pasta. Perfect for when you want restaurant-quality flavor on the go.

🦈 Spaghetti Shark
📍 8830 S Kyrene Rd Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85284

11/07/2025

🍆🍆🍆

11/06/2025

You have to try !

A true Arizona gem serving up some of the best Middle Eastern food in the Valley.
What started back in 2016 at a small gas station in Peoria has grown into one of the most beloved Mediterranean spots around and for good reason. Every dish here is made from scratch daily, using fresh ingredients and generations of family tradition.

And let’s talk about their falafel rings…not your average falafel! 👀
They created their own custom falafel ring molds, crafting these perfectly crispy, golden rings that are light, airy, and packed with flavor. It’s a unique twist that’s become their signature (and earned them a #2 spot on Yelp’s list of best falafel in the U.S.).

Here’s what makes Casa De Falafel so special 👇
🥙 Plates, Pitas, Wraps & Bowls - build your meal your way with your choice of protein (chicken, beef, or falafel) and fresh toppings, sauces, and hot sauce.
🧆 Falafel Rings - the signature dish, made using their own custom molds and fried to golden perfection.
🍲 Lentil Soup - their “liquid gold” vegan favorite - creamy, comforting, and full of flavor.
🥩 Beef & Chicken Shawarma - tender, seasoned to perfection, and packed with bold flavor in every bite.
🍯 Homemade Baklava Bites - sweet, flaky perfection to end your meal on a high note.

From humble beginnings to national recognition, Casa De Falafel is built on hard work, heart, and flavor. Whether you’re vegan, a shawarma lover, or just craving something fresh and homemade, this spot brings everyone together around great food.

🥙 Casa De Falafel
📍 4920 W Thunderbird Rd Ste 119, Glendale, AZ 85306

11/05/2025

You have to try these chicken and veggie egg roll cups!

11/04/2025

You have to try !

One of Scottsdale’s OG coffee spots that’s back and better than ever. This place has been around since the 1980s, and after a full renovation, it’s totally reimagined, blending that classic charm with a modern, global-inspired menu. I’ve been gatekeeping this one for a while (it’s been my go-to coffee spot for years), but it’s officially too good not to share.

Here’s what I tried:
☕ Classic Latte - smooth, rich, and topped with perfect latte art - the kind of cup that reminds you why you love coffee.
🍵 Strawberry Cheesecake Matcha Latte - creamy, sweet, and slightly earthy - an unexpected favorite.
🥶 Cold Brew - my personal go-to. Bold, refreshing, and perfectly balanced.
🍳 Shakshuka - a warm and hearty brunch classic with rich tomato sauce and perfectly poached eggs.
🥞 Made-to-Order Crepes - I got my topped with Nutella, fresh strawberries, and a dusting of powdered sugar - the perfect sweet finish.

Whether you’re catching up with friends, posting up to work (like I do), or just chasing the perfect cup, Coffee Plantation’s got the vibe and now, the food to match.

☕ Coffee Plantation
📍 7366 E Shea Blvd #101, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

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Scottsdale, AZ

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