Taking a break.

I am taking a hiatus from this site to focus on other projects. Feel free to visit me over at East Valley Mom Guide or Celebrating Family.  Thanks!

Jess’s Creamery

Can you beat homemade ice cream?  No.  Not really.

I recently took my children to try out Jess’s Creamery after a long hike. We have been back twice since. Although Jess’s serves sandwiches, soups and other items, we have only had the ice cream. The ice cream is served either plain, in a shake, as a float or with toppings. You can also get something mixed in on a cold stone like that other big name place. The difference is that Jess’s has slightly better prices and much better ice cream. I had a very dark chocolate ice cream with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups mixed in. Yum.

Jess’s Creamery

2885 W Superstition Blvd

Apache Junction, AZ

Shop AJ!

Technorati Tags: jess's creamery,apache junction,ice cream

Los Favoritos Taco Shop

 

I have been frequenting Los Favoritos for a couple of years now, so I decided that I might as well blog about it.  I simply love Los Favoritos. The staff is friendly, the food is good and the atmosphere is authentic. They have several locations, but since this in a "Shop AJ" blog, I will focus on the Apache Junction location which is at 1879 West Apache Trail, just west of Ironwood.

My favorite item to order at Los Favoritos is the bean and cheese burrito. It is inexpensive and pretty big for what you pay ($2.20). My children also love it, although, due to its size I have the cook make it a little smaller than usual.

Another delicious item on the menu is the chicken taco. They are made with shredded chicken and are so good you will only make the mistake of ordering just one once.

As you can see, there are many other items on the menu, including horchata and tamarindo. Be sure to stop by and try Los Favoritos out.

Los Favoritos

1879 W. Apache Trail

(480)982-1860

Shop AJ!

 

Technorati Tags: los favoritos,apache junction

los favoritos,apache junction

The Hitching Post - Pizza Pub

The Hitching Post is located at 2341 N. Apache Trail, right next to the Dash Inn convenience store. Our neighbors invited us to check out this new restaurant and we were glad that we did. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the lively atmosphere and authentic old west feel. There was a live band playing, an active dance floor, a variety of video games, and a rustic looking bar. We were there with a pretty diverse group and there was something for everyone.

The band that was playing that night was the Western Electric Band and they were excellent. If I had known there was going to be live music, especially with a band as good this band is, I would not have worn flip flops.  I will remember to put on some dancing shoes the next time I visit the Hitching Post.

There were several video games for the children in our group to play including everything from Motocross games to good old-fashioned Ms. Pac-Man (my favorite).

For the shopper in your family, there is also a gift shop which features the handiwork of local artists. The items were very nice, unique, and well-priced.

Such a great atmosphere would be totally wasted without good food. We ordered pizza and wings and they were awesome.  I am told that a New Yorker and a Chicagoan are employed as cooks.  I am not sure if that is true or not, but I will say that the pizza is a Chicago-style thin crust and is truly delicious.

The wings were a hit with the carnivores in our group.

I will definitely be going back to the Hitching Post. The food was great, the atmosphere was fun and lively, and the service was fantastic and friendly (and for you single guys out there, the women serving the tables are beautiful). Grab a friend and head to the Hitching Post for some fun and some great food.

 

The Hitching Post

2341 N. Apache Trail

(480) 983-8800

Shop AJ!

Dirtwater Springs

 

Dirtwater Springs is located at 586 West Apache Trail. It has been an Apache Junction favorite for over 25 years. Our family went in for dinner on a weeknight at an off hour so we could avoid the crowds that always seem to assemble there at busier times. 

My son loved the western atmosphere which is also fun and friendly. The menu is diverse, with everything from Mexican food to country fried steak. The star of the menu is a 72-ounce steak. Other than its enormous size, what make this steak special is that if you eat the steak and all the "fixins" in one hour or less, your meal is free (just make sure you call your order in ahead of time so they can cook the giant up for you).

We ordered a sampler appetizer which included something for everyone in our family.

I decided to try a Mexican food dish so I ordered a 2 item combo with a tostada and a cheese enchilada.

My children had chicken tenders with fries (and ranch dressing of course).

Finally, my husband ordered ribs - which he raved about. He wanted even more because my children stole some off of his plate.

 

The most memorable part of the outing for my children was the western atmosphere which kept them pointing fingers and asking questions. My son was beaming as he drank his sarsaparilla out of a bottle and he really got a kick out of the swinging doors leading into the bathrooms.

If you are looking for an authentic western atmosphere and a friendly experience, stop by Dirtwater Springs. If you are feeling brave go ahead and try that 72 ounce steak.  ;)

 

Dirtwater Springs

586 W Apache Trail

(480)983-3478

Shop AJ!

 

 

Crow's Nest Cafe

The Crow's Nest Cafe is located at 185 North Apache Trail. It is in the strip right next to Best Hardware.

The first thing I noticed when I walked into the Crow's Nest Cafe was that it was filled with customers. I also noticed the quaint and homey decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. The back wall held a sign with the day's specials and I ordered off of the board: a grilled cheese sandwich with minestrone soup for $3.99! My husband ordered a cheeseburger with curly fries and we both ordered drinks. We enjoyed our food a lot. The grilled cheese and minestrone tasted just like it would if you made it at home, but without the work and mess to clean up. When I asked my husband for a comment on his burger he replied "better than a Whopper." His burger was served on a very nice bun and was the perfect size.

The cheeseburger - big and beautiful.

 

The day's lunch special. Minestrone and grilled cheese for $3.99.

 

We did not have time to order dessert. But we got a picture of the chocolate sundae. It looked yummy and sells for about $2.99.

The staff was friendly, the food was good, and the prices were just right. With a good sized tip, we got out of there for $15. That's pretty good in today's economy. Speaking of value, the Crow's Nest Cafe has a very low priced children's menu. Kids eat breakfast for $1.99 and lunch or dinner for $2.99. That is cheaper than a happy meal and surely tastier.

Stop by and visit the Crow's nest Cafe for some homestyle food and friendly service. You won't regret it.

Two important notes: The Crow's Nest cafe only accepts cash payment. Also, the Cafe is not located under the sign on the building. If you are facing the building, it is located a few doors to the right of the sign.

 

 

Crow's Nest Cafe

185 North Apache Trail

(480) 671-7720

Shop AJ!

 

City Signs

If you are looking for family-friendly service and great workmanship, look no further than City Signs. They create and sell business cards, t-shirts, signs, flags, postcards, banners, hats, magnets, lapel pins, calendars, vehicle lettering and much more.

My shopping experience at City Signs consisted of buying numerous items for my campaign for City Council. They were very helpful and always willing and able to talk me through the process of ordering. They helped me create a consistent theme throughout my products, and the designs they came up with were very professional looking. But the best thing about City Signs is its staff. I dealt with the Verley family - who were always ready to spoil my children when I brought them in - and Carrie, who created some beautiful products for me. Every single person at the store is friendly and hardworking. In addition, the employees and owners of the store are involved in charitable organizations and public service in Apache Junction.

The Verley family has been in the sign business for over 22 years. If you need work done for your business (business cards, signs, etc.) or if you want to create a unique personalized gift for family (t-shirts, calendars, etc.), stop in at City Signs and see what they can do for you.

City Signs

1879 West Apache Trail in Apache Junction.

(480) 962-6696