Cheers to you friends.

After a looooong day at work yesterday, Nikki and I hit The W for cocktails then Harpers Nursery to pickup flowers for the office. Little did I know that she was buying extra time for the organizers of my very own surprise birthday party!!!

Holy shit! A surprise birthday party!????

Tis true. Last night, my little house in Tempe was packed with my nearest and dearest pals. Sangria and friends, what could anyone ask for?

I’ll tell ya.

Catering by my new local fave, Taste of the Caribbean!!! (4.5 Stars by The Republic) Curried Goat, Braised Oxtail, Plantains… jebus christ this was all so awesome.

And the guests kept showing up! Including Mrs. Largo herself!

Everyone: Thanks for the gifts, eats but more importantly… thanks for being my friends and spending your evening with me at casa largo. I need you all in my life and I’m so grateful that we’re pals. xoxoxo.

Super shout out to Adam for putting it all together. If you were here, you know how awesometown it was. Yes, this was the best bday gift ever.

Ever.

EDITOR’S NOTE: My birthday is really on Monday, so there’s still time to send gifts and cocktails. (writer’s note: I have no editor)

@UpAgency was the #1 trending term on Twitter for Phoenix and surprisingly, we were flooded with unsolicited job inquiries (not including intern interest). Bonus: media people we really, really respect said some very encouraging words to us.

What more could we ask for? Thanks for the love!

Now let’s get this blog focused back on food…

Our new Chief of Hospitality & Tourism, Nikki Buchanan is on her way back from a well deserved vacation in California.

Our new PR Overlord, Stacy Pearson just wrapped up her Sunday here at Rivers & Leaves Media Up Agency HQ.

Over the past few days, we’ve all been knee-deep in client work while planning an extensive comm plan for this announcement thing.

Honestly, this is the first time I’ve invested serious effort in my own business development since I opened Rivers & Leaves in 2008. All of my success is based on word of mouth (thanks to many friends/clients in the industry).

Hell. I didn’t have a business card until May of 2010. Never bothered with a logo. Nope, no web presence to speak of.

We were a faceless/nameless ghost for almost 3 years. When cold calls came in to the office, the first thing I would say was “Congrats for managing to get in touch with us, we’re notoriously difficult to reach!”

It was true.

I spent all my time building business for clients and no time on myself.

But now it’s bigger than me. Bigger than Rivers & Leaves.

Now it’s we. Team Up.

But, any modicum of success I’ve had in the past has always been due to the company I kept…

Ben McFadden, my programmer and web developer extraordinaire has been with me for 7 years. As a freshman in high school, he was one of my first interns. He was my Padawan who quickly exceeded the Jedi Master. When I moved to the software industry and needed a seasoned expert, he was my first pick (he was a senior in HS then). After jumping the silicon ship, I asked Ben to jump with me one more time.

He did. And here we are. He’s still with me and I owe him so much.

Then came John. And then went John. And then he came again. Just when I needed him the most, he was there. Personal assistant, savior, salsa dancer… what title hasn’t he earned? Somehow you put up with my craziness. Tolerated my insane ideas. And filtered my raw creativity into effective communications. You’ve been awesome, despite the nauseating McDonald’s bags in the office. You are praised, and forgiven.

Luke, the only thing that could top having a communication Ph.D. and professor at my side is having a best friend by my side. Late night cigarettes and vodka have fueled many creative sessions over the years. Your endless encouragement kept me going during those 90-hour work weeks.

Adam. We still miss you, but you’ve certainly earned Honored Emeritus status. Especially when you strolled into the office today with a loaded serving tray to announce “I made fresh popovers for you two.” Stacy practically shit her pants in admiration when you walked up to the door with a plate of steamy baked goods, honey and butter. Rockstar.

And now the future…

Nikki, we’ve had a hell of a lot of fun these past few years. It’s only just begun. Thanks for taking a leap of faith with me and starting a new adventure together.

Stacy, “fresh popovers” is our version of “look at the Earth!” (an inside joke that I’m ironically not inside, but privy to).

But why look down at the Earth when we can look Up?

Flash forward to 6:09 a.m. today…

During my brainstorming session this morning (a.k.a. the shower), I realized I forgot to say thanks to the folks who made this all possible and will continue to make it possible in the future!

I’m sooooo fortunate to have a primo list of clients who trust me. Thanks for letting me help shape your businesses, products and services. Thanks for hearing out those doodles-on-bar-napkin ideas and trusting me to pull them off.

A statewide culinary event. A restaurant that let’s folks “come together.” A giant wine festival on a farm. “You Can Still Do Your Laundry Here Because I Love You” cookie collections. A talking/flying dog. Foursqaure mayors with true mayoral duties.

We’ll never run out of ideas. Promise.

People think it’s easy to partner with the best brands who already have great stories to tell to the public. I think it’s the opposite.

Working with the best means we have to be on our toes and kicking ass 24/7.

Thanks for partnering Up.

Back to the food blog roots… just wanted to share a few observations from recent dining experiences. These are a little on the negative nancy side, but tomorrow I’ll share some things I really like!

But first, let’s rip the band-aid off and let the healing begin…

Fine Dining Staff That Wear Costumes.
Save the act for Walt Disney World. (that’s where I did my internship… long story). Folks already know they’re in a Spanish restaurant, no need for Flamenco dancers and matador costumes.

Taco Fever.
Hello 2007-08 (along with the burger). I swear I was only joking when I suggested an event around this food as commodity staple. Then *poof* it appeared! Don’t’ get me wrong, I love a good taco! Who doesn’t? The hype is about 2-3 years too late, kids.

Tasteless “Eye Candy” Cupcakes.
Or any bland sweet for that matter. You know who you are. People still love you cause you were the first to push the product with a cute name. Certainly not the best. Ah the sweet taste of mediocrity.

Expensive Frozen Yogurt.
Wait, what? Yeah, Mojo blows. Anyone have a good lead on great froyo that’s not a gouger?

$16 Cocktails
I’ve always despised this, but even more so after my NYC trip. Even $14 is really pushing it. If the top bars in the country can pull off the best cocktail I’ve had in my life for only $12, y’all have no business charging $16+ for vodka sugar bombs.

That said, if you follow my live food adventures on Twitter, you’ve probably seen “the countdown” for Rivers & Leaves Media (my marketing/pr firm).

On 8/9/10 at 11am, I’ll be announcing a major shift in my career, personal life and an ambitious venture that will hopefully impact our food scene. Be the first to get the announcement by visiting the website and drop your email address! Everyone is welcome to get the scoop!

Who has signed up?

Many members of the media, PR firms, food nerds, friends, restaurants, industry folks and tweeps from all over the country. Hundreds. It’s exciting and motivating to see the interest in what’s next.

Of course, there are many rumors trying to crack the news including a new food festival, firm mergers, journalism offers from national publications, partnerships, my own TV show, opening a restaurant and many more. My only comment is, what makes you think it’s just one of these things?

What do you think?

Petite Maison’s quaint quarters will have to squeeze in an extra table Friday night. Get a preview of the highly-anticipated Beckett’s Table restaurant as Chef Beckett (close friend and client) will be the guest chef at Staff Meal tomorrow!

I will be there schmoozing (perhaps boozing) with all that show up! See you there.

Inside the Fashion & Style section of  today’s Arizona Republic, you’ll find a splashy spread on inventor Treg Bradly who dreamed up a genius solution for black-thumbed folks like me.

Commissioning industrial designer Karim Rashid, they sculpted a super-functional planter that suits design nerds like yours truly.

Here’s the article by Kara G. Morrison: ARTICLE LINK

Here’s the website : PRODUCT WEBSITE

See, I told you I was NOT drunk when I tweeted this story...

After a limited 5 days in the city, I’m woefully under qualified to declare a “Best Bar”… but I’m gonna do it anyway. So there.

Don’t expect detailed descriptions… after all, I was drinking like a champ.

Death + Company

Took me three tries to get into this place! No rezzos, but if you show up and give them your number, they’ll buzz you when a spot is open. Worth the 1.5 wait? Yes. (Tip, go around the corner some badass brooklyn style pizza. Seriously, go.

The graphic design nerd in me fell in love with the playful menu. The alcoholic in me loved the drinks and service. Dark and mysterious.

http://www.deathandcompany.com/lounge

Angel Share

By far, this was the most-recommended bar by all tweeps and peeps. Walk up narrow stairs into a busy little Japanese restaurant. Make a sharp left turn and pull open the unmarked wooden door…. bingo. One of my favorite drinks of the entire trip was a cinnamon and fuji apple laced take on a classic. A soft shell crab salad was a perfect light nibble, ordered from the restaurant next door.

No Website

PDT

I can’t say much about this place. Seriously. (Stands for Please Don’t Tell). Think hotdogs + phone booths. Secret spot hidden in the most unlikely of places.

Order a bacon infused Old Fashioned with your hotdog. Don’t expect big blowup of  bacon flavor in your mouth or a stick of bacon bobbing in the drink. This a beautifully balanced and boozy drink.

http://www.pdtnyc.com

Pegu Club

Drumroll…. THE WINNER. By far, the cocktail king of this trip was Pegu Club. In fact, I went a second night because it was just that good. Every single vessel was victorious and drew dramatic sighs of bliss from our group.

Best cocktail of the trip: The Earl Grey MarTEAni. The body shutters with each sip of this sexy love potion. This may have been the best drink of my life. Shout-out to Kenta behind the bar. You are a god among men.

http://www.peguclub.com

má pêche

Although it’s not a bar, honorable mention goes out to má pêche of the momofuku restaurant clan. Our prix fixe lunch was terrific, but the cocktails left us buzzing. (literally). My traveling companion made it a point to seek out the bartender and give thanks for the splendid sippers.

http://www.momofuku.com/ma-peche

-JxP

I’m on day three in the city. But not enough time to write + eat + drink + work. If you wanna keep up, follow me on Twitter!

I’m taking a minute to recap the James Beard dinner.

1. The house is amazing. Four stories and you enter through the actual kitchen. Tons of funky history on the walls including Beard’s psychedelic chef coat.

2. Greg blew everyone away. Pasta was my favorite course.

3. Sat with new friends at Bon Appetit.  Talked food, NYC and the ridiculousness of SB1070.  Got encouragement to write an op-ed piece on the subject.

4. So proud of Greg and team. So nice to be in the company of giants in the industry.

VIDEO: Here’s a poor quality video of the main dining room.

-JxP

Whether I need to bike to burn the upcoming consumed calories OR bike to avoid driving while zonked out, here are my favorite nearby spots in my hood. Enjoy!

Essence Bakery Cafe – Heaven on Earth

Hands down, the best restaurant in Tempe. Period. Well, not period, there’s ton’s to say about the fresh pastries, breakfast and lunch menus. According to my personal trainer I’m “dangerously close to this restaurant.” -disclaimer, yes they are a client, but that just proves that 1.) I have good taste 2.) Only the best spots make it to my client roster.
Website | 480-966-2745

El Pollo Supremo – Grilled goodness

You can feed 50 people with 20 bucks. The menu is as basic as it gets, charbroiled chicken or beef. Don’t forget the beans, tortillas and vinegary onions.
No Website | 480-966-3713

Caffe Boa – My watering hole

This is my drinkin spot. Ian the bartender will take care of you! He makes my Negroni’s just the way I like em. Happy hours is a great way to sneak in some munchies with your wine or spirits.
Website | 480-968-9112

Boulders on Broadway – Bar & Grill

Skip the food and come for the beer specials. Odell draft is on the cheaps here! Comfy alternative to the sometimes too-sceney Casey Moores. (full of costume hipsters)
Website | 480-921-9431

Cafe Lalibela – Ethiopian

Tempe is great for ethnic gems, this may be the best. I don’t care if it’s 130 degrees in mid summer, I can always go for the wintry slow cooked, stewed dishes included beef, veg, and my favorite… lamb.
Website | 480-829-1939

-Your food pal, JxP