PHOENIX Magazine Editors’ Picks for February/March 2024
What’s inside the latest edition of our sister publication. Pick up a copy of PHOENIX, on newsstands now, or go to phoenixmag.com.
Something to Eat
Smoked sprats at Yasha from Russia
“Smoked what?” you might be asking. Nibbled like French fries on the dockside streets of Riga, these smoked, densely flavored sardines are a culinary passion in the Baltic nation of Latvia—one of 99 culinary cultures we highlight in this month’s “Dine Around the World” cover story. What started as a good but fairly routine concept (a food feature about different international cuisines and where you can find them in the Valley) exploded into the single largest reporting endeavor we’ve ever undertaken: 48 pages of omakase platters, Ethiopian wots, Yemeni turmeric lamb stews and much, much more. Besides the sprats at Yasha, a Russian market and food counter in Phoenix (yasha-from-russia.business.site), here are some other culinary deep cuts we found.
• Porkolt at Edelweiss Biergarten: Roughly one quarter of the menu at this must-visit German restaurant in North Phoenix is devoted to Hungarian food, including a
paprika-kissed pork stew called porkolt, the country’s signature dish. edelweissbiergarten.com
• Masgouf at Olive Branch Mediterranean: Served whole at this West Phoenix eatery, masgouf is the national dish of Iraq: carp seasoned with turmeric and tamarind, then slowed-broiled to a crispy, satisfying crunch. (602) 872-7146
• Pabellon criollo at Que Sazon: Similar to a Cuban ropa vieja, the national dish of Venezuela features beef slow-cooked in a mild chile braise and served alongside a mountain of black beans. Find it at PHOENIX 2023 Best New Restaurant finalist Que Sazon, stacked on an arepa with heaps of cotija cheese. que-sazon-south-american-cuisine-ceviche-bar.business.site
Somewhere to Go
Arizona Ski Resort Trio
In addition to destinations in California, Nevada and Utah, our seasonal “5 Winter Getaways” showcase also profiles Arizona’s humble selection of ski resorts—Ski Valley, Sunrise and Snowbowl. Our primer on the state’s alpine playgrounds includes lodging and restaurant tips.
Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley
Tucson
With only 200 skiable acres, 22 runs and three chairlifts, Ski Valley is quaint in comparison to most ski resorts. It can claim one superlative, though—it is the southernmost skiing destination in the U.S.
Sunrise Park Resort
Greer
Owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, this 1,200-acre ski area offers 67 trails suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. Accessible by eight chairlifts, many of the trails pay homage to its Native proprietorship via monikers like Apache Pass.
Arizona Snowbowl
Flagstaff
Offering 55 trails across more than 700 skiable acres serviced by eight lifts, Snowbowl’s terrain is a mix of well-maintained trails, challenging glades and steep slopes. At 12,637 feet, Snowbowl’s summit is the highest point in Arizona.
Something to Do
2024 WM Phoenix Open
Feb. 5-11
Known variously as “The People’s Open” and “The Greatest Show on Grass,” the Phoenix Open is the most-attended golf tournament in the world—and PHOENIX magazine is on it like white on Top Flite. First, we tee off with a splashy retrospective of Open-themed coverage in PHOENIX spanning the entire 58-year history of the magazine, assembled on our monthly Collections Dept. page. Then we sink an eagle with the annual WM Phoenix Open Field Guide, a supplemental issue offered free to our subscribers. Packed with on-course food and viewing tips, social media follows, fashion spreads and more, it’s your ideal playing partner for the Valley’s signature winter event. wmphoenixopen.com
Someone to Know
Gerd Wuestemann
Introducing Wilco as the inaugural performers at the Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheater was a proud moment for Gerd Wuestemann. The recently unveiled state-of-the-art facility is one of the first projects he took on when he was appointed president and CEO of Scottsdale Arts in 2018. In this issue’s Phoenix Files opener, writer Jason Keil profiles Wuestemann and his efforts to lift the nonprofit to new heights with year-round programming tailored to locals and a more ambitious stable of outdoor festivals and events. This all comes after Wuestemann’s initial “apology tour” to show the Scottsdale City Council that the nonprofit was a good steward of the resources the city appropriates every year after the organization had operated in the red for years before his arrival, he says. “It is an ongoing process that we have to be fully committed to,” Wuestemann says of the Scottsdale Arts evolution. “I am very much committed to that.” Read more in our business profile.
