“My favorite color… the seam of a desert horizon.” ~ Eileen Tabios
It’s difficult to hide my adoration for the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. About five years ago – before I started traveling and writing – my wife and I first visited the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale. The resort is a scant ten minutes north of our home, and a friend had highly recommended that we visit for drinks and the view.
We were mesmerized, and I immediately fell in love with the Four Seasons brand, its style, and its incredibly kind, attentive, and friendly people. We had our own Four Seasons, right in our backyard. Amazing.
And after years of visiting the property and its restaurants for drinks, lunch, dinner, lazy Sundays, entertaining out-of-town guests, and whenever we felt the need to simply get away, things came full circle this past July when I visited the property to write a feature article titled “Best Staycation Resorts in Arizona” which you can read if you Click Here.
During my visit, we enjoyed dinner at the property’s signature restaurant Talavera, which is widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in Scottsdale – a reputation that is richly deserved.
Setting and Views
The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North is perched high in the North Scottsdale Sonoran Desert, and Talavera is situated on the second level of the property, facing south toward Pinnacle Peak. The views of the Sonoran Desert horizon from the Talavera outdoor dining space are breathtaking.
The Talavera Tasting Menu
The Talavera Tasting Menu is a Six Course Tasting Menu, and is the creation of Talavera Head Chef Mel Mecinas, with optional Sommelier-Selected Wine Pairings – which I highly recommend. The food was fresh, inventive, flavorful, and the final beef course was one of the most tender and delectable that I’ve ever enjoyed. Talavera sources local and regional ingredients, and the flavors are vibrant. (Click Here to view the Talavera Dinner menu.)
The Wine Pairings
There is nothing finer than fresh, flavorful, craft food paired perfectly with unique and varied wines – and Talavera excels in this respect. The wines were quite varied in grape type, location, and region to expertly complement the dishes. My favorite was the Boston Bual Special Reserve Madeira, paired with the beef course – culinary poetry.
Monthly Mashups at Talavera
This fall, Talavera is partnering with local chefs and offering a “Monthly Mashups” Dinner Series, which looks absolutely amazing. Here are the dates and the local chefs who will work with Talavera Chef Mel Mecinas, and each dinner will feature a four-course tasting menu, with highlights from each chef’s culinary concept:
· Sept. 20, 2015: Join Chef Danielle Leoni of The Breadfruit & Rum Bar for a Jamaican-influenced menu, paired with rum cocktails.
· Oct. 4, 2015: Chef Matt Taylor of Gertrude’s at The Desert Botanical Garden presents a fall harvest menu, complementing Talavera’s steakhouse cuisine.
· Nov. 29, 2015: Chef Joshua Hebert from Posh Improvisational Cuisine joins Chef Mecinas to present a caviar-influenced menu, accompanied by sparkling wine.
· Dec. 13, 2015: Chef Matt Carter of The House Brasserie will work with the Talavera team for a holiday-inspired menu featuring all things truffle.
To make reservations, just call Restaurant Reservations at the Four Seasons Scottsdale at 480-513-5085.
Final Thoughts on Talavera
Of all of my restaurant articles, I’ve easily visited Talavera the most; which should tell you all you need to know about the restaurant. It’s simply divine and consistently superlative – food, service, views, and ambiance.
Talavera is a very special place, and the experience will change you; and once you’re there, take a deep breath, look south, and you’ll discover your new favorite color . . . the seam of a desert horizon.
Talavera at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Talavera (Website) – 10600 East Crescent Moon Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85262 (Google Maps)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalaveraRestaurant
Twitter: @FSScottsdale
More Pictures!
Thanks very much to Kim and everyone at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North for welcoming me, and opening the resort to myself and my wife. We feel an intense connection to the property, and regardless of how many Four Seasons I visit around the world, Scottsdale will always be our “Home” Four (All) Seasons.
Please note that I received compensation in the form of dining, and that the opinions expressed in this article are entirely my own.
Thank you very much for reading!
#agp
