I started out with thoughts of everything that I would blog...  cooking, pots, books, restaurants, wine.   And so far, I have hit everything on the list... except for restaurants.   In fact, I will plan to write something about a restaurant and then while waiting for inspiration to hit, NOT blog for a couple of weeks. So why?  Partly it has to do with the awful (and long) reviews done by amateurs on the web.  And snotty reviews done by professionals.  So I figure I need a different way... get the word out about the places I like.  Here it goes:

Atlas Bistro, have been there many times (overall, would rate as my favorite restaurant in Phoenix), the last visit was Saturday:

The pitch:  Global inspired French cuisine meets wine store.  With a little Southwest kick.

The good: The food, especially the starters.  Roy had the Duck Confit starter (followed by soup and a rabbit entrée), I had 3 starter plates: Snapper with crispy skin, Heirloom tomato and goat cheese stack, lamb loin. It was perfect.  Plus desserts.

The special: BYOB... and we brought some special wine, and always share a glass with the waiter (and never seem to have a corkage fee).

The dangerous: As long as you are there, picking up a mixed case of wine after dinner.
The bad:  A bit of a drive to south Scottsdale.