DECEMBER 2017 22 | FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM If you go to as many food-centric festivals as I do, you may have started to notice Freak Brothers Pizza — the mobile pizza shop offering up organic, non-GMO, gluten free and even vegan pizza options across the Valley. I first discovered their incredible, thin-crust, crispy pizza masterpieces at Lost Lake Festival and was ecstatic to see them again at the recent Phoenix Pizza Festival. They offer your standby favorites — like cheese and pepperoni — as well as more creative picks like the Sriracha Chicken and my personal favorite, the Pesto Madness. I’m incredibly impressed by this mobile wonder’s ability to deliver delicious, restaurant-quality, wood-fired pizza from a tent, but it’s been announced that they’ll be opening a restaurant in downtown Phoenix soon — which I already can’t wait to try. — Jamie Killin FREAK BROTHERS PIZZA Phoenix The revamp of Uptown Plaza at Central and Camelback has launched a few new entries into the Arizona culinary scene. The most recent is Elly’s Brunch & Cafe, which has already established itself as a weekend contender in the burgeoning North Central Phoenix restaurant scene. The sizable dining room lends itself to a great indoor/outdoor environment, and the expansive menu will scratch the itch of just about every breakfast and brunch connoisseur. You can go traditional with crepes and waffles, healthy with their salads and bowls, heavy with their ample-portioned breakfasts and sandwiches and highly caffeinated with a variety of quality coffees to choose from. With all the options to choose from in North Central, Elly’s Brunch and Cafe is one where you can be sure you won’t go wrong. — Tom Evans ELLY’S BRUNCH & CAFE Central Phoenix Photo: Freak Brothers Pizza Photo: Elly's Brunch & Cafe {where we ate this month} KITCHEN DOORS

DECEMBER 2017 FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM | 23 KITCHEN DOORS CONTINUED Central Phoenix Richardson's Cuisine of New Mexico I’ve literally grown up with Richardson’s. It became my favorite restaurant within about a year of my moving to the Valley after college, in the early Paleozoic Era. Put it this way — when it was time to take the future Mrs. Evans out for a proper first date, that’s where I took her. We’ve been back every year since on the Sunday after Thanksgiving (except for the period when the original burned down and the new one wasn’t built yet) — and about once a month since. And the key is variety — you want exceptionally tasty carne adovada? Go to Richardson’s. Top-notch steaks and seafood? Go to Richardson’s. Delicious pastas? Go to Richardson’s (although I’m still mad the Gumbo Pasta came off the menu). If you have a craving, chances are Richardson’s can fix it. Just as it’s always been, and hopefully always will be . — Tom Evans Photo: Richardson's