Lisa Mullavey | Contributing Writer Cool temperatures and crackling fires bring cravings for hot chocolate and gooey s’mores, both of which are not complete without the sweet and puffy goodness of marshmallows. The Toasted Mallow has made handcrafted marshmallows the star of this unique shop which boasts a large drink menu and a s’more bar where you build your own, toasted to your liking. You can also take home a variety of gourmet marshmallow products. On a recent visit, my kids had traditional s’mores which were perfectly toasted on top of homemade graham cracker cookies. Trust me when I say this is not your average s’more; they had to keep batting my fork away. To tie a bow around our experience, we purchased a package of vanilla cocoa marshmallows rolled in graham crackers and dipped in milk chocolate so we could make our own s’mores at home. THE TOASTED MALLOW Gilbert | thetoastedmallow.com It all started in 2005 with a husband and wife, an idea and a dark chocolate walnut cookie called the Urban Cookie. Today, Brady and Shaun Breese’s bakeshop offers a wide variety of cookies in addition to baked goods such as donuts, cupcakes, dessert bars and seasonal items. I stopped in to get some of their cookies to go. I chose two each of their milk and dark chocolate chip, double chocolate with sea salt, peanut butter, and dark chocolate walnut. Let’s just say that these cookies didn’t last long at home. While they were all amazing, my favorite was the double chocolate with sea salt. Pair these with an ice-cold glass of milk and set by the fireplace for a treat Santa and his helpers will be talking about until next year. Dietary restrictions? Urban Cookies Bakeshop has vegan selections as well as gluten-, dairy-, soy- and nut-free options. URBAN COOKIES BAKESHOP Phoenix | urbancookies.com Many people associate tamales with the holidays because they’re customarily served on Christmas Eve. To get into the holiday spirit, my husband and I visited Macayo’s for their tasty tamales. Having recently celebrated their 72 nd anniversary, this family-owned restaurant serves traditional Mexican food made with local ingredients. After noshing on chips and salsa, I ordered their Simply Perfect Margarita, a traditional recipe with a taste true to its name. My husband ordered the Cucumber Cilantro Margarita, a refreshing twist on the original. For our entrées, we both had a green corn and a beef tamale with rice and refried beans. Made from scratch, Macayo’s recipe has the perfect balance of masa (corn dough) and filling. The green corn tamales come topped with a savory green sauce which is the perfect complement for the sweetness of the corn, and the beef tamales are served with a delicious red sauce. We both left full and officially ready for the season. Macayo’s tamales can be ordered by the half and full dozen. MACAYO’S MEXICAN TABLE Eight Valley locations | macayo.com KITCHEN DOORS {tastes of the season} 42 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2018

KITCHEN DOORS CONTINUED A contemporary version of a tavern, Citizen Public House serves topnotch drinks and cuisine in Old Town. They recently debuted several seasonal menu items that my friend and I were eager to try. We met after work and started our evening with a few cocktails. I ordered the light and balanced Nutty Rhum ‘Nog made with key ingredients J.M. VO aged Rhum, Amontillado sherry and hazelnut milk. I especially enjoyed the garnish — homemade brittle made using local dates and hazelnuts. The flavor of this tasty drink popped when I took a bite of the brittle before taking a sip. My friend had a Small Town Hero, a full-flavored and pleasantly aromatic drink made with bourbon, ginger liqueur, Italian wine and orange bitters. For our entrée, we ordered their seasonal Smoked Duck Breast which came beautifully plated, boasting red and green hues. The duck was served atop creamy rosemary millet and sautéed spinach, finished with a Marasca cherry demi-glace and pickled apple slices, and garnished with pea puree and watercress. This dish was exceptional, and their seasonal menu is a must-try. Scottsdale | citizenpublichouse.com Citizen Public House