THE STOCKYARDS Phoenix | stockyardssteakhouse.com When I think of summer cookouts, my mind immediately conjures up the image of a juicy grilled steak. When it’s just too hot to grill outside, I head to a spot with deep local roots that I’ve been going to since I was a kid: The Stockyards. Known as Arizona’s Original Steakhouse, this Phoenix establishment opened its doors in 1947 and has since been the go-to restaurant for locals, tourists and politicians alike due to its Old West ambiance and traditional steakhouse fare centered around high-quality aged steaks and prime rib. I took my two sons to lunch here to celebrate the end of the school year. While they ordered grilled cheese off the kids’ menu, I went with one of my favorites, their rib-eye cooked medium rare, served with whipped potatoes and vegetables sauteed in butter and garlic. Their steaks are always perfectly cooked, which enhances the meat’s flavor. The Stockyards is open for lunch and dinner and features a happy hour menu in the saloon. ARIZONA WILDERNESS BREWING COMPANY Phoenix | azwbeer.com If you haven’t had a chance to check out Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company’s downtown location yet, add it to your list of places to visit this summer. Just opened in February, it’s the second location for the award-winning brewery and eatery. In addition to a wide selection of AZ Wilderness brews, there are many other beers available to choose from as well as wine and cocktails on tap. Their menu is filled with tasty small bites and sandwiches perfect for pairing with the ice-cold beverage of your choice. The afternoon I went, I ordered their honey hot pulled pork sandwich. AZ Wilderness starts with a soft bun topped with a hearty helping of slow-braised pulled pork tossed in their honey hot barbecue sauce. Jalapeño slaw adds a nice crunch and powerful kick. The sandwich is served with their delicious hand-cut duck fat fries. Get your taste buds ready, this sandwich is on the spicy side, but oh so good. JOE’S REAL BBQ Gilbert | joesrealbbq.com Located in Gilbert’s historic district, Joe’s Real BBQ is a family-owned and -operated restaurant with history, character and amazing food. It’s located in a charming restored grocery building dating back to 1929. Off the main dining room sits a large outdoor patio, providing plenty of additional seating for lunch and dinner crowds. Joe’s boasts that they smoke their meats “for hours, using only Arizona pecan wood and no gas, electricity or shortcuts,” and what a difference that makes. The result is a restaurant that’s always packed with a loyal following of customers. When we went, we started with a meat plate with brisket, pulled pork, a dinner roll and mac and cheese, which I loved because of the crispy breadcrumbs on top. We also got a barbecue sandwich with chopped brisket and a side of pork ribs and added creamed corn for our side. Their chopped brisket is hands-down my favorite with their pulled pork coming in a close second. The ribs are flavorful and cooked just right — the meat was tender and fell off the bone. For those who live outside of Gilbert, Joe’s is worth the drive. Lisa Mullavey | Contributing Writer 44 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | JUNE 2019 KITCHEN DOORS {bring on the barbecue}

In 2014, Scott Holmes and his wife Bekke opened what is now known as Arizona’s most popular barbecue spot, Little Miss BBQ. Their Central Texas-style barbecue is so good that each day people wait in line for hours for their favorite menu items, most of which sell out before the day is over. Luckily for the Valley, Little Miss opened their Sunnyslope location at the end of 2019. This restaurant is much larger than the other with a bigger dining room and outdoor patio area. Also different is that this location has a bar that serves beer and cocktails. Believe it or not, this location sells an average of 4,000 pounds of brisket a week! Not having tried Little Miss, I took the whole family on a Sunday around 11 a.m., which was perfect because we walked right in and didn’t have to wait. Planning for leftovers and eager to try a bit of everything, we ordered The Jefe, which came with (get ready) sliced prime beef brisket, chopped brisket, pulled pork, sliced turkey and sausage. We also tried their Sunday specialty, pork belly. For our sides, we chose mac and cheese, cole slaw and ranch-style beans. Everything was delicious, and the staff was super friendly and attentive, but our favorites were their brisket and pulled pork and their ranch-style beans, which were amazing. We had to take their pecan pie home for later, but it was worth the wait when we finally had room to try it. Little Miss BBQ — — Sunnyslope Phoenix | littlemissbbq.com