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LA BUENA VIDA

spice

FINE DINING, a la Mexicana

Traditional mexican dishes go haute cuisine at Scottsdale, Arizona’s La Hacienda.

In a city known for amazing Mexican food, finding a restaurant that stands above the rest is a daunting task. However, La Hacienda, an upscale Mexican restaurant situated in the posh Fairmont Princess resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, minutes from Phoenix, has managed to do just that.
Executive Chef Reed Groban and Chef de Cuisine Forest Hamric have created an abundant menu that carries some Mexican staples—sopa de tortilla, quesadillas, tacos and enchiladas. But a closer look at these seemingly simple dishes reveals gourmet flourishes. Instead of shredded chicken or beef, tacos are made from jicama and are stuffed with fresh ahi tuna. In place of enchiladas suizas, La Hacienda’s enchiladas envelope crab and are topped with pumpkin seed sauce. The restaurant really pulls out the stops in its main dishes, and its caldo verde de mariscos, pechuga de pato and pollo guanejuatense are among its notable.
The menu has not escaped the notice of the AAA, which has awarded La Hacienda with a four-star rating, making it the only Mexican restaurant in North America to hold the distinction. Locals seem to like it, too, and it’s found fans in the city among diners who would normally prefer to dine at some of the area’s phenomenal hole-in-the-wall Mexican joints. The local alternative newsweekly The Phoenix New Times has regularly rated the spot among the city’s best Mexican restaurants; think of this as the foodie’s version of street credibility.

From the Bar

La Hacienda has also taken its gourmet approach to the bar. The 24k Margarita is infused with the requisite amount of Gran Patrón Platinum tequila and champagne, but also with flecks of real 24 karat edible gold leaves and dust. Another creation, the Margarita Flight, is a sampler selection of five signature margaritas—The Princess, The Prickly Pear, The Cantaloupe, The Midori Melon and La Hacienda Margarita. Wine Spectator magazine has bestowed it their Award of Excellence.

480-585-4848
7575 East Princess Dr.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
www.fairmont.com/scottsdale