Friday Bites with Ben Smith

Ben Smith is known as the guy to call for anything. Serving as Chief Strategist at Surplus Asset Management, he has access to millions of restaurant and grocery equipment assets. With warehouses all over the U.S., and countless restaurant and supermarket closures and remodels keeping them full, there is never a shortage of culinary implements at his fingertips. Ben also serves as Eclectic Executor of Unexpected Art Gallery. In a past, but related, life, Ben worked in marketing for food and beverage companies, as well as almost every vertical imaginable, and has been a brand strategist for some of the top names in the U.S. He came to world of marketing via IT, heading up some of the top consulting teams in the country. He has been Arizona-based since 1985 and has built an incredible network of connections and contacts, running up dining expense tabs all over the state.

Friday Bites with Ben Smith

Best Outdoor Patio| Elements at Sanctuary Resorts has the best balcony for early morning or sunset.  Chef Beau MacMillan has food and feelings down to a science.  One of my favorite things to do is to enjoy an early morning hot cocoa paired with a bowl of berries and bacon while looking out over Paradise Valley.  It’s such an invigorating way to start your day. The blankets and heaters on chilly days make it even cozier!

Impressing out of towners| Quiessence Restaurant at The Farm at South Mountain is a small private room and outdoor dining space that offers a multicourse prefixed refined rustic menu with amazing pairings.  Everything is fresh, flavorful, and leaves an amazing imprint in the mind of your guests.  Knowing it’s all local, farm to table –and paired with twinkling lights and trees—always makes my guests feel as though they’ve left Phoenix and gone to a gorgeous quaint little farm somewhere.

Business Lunch| Tanzy, next to iPic in Scottsdale Quarter, offers an amazing lunch menu with huge tables, impeccable service, and lots of privacy for a business lunch.  Not to mention free Wi-Fi! I’ve never been disappointed.

Dessert spot| Hob Nobs Café on McDowell has the BEST chocolate cake, hands down.  It’s simple, big, rich, and delicious.  Pair that with a glass of sangria and some live music in this amazing little bungalow and I am one happy man.

On the cheap| I’m ashamed to admit it, but my weakness is orange chicken from Panda Express.  These guys have fast and flavorful packed into to a 2.4 minute science in a Styrofoam box. Yes, I am a frequent flyer on this high-calorie express flight…