Social Media

I’ll be honest here. Before this semester, I vowed to never create a Twitter account. I thought people were getting ridiculous–getting into everyone’s business. I thought they couldn’t go ten seconds without checking their smart phones for a Facebook update or a new tweet. I have always called myself a minimalist and been proud of it.

I only used to Facebook to catch up with friends and family and to post pictures of major events in my life. I rarely posted a status update. I didn’t want to annoy everyone and felt that other people didn’t need to know every detail of my life.

As I became more involved here at the Cronkite school, I realized these ideas about social media were out-dated and inaccurate. I was choosing to be close-minded to the great benefits social media networks have to offer.

I only created a Twitter account when it became necessary for an assignment. I created my account, navigated around for a while and logged off. A few days later, curiosity got the better of me and I logged back on. I started following major news organizations and people I thought would prove beneficial to follow. I have been spending the last week checking for updates and finding new people to follow. My perspective has been greatly changed.

I want to get enough people to follow me so that I have an actual presence online. I would like to find more of my friends, but most importantly, I would like to find professional journalists in the field. Following these people could possibly help me get my foot in the door. You never know!

I have created a fan page for my blog, Comida Commotion, on Facebook. However, this didn’t yield much success. I am going to try to promote it via Twitter and see if it gets more of a following.

I am going to continue to use Facebook merely for personal relationships. I feel that it isn’t as professional as Twitter anyways. However, I can honestly say that there is nothing on my Facebook account that could potentially embarrass me. It is still classy and professional, but I don’t accept friend requests from people that I don’t know very well. I like to keep my friends list containing people I know and talk to frequently.

Twitter is the social media tool that I prefer networking through. I feel it is less invasive and that I will find more success in reaching out to who I want to connect with. I would like to find more journalists. I also am very interested in dance and music. I am involved with both music and dance locally and I would like to find other people like me.

Even though I may have just started to create my online presence, I am going to continue to grow until I reach my goals.

Curry Cravings

Photo from Nunthaporn's website

My mom is an excellent cook. That is why I find it funny that I had such a strong childhood hatred for curry. After years of refusing to taste it, my mom introduced me to Thai food. It was love at first taste. Since my first encounter with Thai curry, I have tried dozens of Thai restaurants across the Valley and have become very knowledgeable about many of the dishes and flavors. I have become a regular customer at one restaurant in particular. It surpasses every other Thai restaurant I have ever tried.

Photo from Nunthaporn's website

Nunthaporn’s Thai Cuisine is located on Main Street in Downtown Mesa. It is a small little restaurant with only a few servers, but it is always full. The owner is Thai himself. He is so happy and hardworking and will always bring a smile to your face. He now knows my name and my favorite dishes there. I probably continuously reek of curry. The smell most likely permeates through my skin, but my friends and family haven’t told me so yet…

My favorite dishes here are the green curry, the panang curry and the spicy basil chicken. And of course you can’t order any of these dishes mild! They also have delicious coconut gelato for dessert.

Customer Reviews

Bits of Brooklyn in Arizona

Photo from flickr.com

“Oh come on! It’s not too cold!” my dad exclaimed. “But dad…” I answered. “It’s way too freezing to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in the middle of winter! The wind is taking my breath away. The best pizza in New York isn’t worth killing myself.”

My dad thought it would be an excellent idea to make the freezing trek across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, mid-February, instead of taking the subway or taxi like every other person on the bridge that night. He claims he wanted me to experience New York “the right way”, and to be honest, once we made it to our destination, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, I could tell my pain had been worth it. What proved that this pizza was truly as delicious as the yearly awards it won stated, was the long line that wrapped around the small brick structure. Brooklynites babbeled in the long line and assured me and my dad (who obviously weren’t true-blue native New Yorkers) were in for an experience our taste buds would never forget.

My dad and I ordered a pepperoni pizza also topped with kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes and basil leaves. I could not believe how incredible that pizza was!

Photo from grimaldispizzeria.com

We were informed by owner Papa Grimaldi that his son had opened a few Grimaldi’s restaurants in Arizona. I was ecstatic! As soon as we re-entered the Valley of the Sun, my dad and I took the rest of our family to the Grimaldi’s on Scottsdale Road in Oldtown Scottsdale. To our amazement, the pizza was every bit as good as it had been in New York. The restaurant was quite a bit bigger than the tight, crammed Brooklyn restaurant, but it maintained that brick-oven style pizzeria feel. Grimaldi’s continues to be my favorite spot to enjoy a delicious Italian-style pizza.

Karen Crandall said that Grimaldi’s is her family’s favorite place to eat pizza.

“I love how this place makes their pizzas,” Crandall said. “Their cheese is different. And they have that New York pizza taste while seeming like they are real Italian pizzas–not that Americanized pizza everywhere else has.”

Scottsdale Website

Customer Reviews

Grimaldi’s Blog

Top Ten Things to Do in New York in 24 Hours

Jungle Getaway on Main Street

Main Street. Mesa, Arizona. All the locals know that strolling this scenic street presents many opportunities for entertainment from enjoying shows at the Mesa Arts Center and the Nile Theater to thumbing through antique books at the old book store. Others prefer maxing out their credit card at the boutiques and analyzing the artistic statues that make Main Street their home. And while all these attractions are enough to make Main Street a frequently visited destination, the dining experiences here make it unbeatable.

Mango’s Mexican Cafe is a baja style Mexican food restaurant located right next to Milano’s Music Store. It is a small restaurant, but that factor doesn’t stop customers from piling in by the droves. Mango’s is decorated quite differently from the other surrounding eateries. The walls are a vivid green, covered with giant lizards and perched parrots. Well, not literally. They are fake of course. They have to pass health inspection!

The portions are perfect for lunch. Since the restaurant closes earlier than most, I would recommend eating here for a lunch outing rather than a dinner out on the town. My favorite thing to eat here are the shrimp tacos. These tacos aren’t sweet like most shrimp tacos. They have some kick to them. The spiced shrimp are perfectly set off by thick slices of avocado. And of course you can’t forget to try the juices! Made in their own kitchen, the juices are amazing! They are entirely seasonal. In the spring and summer, they feature strawberry, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple and mango juices–probably the reason the restaurant is named Mango’s.

Garrett Gunnell of Mesa said he enjoys eating at Mango’s with his family and friends.

“Mango’s has a really cool South American jungle feel to it that I like,” Gunnell said. “The food is really good too. Plus it’s fun that it’s right there on Main street. It’s the only Mexican place around there that won’t make you sick.”

Customer Reviews

Thing To Do list by azcentral.com

Chicken Tikka Ma… Huh?

Strong spices and seasonings swarm your nose reminding you just why you love curry–that uniquely strong smell that nearly throws you into the streets of Delhi, India. Thick, plush tapestries hang from the walls and windows. The seats and booths are cushioned with jewel-toned fabrics that seem to have derived from the middle east. You can hear the hustle and bustle of chefs preparing the food as neatly dressed servers rush the food out to hungry waiting customers.

This is the scene that welcomes each and every customer that enters India’s Grill, located off Stapley Drive and Baseline Road in Mesa.

This is a family-owned restaurant and even though the restaurant owners attempt to create a posh vibe with an Indian twist, the restaurant still has that small welcoming feel.

When I ate at India’s Grill, I ordered the chicken curry (a must since I am addicted to curry in all forms). I also tried the chicken tikka masala. This dish has been voted “best Indian dish in the Valley” by the Arizona Republic, according to the owner, and I can see why. The tikka masala was unlike anything I have ever had before. The chicken was outrageously tender and the sauce had the perfect amount of spice–not overwhelming at all. Another crucial item that must be ordered here is the paneer. Paneer is the homemade bread they serve that comes in a number of ways: from being served with lamb’s meat to being stuffed with a distinct homemade cheese. The paneer is the perfect compliment to any dish.

Jeff Peters of Mesa says he has been to the restaurant frequently in the last few months.

“My friend told me about the chicken tikka masala and I had to come try it,” Peters said. “I love cultural foods and this place is at the top of my list for any place people need to try. If you like curry or cultural food, you need to eat here for sure.”

India’s Grill also has a lunch and dinner buffet at a reasonable price so customers can enjoy many of the unique flavors Indian cuisine has to offer.

Coupons for India’s Grill

Follow them on Facebook

Customer Ratings

While Visions of Sugar Bowl Danced in Our Heads

“Welcome to the Sugar Bowl!” This is the warm greeting that welcomes each customer as they walk in through the glass and wood doors. Located on Scottsdale Road in Old Town Scottsdale, the Sugar Bowl stands the same as it did its opening year in 1958.

The Sugar Bowl serves delicious old-time ice cream, shakes and sandwiches. The portions are huge so be ready to share! My personal favorite is the Top Hat Sundae. I order it each time I head out there. The sundae is loaded with scoops of vanilla ice cream surrounding a giant cream puff and topped off with hot fudge. It’s nearly impossible to eat this treat without getting chocolate lining around your lips (it almost looks like self-applied chocolate lip-liner).

The Sugar Bowl has an old-fashioned feel with a bit of nostalgia. Ice cream lovers are ushered into a pink-filled room–pink seat and booths, pink stools at the counter. Nestled right in the middle of Old Town Scottsdale, this is a family-friendly place that should be on everyone’s destination list for this upcoming spring break.

Debbie Bradshaw of Phoenix said she is a longtime Sugar Bowl fanatic.

“This place has been around since I was a young girl,” Bradshaw said. “I have many fond memories of coming here. It’ll be a hot spot for years to come.”

http://www.sugarbowlscottsdale.com/

Breakfast In Bed…? Or at the Farmhouse…?

It’s a weekend morning. The sun is shining brightly through your bedroom window reminding you that you have slept in a little too late, but it’s okay because last night you were out late on the town, right? The question arises: do I make myself some limp Eggo waffles with some poorly seasoned eggs, or do I throw on some jeans and head to the Farmhouse? The answer is a given. After trying their huge portions of home-style country-cooked breakfast, you will never be tempted to make a meager and lazy attempt at breakfast-in-bed ever again.

The Farmhouse is located in downtown Gilbert, just off Gilbert Road. The tiny one-room restaurant is always packed, creating a little bit of a wait, but the wait is always worth it.

The old hard-wood floors and the decorations are old-country style and cozy, the perfect feel for a weekend morning out to breakfast. You feel right at home.

The Farmhouse is known for their giant homemade cinnamon rolls (which I find myself craving often). Each time I venture out to this restaurant, I always eat at least one… maybe take one to-go as well. All of the food is hearty and wholesome. You feel as though your grandmother is treating you to her best cooking.

Another thing I always enjoy at the Farmhouse are their giant omlettes loaded with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and bell peppers. The Farmouse is my favorite breakfast eatery and something every Arizonan must try, only to find that they become hooked!

Jesse Noble says that he loves to eat breakfast at the Farmhouse as well.

“I really like the atmosphere,” Noble said. “It makes me feel like I’m at home. The biscuits and gravy are the best, just like grandma’s old cooking.”

Old Time Barbecue

Downtown Gilbert is reminiscent of the way Gilbert once was– a small and simple alfalfa and cotton farming community. The streets resemble the streets of Mayberry from the classic show, “Andy Griffith”. The town has a family, feel-good quality that is unique compared to most other communities.

One of the hot spots in downtown Gilbert is Joe’s Real BBQ, located off Gilbert Road, right in the heart of downtown. The restaurant walls are adorned with murals reflecting the town’s farming heritage. They have an outside yard with white lights, picnic tables and bales of hay that throw you into a hoe down atmosphere.

The restaurant is known for their homemade red cream soda. You can’t head out to dinner here and pass up at least trying a sip of this tempting beverage. They are also known for their barbecue pulled pork, which is what I happen to get every time. The savory meat falls apart in your mouth with every bite.

The way that the restaurant serves their food is also unique. Instead of ordering at a counter, or waiting for a server to take your order, you wait in a line, tray in hand, until you reach a cafeteria-style line. Customers tell the workers what they would like and the workers dish it up and add it to the tray of goodness.

Angie Gadberry says that she likes to bring her family to Joe’s Real BBQ often.

“The atmosphere is really fun for my family and kids,” Gadberry said. “The food is great and the kids menu is great too. This place is a Gilbert legacy.”

http://joesrealbbq.com/

Vintage Soda Shop

Driving by Mac Alpine’s Soda Fountain (located off 7th Street) doesn’t exactly entice you to stop and come in. The cement and stucco building topped with its orange sign doesn’t scream “Stop! You have to try this place!”.  However, once you walk in the front doors, you take a step back in time. At the entrance, there is a vintage soda counter where you expect to hear George Bailey proclaim “Hot dog!” while whacking the counter. If you have seen the classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The employees dress in a retro fashion. Many of them even style their hair as they would in the 40s or the 50s.

Mac Alpine’s has been around since 1928. What began as a small pharmacy has blossomed over the years into a restaurant featuring desserts that range from huge ice cream sundaes that overflow with sauce and creamy goodness to milk shakes and sodas that come in an assortment of flavors that seem endless. You can ask for a creation of nearly any flavor you can think of, such as fireball, dill pickle, Irish cream and mango. They also serve soups and sandwiches. I sampled the split pea soup with a barbecue pulled-pork sandwich. Both were very good. I also splurged with my sugar intake and devoured a peanut butter -white-chocolate-macadamia-nut milk shake along with a mango-peach French soda. Both are ranked among the best desserts I have ever had.

Johnna Eskard-Judd has been coming to Mac Alpine’s for only three weeks, but she said she has already visited multiple times.

“I love that they are still in business after all these years,” Eskard-Judd said. “It’s a cute little mom-and-pop shop that has kept the same ambiance that it probably has always had.”

Owner Monica Heizenrader says that she has tried to keep the restaurant how it was originally.

“People appreciate the simplicity and a back-to-basics feel,” Heizenrader said. “So it’s been pretty important to us here to keep the same feel.”

http://macalpines1928.com/

Best Tortillas in Town

Living here in Arizona, we are all exposed to an abundance of southwestern culture. From Native American and Latin influences to a feel that brings the nostalgia of the old west, we have it all here in the Valley. One enormous benefit that we enjoy is the plethora of good, real, true-blue Mexican food. Being so close to the border, we are able to enjoy Mexican food that hasn’t been concocted into the oh-so-common, non-spicy American-friendly cuisine that presents itself as “Mexican food”.
Carolina’s Mexican Food is one of those delicious restaurants that haven’t been Americanized to cater to the non-educated in true Sonoran Mexican dishes. Located on Mohave Road in South Phoenix, Carolina’s is a small place that focuses on serving what are known as “the best tortillas in town”. After trying the green chili burro wrapped in a soft and so-fresh-it-breaks-when-you-pick-it-up tortilla, realization soon sets in that the tortillas really are the best in town, as states the billboard standing just outside the front doors.

Kevin Hunter of Ahwatukee says he has been eating at Carolina’s for about 20 years. He says his favorite things to eat there are the tortillas, so he usually orders some to-go after he finishes his meal.
“I keep coming back to Carolina’s because it’s good quality,” Hunter said. “It’s very good Sonoran Mexican food at a very reasonable price.”

http://www.carolinasmexicanfood.com