Friday, July 7, 2017

Hotel Valley Ho: A Mid-Century Modern Hideaway In The Desert

By: The Food Hunter

In the heart of downtown Scottsdale, amidst restaurants & boutique shops, lies the iconic Hotel Valley Ho. Opened in 1956, on what was then the outskirts of the city, the Valley Ho was known as a "Hollywood hideaway," a place where the rich & famous could go to get away from it all. Today the hotel is still a fashionable spot for hip locals and out of town guests.


Mid-century decorated rooms, offering modern amenities, are what gives this hotel it's unique vibe. I recently stayed in one of the "tower rooms." which included a self-catering kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows that opened onto a private patio, and a separate living space perfect for entertaining.


The hotel has one restaurant, ZuZu, which serves breakfast, lunch & dinner. Chef Russell LaCasce currently leads the kitchen which specializes in innovative small-plates using farm fresh ingredients.


Attached to the main dining room, the lounge is a fun option for food, craft cocktails and live music on the weekends.


During my stay at Hotel Valley Ho, I spent quite a bit of time eating my way through a majority of the dinner/lounge menu at ZuZu. Though every bite was delicious some of my favorites are highlighted below.

The Summer Orecchiette Pasta is light, tasty and perfect for the hot summer nights here in Phoenix. A mix of fresh veggies are sauteed with olive oil and herbs, and served with shaved Parmesan. This is a dish that should not be overlooked. 


The Hudson Valley Foie Gras is uniquely served with five spice brioche french toast and honey poached rhubarb, adding a delicious hint of sweetness to the rich buttery flavor.


Fresh fish at ZuZu is flown in on a regular basis making the Ahi Tuna Tartare truly something special. Bursts of citrus from finger limes and a hint of heat from fresno peppers give this dish an interesting flavor profile.


Another delicious creation from Chef LaCasce is the Baker’s Bacon Chop. A pork loin chop is lacquered in honey, cured and smoked. It's served with a green harissa, some burnt orange, pickled chiles and pork rinds. I'm pretty sure I've never tasted anything so divine.


When it comes time for dessert I would highly recommend giving the Lemon Meringue Posset a try. Not being a fan of lemon desserts, I almost missed out on this tasty opportunity. So I am extra grateful that our server, who said this was his favorite dessert, brought me one to try. I was presented with a large bowl of meyer lemon curd, served with house made chamomile shortbread, fresh berries and pieces of toasted meringue. A treat for the taste-buds!


If you end up doing an overnight at the Hotel Valley Ho, and I suggest you do, one of my favorites on the brunch menu was the California Benedict; a poached egg served with avocado slices, spinach, and tomatoes on a house made English muffin.


If you find yourself looking for a mid-century modern hideaway in Arizona, I would suggest booking a few nights at the Hotel Valley Ho and enjoying dinner & drinks at ZuZu.


Hotel Valley Ho
6850 East Main Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 376-2600

This experience was provided complimentary, all opinions are my own. 

2 comments:

  1. I LOVE Scottsdale - I'm heading this hotel to my list for my next trip there!

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW! Everything from the location to the food looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete