Best After-Hours Feast 2011 | Renetto-Mario Etsitty's Post-First Friday Dinners | Arts & Entertainment | Phoenix
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You don't need a reservation to attend one of the lush, late-night banquets put on for local artists by Renetto-Mario Etsitty every First Friday. Just be a creative type who regularly participates in the monthly art walk and has the wherewithal to stay up late. The word-of-mouth gourmet spreads whipped up by the 36-year-old artist and sous chef at Phoenix Public Market typically aren't served until around 1 a.m., and it's first come, first served. It might mean slamming a few Monsters after tromping around Grand Avenue and Roosevelt Row, but it's well worth the caffeine jitters. When he isn't cooking at gallery openings and local art events, Etsitty spends weeks planning and prepping for each five-course dinner. A recent feast featured spicy cayenne prok ribs, hand-tossed spinach and tomato salad, oven-roasted zucchini with sun-dried tomatoes, and huge pitchers of sangria. While the boffo banquets, which take place on the lawn of his Garfield neighborhood home, are ostensibly free, Etsitty appreciates donations to help cover costs. So drop some cash into his jar, cheapskate, and don't just try to sneak away like a skinflint.
Matt's Big Breakfast
The morning after can be rough, and the last thing you want to do is stand outside in the scorching heat waiting for grub. Luckily, with a raging hangover you won't even roll out of bed until noon, and by then the line at Matt's Big Breakfast is nearly nonexistent — let the early birds stand in line pecking for space. So roll in wearing a pair of giant sunglasses, pound three glasses of water, and demolish a pile of carbs. We recommend the hog and chick (with delicious fresh jam and bread), a big stack of pancakes or the damn fine butter burger. Then head around the corner to Matt Pool's lovely bar, The Roosevelt, and start all over again.Readers' Choice:

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