Meatball Hero from Sorelle
Various locationsYou'll find Sorelle, the sandwich and baked goods pop-up helmed by sisters Melissa and Samantha Miola, at spots around Phoenix, serving comforting Italian food and sinfully good sweets. At a food truck meet-up outside of the "Sheaborhood" in north Phoenix, the meatball hero was enticing. A Noble Bread baguette was piled high with meatballs in red sauce, slices of mozzarella and pesto. The herbaceous pesto cut through the richness of the tender meatballs and melty mozz. The sturdy baguette ensured this sandwich didn't fall apart, but it was so delicious, it didn't last more than a few minutes anyway.![Cinnamon roll and doughnuts from Chin Up Donuts.](https://media1.phoenixnewtimes.com/phx/imager/u/blog/18857497/chin_up_donuts_and_cinnamon_roll.jpg?cb=1717172831)
Though doughnuts are the focus at Chin Up Donuts, don't skip the rich cinnamon rolls, which are topped with a vanilla cream cheese glaze.
Sara Crocker
Cinnamon Roll at Chin Up Donuts
7325 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., #103, Scottsdale
7021 E. Main St., Scottsdale
Chin Up Donuts is home to some of our favorite, and most unique, doughnuts in the Valley. During a recent visit, what did we spy but a massive cinnamon roll among its brioche kin? Don't let the dark exterior of the roll, which just barely peeks out from under a good slathering of vanilla cream cheese glaze, scare you off. The rolls are deep-fried to create a crisp outer shell and gooey interior that's giving Cinnabon in the best way. The rolls are loaded with lots of spice from the cinnamon, and you'll be licking your fingers to savor that last bit of not-too-sweet glaze.7021 E. Main St., Scottsdale
Cemita Poblana with Milanese de Res at El Rincon Poblano
3302 W. Thomas Road, #1
El Rincon Poblano highlights the owners' family recipes from Puebla, Mexico. Among them is a Pueblan-style torta, the Cemita Poblana. Cemita is the name of both the sandwich and the bun, which is light with a crisp exterior topped with sesame seeds. A breaded, fried beef cutlet is the traditional foundation and the sandwich arrives with the cutlet overhanging the bun, offering an enticing first bite. The sandwich is also topped with stringy, stretchy Oaxacan cheese, slices of avocado, onion and, if you like, chipotle casero, a housemade chipotle condiment. The crisp toasted bun and beef give way to sweet onion and creamy avocado, punctuated by salty bits of cheese and hits of spice from the chiles. It's a feast all wrapped up in a green-and-white checkered paper.![](https://media1.phoenixnewtimes.com/phx/imager/u/blog/18865694/spicespiritchinesecuisinelambtb.jpg?cb=1717172832)
The Cumin Lamb at Spice Spirit Chinese is made with watercress and roasted garlic cloves.
Tirion Boan
Cumin Lamb at Spice Spirit Chinese Cuisine and Bar
1955 W. Main St. #101, MesaThe menu at Mesa’s Spice Spirit Chinese Cuisine and Bar is massive. It's filled with everything from barbecue to spicy noodle soups, hot pots, dry pots, skewers, Americanized dishes, rice plates, dumplings and more. So it can be tricky to know what to order. Recently, we tried the Cumin Lamb, and now that’ll be on our ticket every visit. Thin slices of tender lamb are mixed with roasted half-cloves of garlic and sauteed watercress, a spinach-like green with a peppery and slightly bitter flavor. The whole thing is tossed in a savory, chile oil-based sauce. Cumin seeds stick to the lamb slices and bring forward a strong and fragrant flavor that takes over your senses with each bite. Dishes like this are why Spice Spirit ranks as one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Valley. ![](https://media2.phoenixnewtimes.com/phx/imager/u/blog/18865692/huarachishorchatapunchtb.jpg?cb=1717172831)
Knox notes that the Horchata Punch is one of the drinks that customers often feel a nostalgic connection towards.
Tirion Boan