16 Dec 26th, 2024-Jan 1st, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Mezzelune at Tratto 1505 E. Van Buren St. It’s hard to go wrong with Tratto’s homemade pasta, but one summer special was a showstopper. The Mezzelune, half- moon-shaped folded ravioli, are stuffed with creamy ricotta, sprinkled with sweet corn kernels and confit Sungold tomatoes and bathed in a bright green pesto-like sauce. The creaminess of the pasta contrasts with the bright, sweet pops of corn and salty, buttery sauce. The combination worked so perfectly, we’re still dreaming of the dish. Pan con Tomate at Kid Sister 4810 N. Seventh St. As we rattled off our food order at the Uptown wine bar Kid Sister, we asked our server if we had missed anything that was a must-try. She pointed to the Pan con Tomate. Admittedly, we were planning to pass over the humble tapas dish of grated tomato, garlic, olive oil and salt. But the intervention made us see how divine this dish can be. The base of this small plate is a thick toasted slab of Nice Buns Bakery sourdough. The tomato is well-salted, bringing its summery sweetness into focus, with a strong kick of garlic and a hint of smokiness. Kid Sister’s menu rotates with the seasons, but we’ll cross our fingers in hopes the Pan con Tomate remains. It’s the perfect way to start your meal, alongside a chilled glass of wine or a white port with Big Marble Organics Tonic Water. Strawberry Milkshake Wheat at Fate Brewing Co. Multiple locations Strawberries and cream may not be flavors commonly found in beer, and “milkshake” may be a term typically paired with IPAs, but Fate Brewing Co. proves both of these norms ought to change. The local brewery, which has locations in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale, uses over a pound of fresh strawberry puree per gallon of its Strawberry Milkshake American Wheat, along with vanilla and lactose. The result is a subtly sweet strawberry treat that works as both a refreshing beverage and a dessert. The beer’s menu description promises to “make you feel like a kid again,” but at 6.4% ABV, this sweet sip is all grown up. Bacon Sourdough Bolognese at First & Last 1001 N. Third Ave., #1 We’ll admit, we were a little late to tasting this pasta, which has appeared off and on the menu at First & Last for the past two years. But, one bite left us Kid Sister, a midtown wine bar, serves small plates that include a tapas-style pan con tomate. (Photo by Sara Crocker) At Fate Brewing Co., a strawberry milkshake looks a little different. (Photo by Tirion Boan) First & Last’s deliciously complex Bacon Sourdough Bolognese is fortified with bread crumbs, house smoked pork belly and barrel- aged fish sauce. (Photo by Sara Crocker) Best Bites of the Year from p 15 The fresh pasta at Chris Bianco’s upscale Italian eatery Tratto does not disappoint. (Photo by Tirion Boan) >> p 17
