| CHOW BELLA | t Café Grainy Picture Where to find 10 great bowls at metro Phoenix restaurants. BY ALLISON YOUNG G et ready to get bowled over. Grain bowls in Phoenix have reached new heights, combining the usual suspects, like grains, greens, and beans, with impressive toppers like heirloom black rice, Sonoran berries, charred veggies, pickled peppers, toasted hemp seeds, and house-made sauces — and some don’t even come with grains at all. Often gluten-free and vegan with an option to add protein, these versatile vessels are ideal for a quick lunch or even brunch, packing in wholesome ingredients that layer flavor and textures. Here are the best one-bowl wonders Phoenix has to offer. The Golden Pineapple 2700 South Mill Avenue, Tempe 480-590-5703 Don’t mistake The Golden Pineapple as just another buzzy Tempe spot where ASU students go to unwind with weekend brunch mimosas, bomb burgers, and happy hour craft beers. Granted, the twinkle-lit place has a festive vibe, but the food is a level up. All seafood is locally sourced from Chula Seafood, produce is farmers market fresh and often organic, heck, even the fermented chili ketchup is made from scratch — and then there’s the Grain Bowl. Made with Hayden Mills grains, heirloom pinto beans, charred sweet potato, fire- roasted chiles, sliced and seasoned avocado, and piles of peppery arugula, the whole thing is tossed in a honey avocado vinaigrette and drizzled with house-made chili oil for a meal that’s smoky, spicy, substantial, and just happens to be vegan. 28 Pomegranate Café 4025 East Chandler Boulevard 480-706-7472 Pomegranate Café is proof that plant-based Allison Young Mowry & Cotton serves up a Citrus Salmon and Chickpea bowl. bowls can bring big flavor. The Ahwatukee vegan hotspot serves up a mesmerizing menu of bowls: the Magic Dragon Bowl comes loaded with stir-fried broccoli, zucchini, crispy cabbage, and chili almonds, with a drizzle of Thai almond sauce. The Bountiful Bowl pairs quinoa, black beans, walnut chorizo and farm veggies with greens, guac, Baja sauce, and blue corn tortilla chips. All are thoughtfully layered, colorful creations that also come cradled on quinoa, brown rice or kelp noodles with a choice of plant-based protein (the jackfruit carnitas all the way). If comfort is your M.O., the Pom Mac is the way to go, a mix of gluten-free macaroni, cheezy sauce, and either garden veggie pesto, buffalo cauliflower, or BBQ jackfruit. None of the above skip a beat — just the meat. Noble Eatery 4525 North 24th Street 602-688-2424 To say the Noble Grain Bowl from Noble Eatery is fulfilling is an understatement. A mix of grains, sometimes farro, rye berries, Sonoran berries, or whatever’s in season accompanies quinoa, arugula, butternut squash, beets, and roasted red peppers, all sourced from McClendon’s, a local organic farm in Peoria. The grains have a nutty, buttery quality, butternut squash and beets are roasted in the wood- fired oven to a caramelized finish, crunchy pepitas and shaved slices of Manchego cheese add extra crunch and texture, and a subtle dressing of cabernet vinegar and olive oil ties it all together. The result is a tangy, earthy bowl that provides the perfect balance between satisfaction and nutrition. Luci’s Marketplace 1590 East Bethany Home Road 602-773-1339 There are plenty of health-focused options on Luci’s menu, from breakfast frittatas to fresh salads, but the bowls are by far our favorite. The delicious lineup includes four bowls, including their Mojo Power Bowl, a blend of warm farro, quinoa, chickpeas, black bean hash, red peppers, yellow squash, red onion, avocado, and >> p 27 MAY 26TH– JUNE 1ST, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
