Located just past the lobby of Uptown Sedona’s contemporary Amara Resort and Spa, SaltRock Southwest Kitchen beckons with stellar food, a great beverage program and a top-notch patio that serves up views of Snoopy Rock. We gathered at a table on the main lawn with that killer view for a special dinner celebrating the restaurant’s new chef, Heather Feher. The meal was accompanied by four craft cocktails. Our favorite of the bunch was the Desert Jewel, a refreshing mix of Suncliffe gin, fresh lemon and pomegranate syrup.
The first course was an artfully plated Spiced Pumpkin Soup that was served with grilled sourdough. The toasted hazelnut crema was used to create a design on top of the creamy pumpkin soup and topped with a small pile of frizzled leeks that added a nice crunch. Next up, the chef served us an elote mac n’ cheese and jackfruit tacos. The mac n’ cheese was a creamy, decadent dish complemented by the corn, and the jackfruit tacos were a texture-rich vegan option.
The entrée portion kicked off with Pulpo al Olivo. Heather came out to tell us that she spent time in Brazil and fell for this dish. This take on octopus was one of the most tender pieces we’ve ever had due to being sous vide for hours. Our personal favorite entrée was the Scallops a la Meuniere. These juicy scallops were wrapped in a green hoja santa leaf and served on top of black forbidden rice. The final entrée course was the Heritage Duck Breast. This was accented by sherry mushrooms, brown butter farro, pomegranate and a spiced hibiscus gastrique. The dish tasted like fall with plenty of warm flavors woven into the entree. The dinner concluded with a Red Wine Chocolate Spice Cake. Heather told us this was her take on a red velvet cake. We loved this decadent, rich cake that was topped with an ancho ganache and dollops of cream cheese buttercream. Heather told us that “there’s nothing red wine and chocolate can’t fix,” and we couldn’t agree more. Enjoying this meal alfresco as the sun set was a truly memorable experience that we’ll cherish for years to come. − A Sedona Foodie
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