We’ve just staggered back from an unassuming little eatery called, of all things, Bodega 13, way, way, way out in Carefree, (a speck of a town about 25 miles north of downtown Scottsdale). We’d heard whispers about a new chef and decided a drive north during the holiday season might be in order.  …besides I needed a new Stetson.

Holy s**t! Holy f**king s**t!

This dive used to be a wine bar – at least that’s what we were told – and closed earlier in 2015 to undergo a so-called transformation.  Sure, sounds about right – along with about a million other places dotting the greater Phoenix culinary landscape in need of that same “transformation”…

…and transform it did!  We opted for tastes of two different soups, followed by a couscous salad, then paella for two, and finally some chocolate for dessert. I went for the Klinker Brick Sarah on the rather abbreviated list chosen using my patented wine selection methodology, (part game theory, part dart throwing), and wasn’t disappointed either.  Who knew?!

Super-attentive service during the entire meal, a visit from the chef shortly after the paella came out and a guest check that prompted a double-take, (I thought they missed something on the bill, but it was all there).   In short, this place is like hitting an effin’ gastronomic trifecta, if you ask me!

We’ll go back, probably before we hit 2016.  Of course, there’s always tomorrow – we might have to go back on Christmas Eve!