Veni, Vidi, Vecina: Arcadia’s newest neighbor

Story and photos by Jeff Kronenfeld, February 2020 Issue.

Robert Frost once quipped that good fences make good

neighbors. If the famous poet lived near chefs like James Fox and Eric Stone,

he might have felt different. After all, what good is a wall against the scent

of peppers slow roasting in mesquite smoke? Fox and Stone are the culinary

brains behind Vecina, one of Arcadia's hottest new restaurants. Whether you

live next door or across the Valley, its inspired takes on Latin classics are

worth the trek.

Vecina’s incredible elote.

Fox first thought of opening a restaurant as a student

at Paradise Valley High School. His old friend Jamie Chapman, Stone and he

would go on for hours about their dream. Fox and Stone both started working in

kitchens. They each moved out of Arizona for a time. Fox lived in Mexico for a

year. While there, he fell in love with that country’s culture and food.

Eventually, he moved to New York City. Working in the Big Apple’s roughneck

restaurant scene taught him to go that extra-mile to make a dish standout.

Stone spent time working at restaurants in California. When Fox and his wife

recently returned home to the Valley, Stone approached them with an offer. He

told them Kitchen 56 on Indian School and 56th street was closing. Stone asked

if they would want to take over the space with a group of friends. They

accepted and Vecina opened its doors in September of last year.

The pair’s culinary philosophy is simple. The dishes

they serve are anything but. Everything at Vecina — from a straightforward

salsa to the most intricate elote — is filled with unexpected blends of

ingredients and cooking styles from across Latin America, Asia and Europe. Fox

estimates 85 to 90 percent of Vecina’s dishes have at least one item kissed by

the mesquite wood-fueled flames of their Aztec Grill. The stainless-steel firebox

allows for precise adjustments to radiant heat, conducted heat and

high-velocity hot air. This moist warmth is perfect for slow cooking everything

from chiles to fish filets. “It’s probably the best grill that I know of that

you can purchase,” Fox said.

Two drinks from Vecina’s craft cocktail menu. On the left is a Mi Amado and on the right an EL Santo.

Elote is a good example of how Vecina uses the grill

to create complex flavors. Their unique take on the Mexican street food classic

crackles with at least a dozen discernable flavors. Fox loves the traditional

style of a corn on the cob coated in butter, chile powder, cotija and served

with mayonnaise. Still, Vecina’s chefs wanted to add their own interesting

spin. They ended up making what I consider the Cadillac of corn.

They start by roasting the husked corn on the Aztec.

Then, the husk is peeled, and the corn grilled again. Next, they shave and mix

the corn with a house-made whipped chorizo butter. No, the butter doesn’t have

actual swine in it, and yes, it is as delectable as it sounds. A spice mix with

over 20 ingredients is sprinkled on top, as well as six kinds of toasted

chiles, cilantro and cotijas. It is served with a crema made of blended

cilantro, garlic and lime juice. The sting of citrus balanced nicely with the

milky warmth of the corn as my molars effortlessly ground it into polenta. If you

are entertaining guests from out of town, this dish would be a great appetizer,

whether they are snobby coastal types or Midwest cornhuskers.

My dining companion and I returned from a trip to the

beaches of Mexico only two days before our visit to Vecina. While south of the

border, we consumed many meals of Sonoran style ceviche. Thus, we were somewhat

reluctant to order it at Vecina. How could it possibly compare to something we

ate literally on the sands of the Sea of Cortez? Our fears proved unwarranted.

The restaurant’s ceviche proved as unique and enjoyable as their elote. Instead

of finely chopped bits of shrimp and fish, it consists of hardy chunks of

hiramasa, yellowtail kingfish. Its flown in fresh from Australia where it is

sustainably farmed. This is soaked in lime juice for an hour and a half before

being piled on a plate with pineapple, sliced red onions, and some seasoning. A

little lake of coconut leche de tiegre is poured around the small mountain of

fruity fish. The sauce’s blend of ginger heat, limey acid, creamy coconut and

even a little umami kick is what really sold me on this dish. I closed my eyes

with each bite and was transported back to that placid beach in fleeting

moments.        

Vecina’s Duroc pork chop.

We also tried the Faroe Island Salmon tacos. It was a

color coordinated thing of beauty like an Arizona sunset.  The pink salmon complemented the red hued

citrus and the golden glow of the Aji Amarillo aioli. The lightly toasted flour

tortilla was doughy and soft, almost like lavash bred. Each bite oozed with

juices. I have seen some complaints about the larger size of the fish in this

dish and the ceviche, but with such high-quality product, it be a shame to

mince it. I enjoyed the hardy fish filets. Each taco was a tiny world of

flavors. My fellow diner agreed, practically inhaling hers. 

Last but not least was the grilled Duroc pork chop.

Like the tacos, its presentation was top notch. There were spiraling green

dollops, a bone aggressively jutting up and the charred, yet glowing exterior

of the pork chop itself. I felt the primal carnivorous instinct ignited even

before the first bite. My testosterone spiked with each hunk of meat candy. The

deeply smoke crusted skin and sprinkling of chicharrons added a nice texture to

the tender flesh.

The cocktail menu was curated by Miguel Mora, who like

the pair of chefs is also a co-owner of Vecina. He burns Palo Santo wood before

opening the bar to cleanse the space’s energy. It is a small but strong roster

of cocktails, beer and wine, in spite of the mixed drinks seeming a tad

overpriced. The happy hour menu is somewhat more affordable, but the house

margaritas are still ten dollars a pop. That said, I had the rum based EL Santo

and it was excellent. It came in a cute clay cup crowned with a laurel of fresh

mint. My friend had a Mi Amado. The drink’s neon lavender color looked like

something you could picture Harrison Ford swigging in “Blade Runner.” This one

is very Instagram friendly. It proved a little too sweet for my friend, who

ordered an El Santo for the next round.

Vecina’s Faroe Island salmon tacos.

Vecina means neighbor in Spanish. The restaurant seems

dedicated to being a good one. The staff were friendly and helpful. The Latin

music was pleasant and not overpoweringly too loud. We counted three separate

Shakira songs during our visit. The food was exceptional. Be sure to make

reservations in advance. The one complaint I have other than the cost of

cocktails is how tightly packed some part of the restaurant’s sections are. At

first, we were seated at a row of tables so close together it felt like a

discount airline cabin. I was practically rubbing elbows with a guy who

appeared to be waiting nervously for a blind date. The staff allowed us to

relocate to the high tables beside the east windows, but our original one was

far too close for comfort. Maybe that old poet was right about good neighbors

and good fences after all. 




WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less