My wife and I traveled up to Phoenix yesterday and then over the Scottsdale later to join my daughter and her friend at the new restaurant FnB.  Overseen by the energetic and friendly owner Pavle Milec, this boutique like restaurant was opened only three months ago on Stetson Drive and is off to a roaring start.  It didn’t take long for the restaurant to fill to capacity (about 36 including some at the bar), everyone clearly enjoying the food, wine and social ambiance.  We were fortunate enough to grab a table overlooking Stetson.

FnB is unique in that it offers only Arizona wine to pair with locally grown (sometimes organic) food.  Pavle felt that the time had come to emphasize our “terrior.”  With the quality of locally produced wines on the rise, this seemed to be the time to take the plunge.  While some thought the venture to be risky, the locals have embraced the concept.  Both local and national publications have highlighted the restaurant in flattering terms, including the New York Times.  You can scan the menu by going to www.fnbrestaurant.com.

Having filmed a video of Pavle recently (should be posted in a few weeks) and now feeling as if I had known him for years, I asked him to pair some appetizers for us with an Arizona white but keep it blind.  My daughter and friend are just beginning to appreciate wine and I thought that this would be a fun exercise.  We ordered two appetizers, the crispy Rock Shrimp with jalapeno Tartar and the fried green tomatoes with green goddess dressing and feta.