A few months ago, on April 6th to be exact, I was invited to preview the menu at Hearth ’61, which is one of the restaurants at the new Mountain Shadows resort in Paradise Valley. Even though Aaron had a lot of homework that night, he was able to pull himself away and indulge in a relaxing dinner outside next to Camelback mountain. 

I didn’t know what to expect from Hearth ’61, so I was pleasantly surprised when our extremely knowledgeable waitress explained that the restaurant sources all food items from breads to coffee from local farms, artisans and ranchers. Also, I love that their menu changes with seasonal offerings, which keeps it interesting each time we come back in the future. The best way to describe the menu and the restaurant is exactly how Hearth ’61 describes it, as “ingredient-driven cuisine with time-honored flavor pairings.”

Looking at the drink menu, I was slightly concerned that the offers might be a little outside of the box for my steak and potatoes husband, but he loved the Cherry Bomb drink he ordered. It had activated charcoal in it, which I thought sounded very healthy for him, Effen cherry vodka and egg white foam on top. I love a good Moscow mule, so I tried their Peachy Mule with peach Belvedere vodka with sage and rosemary. 

As for appetizers we had the most delicious flat bread. It was the first thing we tried and honestly we were sold from the first bite. It was topped with pears and some sort of cheese that reminded me of goat cheese, which paired really nicely. The crust had great flavor and was the perfect combination of soft, but not too doughy. I also had to try the tuna tartar. Aaron did not try it and honestly I could have finished my dinner after that. It makes a great shared appetizer or a light dinner. For the main course, I got salmon and (surprise, surprise) Aaron got a tenderloin and potatoes, and both meals were delicious. 

I can never pass up dessert, so we settled for the bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and whiskey caramel sauce. I was very full when we left, but dinner was over a two hour time period, which was super relaxing to watch the sun go down and enjoy a gorgeous spring evening in Arizona without needing jackets and without it being too hot.

If you’re looking for a new spot for a date night, I highly suggest going to Hearth ’61. The ambiance inside and outside is very nice for a couple, but also the bar is a fun area to go with friends for happy hour, which is Mondays through Fridays from 3pm to 6pm. There are $5 select draft beers and wine, 50% off well and signature cocktails, and 40% off select lounge food items. They even have live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

If you want more than just a date night, you can always turn your trip into a staycation. The pool is gorgeous and actually reminds me a little bit like the pool area at Hotel Valley Ho with the blue mosaic tiles. Also, they offer Free Flow Yoga classes on their lawn on Thursdays at 6pm and healthy drinks at The Juice Bar. I know Aaron is dying to golf at the Short Course. There’s also a clothing store for those of you who want to shop, but don’t want to leave the resort. I have not stayed overnight, but I have seen one of their guest rooms, which are very nice with modern decor and offer a gorgeous view of Camelback mountain. 

I am so happy to have another gorgeous destination and vacation spot only 10 minutes from my house! It makes the unbearable heat during the summers a little bit more bearable. For more information, please visit their website, mountainshadows.com. 5445 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 | 480.624.5400

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7 Comments

    • Kat Reply

      I bet they do! Yes, you’ll definitely have to try it out when you’re in town.

  1. What a gorgeous view! Maybe my husband and I will check it out next time we’re in need of a nice date night. 🙂

    x, grace

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