In Scottsdale, the pool is where the weekend happens, so that is where dinner should happen too. Dining outdoors in the desert, however, has its own rules. Here is how we plan Scottsdale pool house dinner menus so that nothing wilts, melts or sits too long in the sun.
Rule one: dine after sunset
From late spring through early fall, a 6:00 p.m. dinner outside is uncomfortable for guests and hard on the food. We time plated dinners for just after sunset and serve the first course cold.
Start cold
Chilled starters do the work in the heat: ahi tuna crudo with pineapple and jalapeño, a burrata and strawberry salad, chilled soups and crudités. Keep anything made with mayonnaise or cream in the refrigerator until the moment it goes out.
Grill the main course
If the rental has an outdoor kitchen or grill, use it. Grilled fish, chicken and steak with bright sauces (citrus, herbs or harissa) suit the desert better than heavy braises. Our Moroccan menu, with its harissa-crusted grouper, works especially well outdoors.
Desserts that will not melt
Skip ice cream cakes and whipped toppings that slide. Key lime parfaits served from the refrigerator, a flourless chocolate torte or tres leches cut to order hold up far better.
Brunch by the pool
Morning is the best time to eat outside in Scottsdale. A poolside brunch of parfaits, smoked salmon toast, egg dishes and a spritz station can be ready before the group leaves for the day club.
Budget
Dinners start at $57 a person and brunch at $68 a person, plus food, with a $830 minimum. See our Scottsdale page or send us your dates.
Tell us about your table
Send us the date, your guest count and the occasion. We reply the same day with menu ideas and a quote.