There are two indulgences we miss when we visit Tempe: New Mexico’s incomparable cuisine and the coffee we wake up to every morning. My sister Anita assures us there are now several restaurants in the Valley of the Sun which serve New Mexican cuisine that is more than passable though we have yet to visit any of them. While our landlords graciously provide a coffee pot, we don’t ever seem to remember to pack our beloved Douwe Egberts coffee from the Netherlands. Okay, maybe that’s just an excuse to visit Black Rock Coffee in Tempe which serves a very good Mexican mocha.
Aside from the coffee, what we enjoy most about Black Rock is being able to sit out on the patio–even in January–to enjoy that coffee. It was during one such visit to Black Rock that we met Pastor Shelly Smith who leads the Full Gospel Deliverance Tabernacle. Pastor Smith is a bear of a man with a heart of gold. His ministry’s mission is to “reach those that need help“–not only spiritually, but in helping them meet basic needs. We’ve enjoyed coffee time with the great Pastor several times, usually at about 9:30AM. By that time he’s either delivered or picked up truckloads of food or clothing for people in need.
While he’s a dynamic preacher, Pastor Smith is so down-to-earth, you might not realize until later how much Godly wisdom he’s imparting during routine conversations about current events and life in general. During one such conversation two years ago, we got around to discussing our favorite foods. He shared how much he loves the red chile ribs at Albuquerque’s El Pinto. He also encouraged us to visit The Farm at South Mountain, his favorite breakfast restaurant in the Phoenix area. We finally connected with the great Pastor during an early January, 2024 morning.
The Farm at South Mountain isn’t just a restaurant. True to its name, it’s a working farm. Moreover, it’s become an international agritourism destination that hosts more than 200 events and 100,000 visitors a year. It’s a forerunner in Arizona’s farm-to-table movement as well as self-sustainability and locally created arts. Owner Pat Christofolo, has been a leader in the local culinary scene for more than 30 years. With her expertise and passion in the sustainable culinary industry, she helped to develop the three current restaurants and two event venues on the property.
That’s right. The Farm at South Mountain houses three distinct restaurants. The Farm is the original restaurant at on the complex. This delightful lunch venue features a walk-up counter where guests can choose from an assortment of delicious sandwiches, fresh soups, seasonal salads, made-from-scratch baked goods, unique cocktails and a variety of beers. Lunches are packed in picnic baskets, perfect for exploring the grounds — choose a picnic table, or bring a blanket to relax under the shade of the trees in the Pecan Grove.
Quiessence is The Farm’s upscale, fine-dining restaurant. A romantic dining setting, Quiessence features a tasting menu showcasing freshly harvested vegetables, edible flowers, eggs, and herbs picked within hours from the on-site Soil and Seed Garden as well as locally sourced produce and meat. The refined-yet-rustic menu is rounded out with a delightful selection of cheeses, artisan bread, and handcrafted pasta—plus desserts featuring fruit from the Farm’s own trees.
Breakfast is served at The Morning Glory Cafe where we met Pastor Smith and his friend Bob Warrick. Place your order at a counter and within minutes, you’ll be enjoying fabulous al fresco dining in a venue as wide and beautiful as the Farm’s lush grounds. Relax in tranquility by the organic gardens and enjoy hot coffee and a refreshingly local menu featuring the market’s finest ingredients. Seasonal omelettes, fresh baked goods and some of the most unique and delicious breakfast offerings in the Phoenix area are replete on the menu. Breakfast at The Morning Glory is one of the best reasons for getting up in the morning. Well, that and breaking bread and drinking coffee with Pastor Smith and Bob.
Obviously a gourmand after my own heart, Pastor Smith ordered a dish I couldn’t resist ordering, too–one that actually comes from a plant in the Morning Glory family. The Japanese sweet potato (house-smoked brisket, caramelized onions, honey bacon crumbles, melted Cheddar, Chimayo aioli, fresh cilantro and pickled red onions topped with two eggs any style and served with two slices of lightly toasted Noble bread) was one of the best savory breakfast dishes I’ve ever had. EVER! Japanese sweet potatoes are not quite as sweet as sweet potatoes we loved in the Deep South. Morning Glory’s chef whips the sweet potatoes until they’re smooth and creamy in texture. Butter and cinnamon are then stirred in. That’s only the start of the magic.
There is so much going on in this sweet potato breakfast, not the least of which is absolute deliciousness. Every ingredient plays off every other ingredient, a blend of sweet, savory piquant elements that bring out one anothers’ best. The brisket (smoked on the premises) is of Texas brisket quality with a discernible, but not overwhelming smoke. Honey-bacon crumbles counterbalance the salty, savory Cheddar while the sweet caramelized onions are a nice foil for the rich, creamy eggs over easy. This is a confluence of fabulous flavors that come together to create a better “whole.”
In 2014, Chef Claudio Urciuoli (one of my culinary heroes) co-founded the oven-focused Noble Eatery under the banner of Noble Bread’s already established name. Noble Eatery quickly became one of the Valley’s most popular dining destinations. Though Chef Urciuoli left Noble Eatery, the bakery and eatery continue to thrive. It made me very happy to hear my Kim order the Noble Bread brisket and eggs sandwich, a breakfast offering truly worthy of nobility. This sandwich is constructed with house-smoked brisket, caramelized onions, oven-dried tomatoes, New Mexico “chili” sauce and arugula on toasted country loaf bread topped with two eggs any style and served with farm home fries. It’s one of the best breakfast sandwiches we’ve ever had–even sans the green chili which only one of us was excited to try.
In every possible way, breakfast at the Morning Glory Cafe at the Farm at South Mountain was a blessing, one we hope to repeat annually with our friend, the great Pastor Shelly Smith.
Morning Glory Cafe
@ The Farm at South Mountain
6106 South 32nd Street
Phoenix, Arizona
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LATEST VISIT: 2 January 2023
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $$
BEST BET: Loaded Japanese Sweet Potato, Noble Bread Brisket & Egg Sandwich, Coffee
REVIEW #1373