Tinderbox Kitchen had us at this tagline, “Tinderbox Kitchen is fine dining in Armani or jeans.” As it turns out, this Flagstaff epicurean destination not only 100% delivers on its statement but also showcases a culinary adventure with surprises at every turn and on every plate. 

Tinderbox musts:

• Experience the Chef’s Five Course Tasting Menu
• Try the Elk Tenderloin with succotash, quinoa, jalapeño chimichurri and a dark cherry glaze 
• Ask your server to help invent a perfect mocktail (like we did!)

Sophisticated plates in a casual chic atmosphere

Back to Armani or jeans. Tinderbox’s casual meets sophisticated atmosphere makes for a welcome, relaxed fine-dining experience. There are two dining rooms, one offering space for bigger groups, the other for smaller, more intimate dining. This is a prime spot for romantic and mellow dining. 

Guests have the option to order a la carte or experience the Chef’s Five Course Tasting Menu. I thoroughly recommend going the chef’s tasting route. After a long day of skiing at Snowbowl, my daughter and I were thrilled to have our server Rachel curate our personalized gastronomy journey. Each plate was an exciting reveal that allowed us to kick back and focus on the array of flavors before us. 

Let the spirit move you with the Chef’s Five Course Tasting Menu 

The Tartare of Filet arrived at our table first. This divine offering blends tartare with sweet garlic aioli, pistachio, shallot and a balsamic reduction, served with a side of matzo cracker — a rich and flavorful beginning to our tasting experience. 

Next on deck: the Steamed Mussels. This dish was prepared with garlic, shallot, butter and white wine, accompanied by focaccia crostini. If you enjoy seafood, and it is a must-try. The mussels were as fresh as fresh can be, and delicious.

Following the first two courses, our tastebuds were further treated to the Pork Belly — fried to perfection — paired with poblano fritters, sweet garlic aioli and a sweet/tangy cranberry glaze. The Seared Sea Scallops (another order recommendation for seafood enthusiasts) came with a butternut squash risotto, hazelnut and cranberry. 

To close out our tasting menu, the Elk Tenderloin — our favorite — was as tender as tenderloin gets, with the ideal balance of the “gamey” flavor you expect from Elk, with the unique companions of succotash, quinoa, jalapeño chimichurri and a dark cherry glaze. 

Tinderbox wine, cocktails, mocktails and more

In addition to its superb fare, Tinderbox also has an extensive wine list by glass and bottle and is clearly known for this, as almost every table around us had an occupied wine glass. As for us, we asked for “surprise mocktails,” which resulted in a creamy cherry coconut mocktail (that they should for sure add to the permanent cocktail/mocktail list). This sweet and tangy concoction paired well with the fruity hints within several of the evening’s dishes.

For the finite room left in our stomachs from an evening of happy indulging, our meal was capped off with a gluten-free cheesecake.

For more information, visit tinderboxkitchen.com.