Some of our most memorable Sedona dining experiences have taken place at Che Ah Chi, Enchantment Resort’s signature restaurant. Whether we were oohing and ahhing over the resort’s homemade granola and Egg Fried Wild Rice while dining on the sun-drenched patio on a summer morning or toasting each other in front of the dining room’s floor-to-ceiling windows on a special occasion, each moment is one to be savored. Dining outdoors is the ultimate experience, but the interior is adorned with modern lighting that makes it seem as if you’re dining under the stars, especially after the sun sets behind Boynton Canyon’s red walls. Pure magic.
We like to arrive before our reservations and enjoy cocktails in View 180, Che Ah Chi’s adjacent lounge. The Arizona Sky, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and Champagne, complements the red rock views you’ll enjoy. Nosh on a charcuterie plate or, for something lighter, try the Candied Pumpkin Seeds and Spiced Corn Nuts. At dinner, spend time perusing the resort’s nationally recognized wine list or ask your server to pair a bottle with your meal. (The selection includes bottles from local Arizona wineries, too.)
The menu at Che Ah Chi pays homage to ingredients used by Native American tribes. The Braised Buffalo Short Rib is adorned with red-corn polenta, roasted root vegetables and a juniper-pomegranate glaze. The uber-Southwest Crispy Cinnamon Spiced Quail is served with winter-squash succotash and a pear-and-honey gastrique. And for vegetarians, inquire about the day’s homemade heirloom wheat pinole (roasted ground maize) pasta.
We haven’t met a chocolate dessert at Che Ah Chi that hasn’t made us swoon, so end your night with the Petit Chocolate Cake, which features a dark chocolate glaze, milk chocolate cake, chocolate chiffon and orange cream. Chocolate enjoyed under the “stars” and in the heart of spiritual Boynton Canyon? Try topping that one. – A Sedona Foodie.
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