Living in the Southwest is a wonderful way to experience fantastic food choices. At DC Steak House in Chandler, we are known for the ultimate in fine dining in the Phoenix metro area. From our perfectly grilled steaks to our fine wines and beers, you will not find anything better in Arizona. Of course, that’s our opinion, but we have some knowledgeable folks who agree with us!

When you are in our “House,” we want you to feel comfortably at home. In this time of COVID-19, we at DC Steak House are taking every precaution to keep our customers, our staff, and ourselves as protected as possible. We want to reassure you that we are in full compliance with all regulations given by the Arizona Department of Health Services concerning COVID-19 restaurant safety. For deep sanitizing, we use Ecolab’s Disinfection Service. The Ecolab Disinfection Service leverages Ecolab products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS–CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. This is an extremely aggressive barrier against virus transmission, and it greatly reduces the risk of infection. It is a four hour cleaning process of the entire facility performed during non-operating hours. It is safe and effective for you, our greatest asset.

Sweetness and Spice

While we specialize in steaks and seafood, our neighbors in New Mexico have a different expertise: chile peppers. And the most famous of these is Hatch chiles. Grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico, these smoky flavored chiles are eagerly anticipated each August and September by aficionados from Texas to California. While Jalapeños are widely known throughout the US, Hatch chiles are steadily gaining popularity outside the Southwest. Not bad for a pepper coming from a village of 1,600 people!

Heat!

This is the first thing chile pepper lovers want to know. How hot are they? Well, that depends. They range from 1,000 to 8,000 units on the Scoville scale, and some are even hotter. The average spiciness is around 4,500 Scoville heat units, which is about the same as a Jalapeño. Different Hatch varieties can be much milder, like an Anaheim or Poblano. They can also be much hotter, approaching the flame of a Serrano. 

Taste

This is the second most-asked question: what do they taste like? A single malt whisky from the island of Islay tastes smoky when compared to a Highland whisky. In the same way, a Hatch chile has a smoky, earthy flavor when compared to an Anaheim, for instance. In fact, an Anaheim is a mild grandchild of a Hatch chile, but without the attitude! 

The smoky, upfront flavor is most prominent when the pepper is picked young. It is adored by chile fans for its unique buttery flavor when roasted. Young Hatch chiles are green, but as they mature, they take on a yellow to red hue. As it matures, the pepper will yield a sweetness along with the spice, creating an ideal blend of sweet and savory.

Versatility

Hatch chiles can be used in a wide variety of dishes. They are perfect for soups and stews, adding a distinctive smokiness to the flavor. They work equally well in sautés and fajitas. Breakfast tacos, scrambled eggs and omelets made with a bit of Hatch chile is guaranteed to brighten your morning. Queso, hummus and salsa practically beg for Hatch. They are great as a pizza or burger topping, too. They make a wonderful substitute for Poblanos in a chile relleno. Some New Mexico folks even add them to apple pie because the smokiness of the peppers compliment the sweetness of the apples so well.

Always an adventure!

Fortunately, Hatch chiles are becoming available across the US. You can order them online or check your local Whole Foods market to see if they carry them. It is worth the effort for the adventure. Like Hatch chiles, dining at DC Steak House is always an adventure. It’s the pinnacle of fine dining in the Phoenix Valley. But downtown Chandler is the only place you will find us. Call for reservations to book the best night out on the town this year. Pairing fine wines and great food is our specialty. Sweetness and spice: that’s DC Steakhouse!

Images used under creative commons license (Commerical Use) 09/28/2020

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