Celeb Dish: Dave Pratt

By Kylie Gad - Aug. 20, 2008
The Arizona Republic

L. A. has The Ivy and New York has Nobu, but what about Phoenix?

Each week, we’ll be asking Valley celebrities and notables to dish on their favorite places to dine.

This week, KMLE 107.9 morning show host and Valley radio mainstay Dave Pratt lets us in on which restaurants get “the Morning Mayor’s” vote.

Tee Pee Mexican Restaurant
4144 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix
602-956-0178
Tee Pee, making its second Celeb Dish appearance, has been dishing up delicious Mexican fare for nearly 40 years. Pratt recommends the “unbelievable” chili rellenos and Sonoran enchiladas and says that the guacamole is “the best in town.” You can also add Tee Pee’s spicy chorizo to any item for extra kick. “Most often I order some type of combination plate because I love it all,” Pratt says. How much does he love it? “Ask for the Morning Mayor’s table,” he says. “Seriously! I go there so often they actually dedicated a table to me with a photo and plaque.”

Chelsea’s Kitchen
5040 N. 40th St., Phoenix
602-957-2555
Pratt, a staple of Arizona morning radio since 1981, says he seldom gets to enjoy breakfast due to his early hours. But when he has a chance, he heads straight for the Pecan Waffle at Chelsea’s. The homemade wheat, roasted pecans and natural maple syrup make it a favorite of Pratt’s. “I love just about anything on Chelsea’s lunch and dinner menu as well,” Pratt adds. “It is definitely one of my favorite places.”

Benihana
16403 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-444-0068
Also taking another Celeb Dish bow is Benihana. Pratt says he loves Rocky’s Choice, a combination of steak and chicken that comes with original ginger and mustard dipping sauces. He suggests asking for the special fried rice with your meal, and adds, “if you’re celebrating, maybe some saki!” Pratt says his kids love the food and the entertaining chefs’ slicing and dicing at the teppanyaki grill and calls dinner at Benihana a family tradition. “Chances are that you will see my entire family nearly every Sunday night,” he says.

Carl’s Jr.
Multiple Valley locations
The latest round of commercials from the fast-food chain features a “fake restaurant,” where people order what they think are $12-$14 burgers in a sit-down setting and are instead served, and fooled by, the Carl’s Jr. Six Dollar Burger. There must be some truth to those ads, because it earns one of Pratt’s top spots. Whether it’s Jalapeño, Chili Cheese, or Western Bacon, Pratt says, “For the price and convenience, nothing beats the Six Dollar Burger.” The sides have their own charms as well. “Plus,” he adds, “Carl’s onion rings are addictive.”

Alice Cooperstown
101 E. Jackson St., Phoenix
602-253-7337
Sports and music have long gone hand in hand. (Think We Will Rock You by Queen blaring at any sports championship you’ve ever attended and the unfortunate stadium popularity of Who Let the Dogs Out by The Baha Men.) Alice Cooper decided to take it to the next level when he opened Alice Cooperstown, a sports bar where “jocks and rock meet.” Dave Pratt is part owner, one of the joint’s original investors, and a friend of Alice. “I suggest that everybody should spend lots of money there!” he jokes. “After all, I have four kids to put through school.” So would he recommend the fiery WMD’s - Wings of Mass Destruction - or the “Big Unit” Hot Dog, a nearly two-foot-long (!) all-beef frank? “Try the Pratt’s Pulled Pork,” he says. “Yummy!”

    The majority of today’s college freshmen were born between 89′ and 91′.  They have never known a life without cell phones.  The only host they have ever known for the Tonight Show is Jay Leno.  They will be the first freshmen class in history to receive more of their news from the internet than from television.   And due to the internet, many of today’s incoming college freshmen have never used a traditional dictionary, encyclopedia or even a phone book.  Many have never consumed tap water, owned a cassette tape or even a movie on VHS!  Most have never owned a camera where film needs to be “developed”, and the hunt for Osama Bin Laden started when they were still in elementary school.

Here is the scary part.  For many of the incoming college freshmen from Arizona, their parents had already been listening to my morning show for over a decade before the day they were born!  Yikes!

Can you think of more?  Please share with the KMLE Nation by posting your comments here on the Pratt Page.

The Daytona 500!  Win a trip to the opening race of the 2009 NASCAR season! 

As you know, United States Senator Jon Kyl and FSN Arizona’s Wally Cahill both give NASCAR reports on Dave Pratt in the Morning!!  Now, you can go to www.kmlenation.com and register for the Sanderson Ford Fantasy Racing League!  Check out all of the info, detail, opportunities and fun!   Register now as all points renew in September…….just like NASCAR!

QUESTION:  How much per year is considered “making a lot of money? 

It is back to school time, and over 70 percent of college students express one of their top 3 career goals as “making a lot of money.”   My question to you is:  In your opinion, how much is “making a lot of money”?  Give a hard number.  List a monetary earning figure per year.

I asked my youngest son and his answer was “$100 per year.”  I asked my oldest son and his answer was “$10,000,000 per year.”  ( I think he’s been watching too much NBA)  For most of you, I am sure the answer lies somewhere in between.  Please share and post your comments here for the KMLE Nation.  How much per year is “making a lot of money?”   $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$