India Oven: Restaurant Review

For anyone who knows me, they know how I feel about food. I am an adventurous eater and I love many different flavors. One of my new favorite places is India Oven right here in Mesa, just down the street from us. Their address is: 1315 S. Gilbert Rd., Mesa, AZ. I have driven by their place a bazillion times and thought to myself, "I need to try that place." 

Then a few weeks ago, my parents took me to lunch and we all fell in love with the food. Daisy, the owner greeted us at the door. The fun thing about India Oven is that they serve an "All You Can Eat" buffet for both lunch and dinner, so for those unfamiliar with the tastes of India, you can try a little of everything and find your favorites. 

They serve fresh garlic naan bread to go with the meal. Yum.

The food is not overly spicy, has great flavors. The service is great. I read another review of India Oven that made me laugh, 

"Eating here felt so right, yet so wrong. A dinner buffet for only $10?!" 

And if you go for lunch, the price is only $7.95.

My dad gets credit as food stylist on this. My personal favorites are the three on the bottom half of the plate. One of these days I'll learn the names of the dishes. They also have a full menu, which you can see on their website linked above. They also have banquet facilities for 50-250 guests in the same building. If I had 250 friends to have a party with, I would definitely consider India Oven.

In the mean time, lunch anyone?

Josh & Carie + Three Boys= Sweet Family

Carie contacted me out of the blue for family portraits, which I felt afterwards was divine intervention for me. I'm so glad she found me. I fell in love with this wonderful family from the moment I met them. Josh and Carie have three cute little boys: Wesley, 6 and twins, Wyatt and Quinn, almost 4. I have a soft spot in my heart for little boys. It always makes me think back to my own four not so little anymore boys. They grow up so fast.

Josh and Carie

Quinn, Wesley and Wyatt

Wyatt and Quinn

 

I love this photo of Wesley. He is such a good big brother.

 Anyone who has been around little boys knows that flexing is serious business and involves a lot more than just the muscles.

Wesley

 Quinn

 A boy and his fork. Wyatt has a thing for utensils...plastic forks, spatulas, etc.

Sweet Wyatt...

Great family.

A Family Portrait

I've done weddings, babies, birthdays, Seniors, special events, and even funerals, but when I was asked last year to photograph this family I admit that I was a little nervous, but quickly put at ease  once I met up with them out in Queen Creek. With permission, I share these photos and a little of the story behind them. The session left an impact on me and I have wanted to post them for a while. 

Jan and her husband were getting a divorce after 27 years and  Jan wanted to have one last family photo taken. It made me think quite a bit about what I was being asked to capture and in the end, I think it worked, because they made it work. Their him&her story may not have ended the way they thought, but it doesn't mean that there weren't some really great chapters (and four beautiful daughters) along the way. When I asked Jan if it was o.k. to share the images and a little bit surrounding them, her reply was, "You bet! That was a fun shoot and memorialized the prior 27 years of good things that happened in our family." I admire Jan and her wish to focus on those good things. It was worth remembering. Thank you, Jan. Here they are...

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to capture this family, because that is one story that continues. 

Happy Easter

It's Easter Sunday, and we get to enjoy it with nearly all of our family. We will miss Simon up at school, but hope that he feels our love headed his way.

 I happened to be at Pottery Barn the other day and happened upon these cute little Springtime offerings. I took photos until someone told me 

I wasn't allowed to. It's fun to look at pretty things.

Aren't these little bottle brush chicks just the cutest?! They really wanted to come home with me, but I had to say no. I will remember them fondly.

For those of us living in Mesa, we have an opportunity every year to see the life of the Savior portrayed in the annual Easter Pageant. For those who missed it or were unable to attend, here is a great little movie that gives an overview of the Pageant. You can watch it here.

HApPy EaSteR All!