About
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Lead Staff
Jeff Smedstad
Owner / Executive Chef
Juan Rojas
General Manager
where the timeless recipes of southern mexico meet the bold, farm-fresh flavors of the american southwest...
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An award-winning modern Mexican & Southwestern restaurant, Elote Cafe’s authentic cuisine is culled from chef/owner Jeff Smedstad’s 20-plus years of travel across Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla and his native Arizona.
Overlooking the scenic Red Rocks of Sedona, Elote Cafe proudly features seasonal, locally-grown ingredients, plus a handpicked cocktail menu highlighted by the finest tequilas and mezcal.
Featured Press
The Arizona Republic
Top 9 restaurants in Sedona
The New York Times
Fruits of the Desert Sun
Phoenix Magazine
50 Best AZ Restaurants, 2016
ABOUT CHEF JEFf SMEDSTAD
Owner of Elote Cafe in Sedona, Arizona, Chef Jeff Smedstad specializes in the bold, flavorful cuisine of southern and deep interior Mexico. After learning to cook aboard a Coast Guard cutter, Smedstad attended the Seasons of my Heart Cooking School in Oaxaca and then spent the past two decades traveling the back roads of Mexico, shopping the local markets, eating in restaurants across the country and sharing time with families in Mexico to help broaden his knowledge and gain inspiration and insight.
Jeff proudly incorporates sustainable, local, healthy and organic products into his restaurant to showcase his passion for food as well as responsible cooking.
Jeff’s award winning cuisine has been featured in The New York Times, Fox News, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix Magazine, The Boston Globe, the Toronto Star and Sunset Magazine among others.
AWARDS & PRESS
Phoenix Magazine, 50 Best AZ Restaurants, 2016 “Elote Café has quickly assumed regal status in Northern Arizona’s gourmet food scene … Spectacular small plates like seafood tacos filled with ancho-glazed cod and shrimp are tempting, but we always go back to the lamb adobo, a braised Colorado lamb shank topped with a sweet-and-spicy ancho-chile sauce.”
FODOR'S Starred Review “Traditional Mexican recipes get a creative and tasty update at this popular restaurant … Small plates like chicken tacos with mole sauce are delicious and affordable, and larger dishes like braised lamb shank in ancho chile sauce or chiles rellenos are equally satisfying. Enjoy the colorful interior or sit on the open-air deck for fabulous Sedona views.”
MSN.com, America's 50 Best Mexican Restaurants “Menu highlights include smoked chicken enchiladas, with house-smoked organic free-range chicken, salsa verde, and chipotle crema; roasted squash chile relleno with seasoned butternut squash, corn, Jack cheese, mole verde, and pepita crema; and smoked pork cheeks, with cascabel chile sauce, buttermilk cumin drizzle, and ‘grandma’s corn cake.’ Count us in.”
Fox News/Gayot, Top 10 Mexican restaurants in the US “Elote’s elegant food is enhanced with local wines, cheeses and produce. Favorites like guacamole are found alongside more unique offerings like smoked pork cheeks served with cascabel chile sauce, corn cake and buttermilk cumin drizzle.”
The Arizona Republic, Top 9 restaurants in Sedona “Elote is a foodie paradise. On the appetizer menu, don’t miss the guacamole or the Elote, fire-roasted corn with spicy mayo, lime and Cotija cheese. Pick up a copy of the restaurant’s cookbook on the way out.”
The New York Times, Fruits of the Desert Sun
The Chicago Tribune, Chef gets a very fresh start, menu in Sedona