From the AZeats.com Historical Media Archive Based on an article by Carey Sweet, published in the Arizona Republic, December 2, 2005.
A Look Back: When AZeats.com Became a Holiday Favorite
In December 2005, the Arizona Republic highlighted AZeats.com as one of the most convenient and cost‑saving ways for Valley residents to purchase restaurant gift certificates during the holiday season. In her dining column, food writer Carey Sweet opened with a memorable line:
“There is only one thing I want for Christmas. Gift certificates.”
Sweet explained that instead of traditional gifts, she preferred “free money” to spend at local Scottsdale restaurants — and AZeats.com had become her go‑to source.
AZeats.com: Convenience, Choice, and Savings
The article praised AZeats.com for offering:
Sweet noted specific examples: A $50 Atlas Bistro certificate cost $43, and a $25 Sapporo certificate cost $20, making AZeats.com an attractive option for holiday shoppers.
Featured Restaurants in 2005
The Arizona Republic listed many Scottsdale and Biltmore‑area restaurants available through AZeats.com at the time, including:
Sweet also highlighted casual favorites such as:
These listings provide a snapshot of the vibrant dining scene AZeats.com supported during the mid‑2000s.
A Note on Safety: Mastro’s AED Program
The article also included a news release describing how Mastro’s Restaurant Group equipped all its restaurants with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and trained staff — a first in the Valley at the time.
Sweet added a humorous aside, hoping the “utmost attention” of the AED service was “on request only.”
A Historical Moment for AZeats.com
This 2005 Arizona Republic feature captures an important chapter in AZeats.com’s history — a time when the service was becoming widely recognized for its convenience, value, and support of local dining.
For AZeats.org, this article stands as a record of how the platform helped shape holiday dining traditions and made restaurant gift‑giving easier for thousands of Arizona residents.
