It’s no secret. I love food. And I’m happy I get to partake in it three times a day (and sometimes more). I also love traveling, so working for Southwest Airlines just puts the cherry on top of my sundae of a job. Since I started at Southwest, I think I’ve flown more in eight months than I have in my combined 23 years before. I’ve also seen a heckuva lot of airports.

I decided to make it my mission to dedicate a large amount of time and research to finding the best places to eat at each airport that Southwest Airlines serves. I can’t tell you when I'll travel to Boise, Providence, or Harlingen, but good golly, I will make an excuse to go there. It’s quite an undertaking, and one I take very seriously. There’s no telling how long it will take me to visit all 66 cities (and counting) but I remain steadfastly committed to my goal.

My first in a series I like to call "Food Flight!" begins in Phoenix’s Sky Harbor: a bright, sunny airport in Arizona that’s often a stop on my way to visit friends in the Northwest. In it lives the famous Paradise Bakery—which has a bit of a cult following. People rave about the pastries, the sandwiches, the iced tea—pretty much everything they offer is solid gold and a must for carb addicts. The only downside? They’re outside of security, so be sure to allow yourself plenty of time if you want to partake in the pastry goodness.

What do I recommend? Oh goodness, you can’t really go wrong here. Their sandwiches are absolutely delicious, but the two that stand out are the Turkey Cranberry served on their Paradise Molasses bread, and their famous Chicken Walnut salad (try it on sourdough!) All sandwiches also come with a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie…does it get any better than that? I think not.

However, if you want to go over the top (and who doesn’t?) I recommend one of the fruit-filled croissants. I had the blueberry, and it was mighty tasty. To cap it all off, try their flavored iced teas. The mango was simply divine.

So for freshly-baked pastries, breads, sandwiches, and soups that will make you swoon, head to Paradise. The name pretty much says it all.

Find it at:
Sky Harbor Airport - Terminal 2,3, and 4
Phoenix, AZ
Phone: (602) 681-0909
Fax: (602) 681-0910
Hours: Every day; 24 hours; Limited menu 12am-5am
Free Wi-Fi available