Before there were safety matches to start the kitchen stove there were tinderboxes.

"Tinderboxes contained flint and steel used to strike a spark," explains Chef Scott Heinonen of the name of his new Flagstaff restaurant. Over the years the word has been redefined to mean a highly excitable situation that exudes flame. Heinonen hopes that the contemporary restaurant will strike a spark with Flagstaff diners when it opens next month.

Business partners Scott Heinonen and cousin Kevin Heinonen plan to offer Flagstaff foodies an approachable alternative to the already diverse Northern Arizona restaurant market. According to Scott Heinonen, the idea behind 'American Comfort Food Redefined' is to "take American Classics and put modern twists on them. Or visa-versa: modern dishes with classic twists."

Such imaginative flavor splicing can be tasted with tempting menu items such as a delicate Duck Leg Confit flaking into a bed of jalapeño mac and cheese, Seared Divers' Scallops on a lake of creamed corn with wild-rice hush puppies, or Buffalo Pot Roast on hand-rolled egg noodles with grated horse radish root. Scott Heinonen promises an approachable menu of comforting, soul-satisfying food at good pricing points.

The Heinonen cousins are no strangers to Flagstaff. Kevin practiced law here at the turn of the century. Scott graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the Hospitality Program of Northern Arizona University in 1994. Scott left Flagstaff to help open a wine-country restaurant in Oregon. He later moved to work at Lake Tahoe and studied food and wine in Napa Valley.

Ten years later Scott Heinonen brought back to Flagstaff lessons learned from working in diverse regions of the West. "I learned different (regional) ingredients and tidbits from great cooking experiences."

One of those great cooking experiences was being Paul McCartney's personal chef while the Beatle vacationed with his family near Squaw Valley at Lake Tahoe. "It was a challenging menu," admits Scott Heinonen. "I had to do everything vegetarian. But we made margaritas and drank wine together. Paul even wrote me a recommendation. It's framed and will be hanging in the [Tinderbox Kitchen] restaurant."

"I've been working on the business plan for this restaurant for years," shares the entrepreneur. "I kept looking for a partner. Finally I convinced him [Kevin] …

"We think this is an opportune time. The space came available now. Good spaces in this town don't present themselves often. And we have a good following here." Scott Heinonen has been cooking in up-market restaurants in Flagstaff since his return in 2005.

The Tinderbox Kitchen is breathing new life into the desirable location on South San Francisco Street. The cousins are recreating the space with a minimalist design scheme using wood (tinder, perhaps?) and metals (to strike a spark?) The contemporary theme will lend to the T-box's goal of becoming a genuine neighbor joint where locals come for good conversation and good food.

"Good food. Good service. A good place. All things good equals great," philosophizes Scott Heinonen.

When the Tinderbox Kitchen is set to open in early May, it will be open for dinner with a menu that will change often. A changing menu "keeps it fresh and exciting for the customers as well as the cooks," says the chef who cooks with the seasons. "With each new season comes new inspiration. Customers will be able to go to our website and view our menu.

"Later, we'll open the patio and then add lunch after that," says Chef Heinonen who says he's learned that you can bite off what you can chew, and only then should you bite off more.

The Tinderbox Kitchen located at 34 South San Francisco Street in Flagstaff. Reservations are recommended. Contact the restaurant at 928-214-8400 or at its website, which will be launching soon, at www.tinderboxkitchen.com.