Month: July 2012

Some news about brews..

A new ale house opening in downtown Phoenix & a new brewing company coming to Gilbert.

As we continue to sweat out the dog days of summer nothing helps cool you off than a cold beer. I met up with some craft brew enthusiasts for a couple of pints and to catch up on some local beer news and met with the owners of a couple of new beer focused establishments.

Angels Trumpets Ale House opens in mid August in downtown Phoenix, just off Roosevelt Row by Mat & Sherry Englehorn. They will have 31 taps w/ rotating beers and 6 taps for wine. In addition to beer they will be offering food and hope to attract the lunch crowd with a quick turnaround for workers in the area. It will be a welcome addition to the always growing downtown area. In addition for kegs the cooler will have room for a couple of casks of beer and in the future they plan to have beer dinners and teach beer classes with the help from brewers. With over 1,400 “Likes” on their Facebook page they’re expecting to be busy from opening day. Angels Trumpet is at 810 N. 2nd St. Phoenix 85004 (602)317- 0170 www.facebook.com/angelstrumpetalehouse

In the east valley city of Gilbert, Owner/ Yeast Whisperer Jonathan Buford and partners are working on opening Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. at the intersection of Arizona Ave. & Guadalupe Rd before the end of the year. After being snubbed by tenants at the strip mall in Queen Creek they were hoping to open at, the city of Gilbert welcomed them with open arms. Still in the process of building out and going through the licensing process they reached their financial goal through crowd funding on Kicktarter. Self taught brewer Jonathan will be sourcing several kinds of yeast from all over for the brewing process for his beers. To follow their progress you can “Like” them on there Facebook page www.facebook.com/azwbc

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Celebrates Summer With Steak & Sangria Prix Fixe Options

New Pairings Offer A Summer Vacation Experience Every Two Weeks

With long summer days rolling into warm summer nights, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is celebrating summer with a series of Summer Lovin’ Steak & Sangria Prix Fixe dinners that will take guests on a culinary world tour. This summer menu series, offered July 2 through August 26, will introduce a new steak and sangria pairing every two weeks, each featuring an artfully inspired selection of fresh, seasonal ingredients and internationally inspired flavors.

Fleming’s 4 Sangrias

Every Summer Lovin’ Steak & Sangria menu features a summer salad, a uniquely seasoned specialty prime New York Strip Steak with a vibrant topping and a decadent dessert for $39.95*. Each menu also includes a suggested hand-crafted sangria pairing for $7.95*. Guests visiting the bar or patio, will also have an opportunity to enjoy the series of refreshing, seasonal sangrias.

Fleming’s Executive Chef Russell Skall, believes that summer dining is about innovative flavors that convey fun in the sun.

“Steak and sangria are two things that instantly take a summer BBQ from ordinary to extraordinary, and Fleming’s is helping guests take away the fuss by bringing the ultimate summer BBQ to our patios instead of theirs,” said Skall. “The steak and sangria menus will present a variety of marinades and sauces that will highlight fresh summer flavors and provide guests with a global summer vacation feel.”

Summer Lovin’ Steak & Sangria menus for August include:

July 30 through August 12
· Butter Lettuce and Pear Salad with goat cheese, candied walnuts, crispy onions, and a lemon vinaigrette

· Prime New York Strip with a sweet and spicy rub, topped with a savory tomato and roasted red pepper butter and chopped marcona almonds, and served with a side of summer zucchini slaw

Beefsteak & Mozzarella salad, prime NY strip & sangria

· Fresh Peach Cobbler with a brown sugar oat streusel and topped with vanilla ice cream

· Optional Pairing: South Seas Sangria – Viñedos Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, and Peach Schnapps with fresh peaches, honeydew melon, oranges and lemons


August 13 through 26
· Beefsteak Tomato & Mozzarella Salad with arugula and a red onion balsamic vinaigrette

· Prime New York Strip topped with crispy gorgonzola and served with grilled asparagus, pickled fennel and baby golden beets

· Lemon-Poppy Seed Butter Cookies with vanilla ice cream and a warm apple-ginger sauce

· Optional Pairing: Sailors Sunset Sangria – Red Diamond Merlot, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and Peach Schnapps, with fresh peaches, oranges and lemons


Enjoy the Steak & Sangria menus at any of Fleming’s four Valley locations in North Scottsdale at DC Ranch, Scottsdale at Lincoln Road, Chandler and Peoria. Find the restaurant nearest you at FlemingsSteakhouse.com.

*Excluding tax and gratuity. Sangrias are sold separately. Fleming’s abides by all local and state liquor laws.

School is in Session with Tom’s Thumb “101 & Bell” Classes Wine 101: Wine & BBQ

Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market http://www.tomsthumbfreshmarket.com/ starts a series of tasty educational classes in August covering everything from wine, grilling, and cooking. It’s “101 & Bell” sessions provide the basics and beyond from the experts at this unique corner market.

Chuck Hesson, the market manager and a certified Sommelier, hosts the first class “Wine & BBQ “– a Wine 101 pairing varietals with the tangy, smoky flavors of barbecue. The event starts at 6:30 pm with a tasting of five wines and light appetizers. Hesson will describe how each pairs with the different qualities of meats and sauces of the restaurant’s award-winning barbecue.

After the tasting, guests will sit for a 3-course dinner with their choice of barbecue entrée and their choice of one glass wine. Additional drinks are available for purchase.

Cost for the tasting course and dinner is $60 per couple or $35 per individual. Pre-paid reservations are required and can be made online or at the market.

Wednesday, August 8

6:30 – 8:30 pm

Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market

9393 E. Bell Rd. • Scottsdale 85260

480-513-8186

The Wines

Five food friendly wines from around the world:

  • Italian Prosecco
  • Oregon Rose
  • Oregon Pinot Noir
  • French Cote du Rhone
  • Californian Syrah

The Menu

  • Choice of soup or salad
  • Choice of the Two Meat Platter, Grilled Salmon or Rib Platter
  • Choice of Strawberry Shortcake or Peach Cobbler

Shlomo & Vito’s Announces Grand Re-Opening with Charitable Partnership

Popular Delicatessen Re-Opens, Adds Authentic Pizzeria to Diverse Menu Offerings

Expanding upon its success as an delicatessen with East Coast authenticity at every turn, Shlomo & Vito’s New York Delicatessen is expanding. Its reopening will be held mid-August.

Merging the delicatessen with the new Vito’s pizza kitchen, Shlomo & Vito’s will serve New York’s most popular offerings, all while bringing the true New York style of cuisine to Tucson. The menu features the finest of Jewish, Italian, and American cuisine — from sandwiches and New York-style pies to pizza.

Co-owner Dean Greenberg knew as a kid the food he ate was something special, a feeling he strives to bring to Shlomo & Vito’s to every patron who walks through the door.

“I grew up eating the best Jewish and Italian food you could imagine at every diner and deli from Long Island to New York City,” Greenberg said. “Bringing this great food to the Foothills was a given and four years ago I partnered with my longtime friend and Tucson restaurateur, Matt McKinnon to make it happen. Now, our success has allowed us to expand and offer even more New York-inspired fare to Tucson.”
The reopening, set for mid-August, will partner with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, with 10 % of proceeds of every pizza purchased during
Pastrami sandwich
August 17-26 going back to the organization.

“We are pleased to partner with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, which is near and dear to our heart in the great work they do researching the cure for leukemia lymphoma,” said Matt McKinnon, Co-owner of Shlomo & Vito’s.
Sunday, August 19, 6:00-8:00 P.M. Shlomo & Vito’s will host “Tucson Hunger Game” in the Courtyard of Plaza Colonial, 2870 E. Skyline Drive). The Ultimate Man vs. Food Competition!
Pepperoni pizza
Local high school football teams will compete for their chance to win proceeds of funds raised that day. Lineman from each school will compete in 4 Quarters with four rounds of food. The High School Football Lineman who eats the most in the competition will win the money for his school.

Percentage Night
For every PIZZA purchased during AUGUST 17-26 Shlomo & Vito’s will donates a 10% to Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

As a part of the reopening, Shlomo & Vito’s New York Delicatessen will also offer delivery service for breakfasts, lunches and dinners to neighbor’s homes or offices. Whatever the event, from business or team meetings to birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, weddings and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, the restaurant’s diverse, comprehensive catering menu is sure to please guests. Shlomo & Vito’s exceptional catering department will create the perfect menu for any event.

Shlomo & Vito’s, 2870 East Skyline Drive in Tucson, is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and lunch entrées range from $8-$11 while dinner dishes range from $12 – $16. For more information, visit http://www.shlomoandvitos.com/

Healthier, Tasty Dishes Reflect Dragon Wok Owner’s Passion for Food

Sam Stezo knows Chinese food has a misunderstood reputation. It’s one he’s been passionate about changing at his Gilbert restaurant for nearly a decade. His Gilbert restaurant, Dragon Wok, serves Fine Chinese Dining with a warm and inviting ambience. This is the first perception of what Fine Chinese Dining really means. It is quickly followed with a menu of healthy and authentic Chinese cuisine.
Stezo, affectionately known as “Dragon Sam,” has taken traditional, secret family recipes and added modern, contemporary touches to his offerings of Chinese food and specialty dishes. His meals represent a value in quality and taste unmatched by other restaurants in the East Valley.
Sam’s father is a grand master chef from Hong Kong, and he learned about the connection between ingredients, food and life early on.
“Chinese cuisine has always been about balance – eating for your health, the season, even your mood,” he explains. “But today, there are so many versions of Chinese food out there that the balance and connection has been lost. I hope I can educate more diners about what our authentic Chinese dishes are meant to be, and help them re-establish that balance.”
Sam starts with a traditional Chinese menu with dishes like Mongolian Beef, Kung Pao Shrimp & Chicken, General Spicy Chicken and Beer & Broccolli. But diners know the difference Dragon Wok represents after just one bite. The taste and flavors are not smothered in sauce, but actually work in unison with each other to deliver a truly traditional taste.
This is the heart behind Dragon Wok’s definition of Chinese dining, and why his customers loyally return again and again – no matter where they live.
Happy hour selections
“Cooking is like an art. It is like being a musician. We all have the same notes to work with and the same ingredients, but is it my job to combine them into something beautiful that the diner can enjoy,” says Sam.
He does this with top quality ingredients and a variety of herbs and spices that bring out the flavors with minimal calories. For example, he uses lemon and lime to cut cholesterol and fat; chrysanthemum, licorice and teas for one-of-a-kind accents; and garlic and ginger in just the right amounts. All vegetables are steamed and cooked in a wok rather than sautéed in heavy oils.
Stezo emphasizes that it’s not the herb and spices individually that make his dishes good, but the blending of all the ingredients together. And in Chinese tradition, when he knows his customers, he can customize dishes to help them be healthier over time.
“I’m not a doctor,” he jokes. “But what you eat is what you are. When my guests say they are they are looking to be healthy in one way or another, I take what I know about them and their tastes to blend our sauces, herbs and spices into dishes they enjoy. It helps them be healthier over time and to have a healthier life.”
Dragon Wok offers daily lunch specials from 11am – 3pm during the week and 12-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Prices range from $6.95 – $8.25. Dinner entrees range from $7.99 – $16.99 and are often served family style. During Happy Hour from 4 – 9 pm there are $5 cocktails, $5 sake bombers, $3 beers and $4 house wines plus half off the second appetizer.
Dragon Wok also offers take out and catering. Contact Dragon Wok at 480-782-6889
pot stickers, orange chicken and beef skewers.
Dragon Wok Fine Chinese Restaurant is located at 727 W. Ray Road, #B1, in Gilbert. Menus and specials are available online at dragonwok.biz or get updates from Facebook (facebook.com/dragonwokAZ) and Twitter (@dragonwok)

Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market Expands Dinner Menu at Campfire Bistro and beer & wine now also available to go with that award-winning barbecue

Here is an update for some new additions to Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market which is on the Southwest corner of 94th and Bell Roads and continues to be more than just a gas station. The corner store has quickly become a neighborhood meeting spot for a cup of locally roasted coffee at Pinnacle Perk or breakfast and lunch at the Campfire Bistro. This week, the Bistro introduces an expanded dinner menu and full table service from 4:30 – 8pm nightly. The new offerings coincide with its license approval to serve beer and wine.

Chef Tudie Frank-Johnson has taken the café’s award-winning barbecue and Southern-inspired specialties to create a range of family dinner-worthy dishes. Headlining the menu are the Barbecue Ribs – a half rack of ribs with two side dishes for $16. The Campfire Bistro ribs recently took top honors at the Channel 15 Sonoran Living BBQ Challenge.
Also on the menu are Grilled Salmon over Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Red Pepper Coulis and Sautéed Zucchini with Shallots ($13.99), Crab Cakes, and rotating specials like Blackened Catfish with Fries, Fiesta Slaw and Drizzled with Chipolte Aioli ($10.99) and Peach Cobbler ($3.99).
“The community has been so supportive of Tom’s and everything we offer. The Bistro is truly becoming the meeting place we’ve hoped for – where neighbors come in for breakfast or business people for lunch,” says operator Jonathan Kish. “We’re excited to be able to offer a formal dinner menu for our guests to enjoy in the evening with their friends and families.”
The dinner menu is available from 4:30 – 8pm nightly when the Bistro transforms into a full restaurant with table service.
Tom’s Thumb also is now serving beer and wine by the bottle and glass. The selection changes weekly and comes from its range of affordable, high quality wines and craft beers selected by Market Sommelier Chuck Hesson. Prices range from $4 – 5 per bottle for beer and $5 – 11 for wine. Drinks are $1 off during happy hour from 3 – 6pm daily.

Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market is located at 9393 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale on the SouthWest corner of 94th and Bell. Find menus and other updates about the market on its website, TomsThumbFreshMarket.com, on Facebook (facebook.com/Toms-Thumb-Fresh-Market) and the Twitter (@TheThumb1). 480-513-8186.

SUMMER SUNDAYS” PRIME RIB DINNER AT FLEMING’S 3-Courses for $29.95, B.R. Cohen Cabernet for $40

Here is some info. on Fleming’s Sunday night’s Prime Rib dinner & wine feature. Summer is the time to bring back the tradition of Sunday night dinner with family and friends at Fleming’s. Guests can enjoy a three-course Prime Rib Dinner at a special price every Sunday evening beginning July 1st through Labor Day Weekend.

New this season is the perfect pairing of wine to complement prime rib of beef– B. R. Cohn North Coast Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2008/2009–enticingly priced.
WHEN: Sundays through Labor Day Weekend
(July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19, 26, 30, September 2)

COST: $29.95* per guest
B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon $40* a bottle

WHERE: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Baro Scottsdale at Lincoln Road: 6333 N. Scottsdale Rd. / 480-596-8265o North Scottsdale at DC Ranch: 20753 N. Pima Rd. / 480-538-8000o Chandler: 905 N. 54th St. / 480-940-1900o Peoria: 9712 W. Northern Ave. / 623-772-9463

Please visit www.FlemingsSteakhouse.com to find your nearest restaurant and hours.
MENU:
The Sunday Prime Rib Dinner is a three-course meal featuring:

  • 12 ounces of succulent Prime Rib, served with a trio of sauces
  • Choice of The Wedge, Fleming’s or Caesar salad
  • Choice of one side dish (ten selections)
  • Choice of housemade dessert (seven selections)



*excluding tax and gratuity. Our Prime Rib Dinner is available every Sunday, but at the special summer price of $29.95 per guest through September 2nd only. Fleming’s abides by all local and state liquor laws.