Month: March 2016

Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame announces nominees, winners announced March 28th.

March 28th is when the 25th annual Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame will announce it’s newest inductees at Livewire in Scottsdale. The nominees of the 8 categories are listed below and are currently being voted on by a vast range on industry personnel. The event is sponsored by the Scottsdale League of the Arts and will be emcee’d by local TV personality Jaime Ceretta.
Culinary Hall of fame photo
Nominees for the 2016 Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame include:

Chef of the Year

Mel Mecinas, Talavera at the Four Seasons Troon North

Joshua Hebert, POSH “Improvisational Cuisine”

Bernie Kantak, Citizen Public House and The Gladly

Christopher Nicosia, Sassi

Best Upcoming Chef

Garrison Whiting, Counter Intuitive

Taylor Sorenson, Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge

Dushyant Singh, Artizen at The Camby

Sacha Levine, Ocotillo

Restaurateur of the Year

Cakewalk Management

Fork and Dagger Development

Osio Culinary Group

Jim Riley and Tucker Woodbury

Mixologist of the Year

Ross Simon, Bitter and Twisted Cocktail Parlour

Luke Detraz, Director of Mixology, Southern Wine and Spirits

Robert Porter, Jade Bar at the Sanctuary Resort on Camelback Mountain

Brandon Casey, The Ostrich

Brewer of the Year

Anthony Canecchia, SanTan Brewery

Adam Schmeichel, Fate Brewing Company

Eric Greene, Dragoon Brewery

Preston Thoeny, Wren House Brewing

Winemaker of the Year

John McLoughlin, Cellar 433

Kent Callaghan, Callaghan Vineyards

Eric Glomski, Page Springs Cellars

Karyl Wilhem, Wilhem Family Vineyards

Food Truck of the Year

Aioli Gourmet Burger

Short Leash Hot Dogs

The Grilled Cheese Truck Phoenix

Satay Hut

Food Writer of the Year

Lauren Saria, Phoenix New Times

Christina Barrueta, Write on Rubee

Diana Brandt, Arizona Foodie

Joanie Simon, JoanieSimon.com

Lifetime Achievement Award

Christopher Gross

Tickets to the 25th annual Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame are $25 and include small bites and one cocktail. A cash bar will be available. The event will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Livewire AZ, 7320 E Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251. For more information, visit: http://scottsdalefest.org/.

Liberty Market to host Dead Restaurant dinner March 21st.

Joe Johnson and the chefs at Liberty Market in Gilbert are paying homage to the “Dead’ (closed) restaurants that they honed their culinary skills at on Monday March 21st. The is a Community Dinner and the menu is as follows……

Dead Restaurant Revival Menu

Smoked AZ Grass-fed Beef Carpaccio, Roasted Peppers, Caciocavallo and Basil Oil (Cal’s, NYC)

Open Saffron Ravioli with Pan Seared Seafood and Red Chile Beurre Blanc (Cafe Terra Cotta, Scottsdale) Where I honed my restaurant skills & learned about food and wine.

Calamari Salad with Yuzu Dressing (Bloom, Scottsdale)

Duck Confit Shepard Pie, Creamed Corn and Truffled Pomme Puree (Feenie’s Bistro, Vancouver, BC)

Crochettes, Italian Almond Donuts with Trio of Dipping Sauces (Fiamma, Scottsdale)

The dinner is open to the public with sign up at the Liberty Market Strada Bar. Limited seating is available for up to 30 people.

Dinner will start at 6:30pm. Cost for dinner is $60 per person, and an additional $20 per person with our wine and cocktail pairing.

Liberty Market N. Gilbert Rd. (480) 892-1900 www.libertymarket.com

The Great American Barbecue and Beer Festival returns to rock downtown Chandler

Great Amer BBQ 2015 FB-24
Saturday March 19th is when Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler will be rocking with barbecue as over 30 pit masters return for The Great American Barbecue and Beer Festival from 12 noon until 10 p.m. This years festival is bigger and better with an expanded stage and with new foods including Poutine from The American Poutine Company. Other foods such as fry bread, kettle corn and ice cream will also be available for purchase. Here a few of the BBQ vendors that will be in attence from around the country.
Great American BBQ & Beer 2014-51
· Elmer’s Tacos—Bean and cheese, red chili and green chili burros, quesadillas
· Hogwear DBA Hogg Dogg—Hotdogs, Louisiana andouille, polish sausage, beer brats, meatball subs, pulled pork, chocolate covered bacon, pickle on a stick, waffle dogs
· Honey Bear’s BBQ—Pork, beef, chicken, hotlinks, hot dogs, beans, coleslaw, mac n cheese, French fries
· JJ’s Louisiana BBQ—Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, rib tip, chicken, baked beans, potato salad, hot links
· Memphis Best BBQ—Briskets, ribs, pork, links, beans, coleslaw, potato salad, greens, turkey legs
· Montana BBQ —Whole hog sandwiches on Hawaiian roll with grilled onions and pineapple, filet mignon wrapped in bacon on a stick

On the stage to entertain the festival goers will be headliner Granger Smith along supporting acts Ben Miller Band, Zach Deputy and Georgia Chrome.

General admission tickets are available online for $12 at www.chandlerbbq.com and $15 at the gate. Children 12 years of age and younger are admitted for free and all valley Bashas’ locations have discounted $10 admission ticket available.

Be sure to “like” this event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bbq.beer.music and follow on Twitter and Instagram @BBQBEERFESTIVAL.