Month: October 2017

Fast casual Thai Chili 2 Go coming to north Scottsdale

Fast casual dining continues to pick up momentum on the culinary scene with poke, pizza, salads and burritos. Now you can add Thai cuisine to the fast casual menu of eateries as Thai Chili 2 Go will be opening its 5th valley location at The Promenade in north Scottsdale in late November.

Thai Chili 2 Go has 4 east valley location and this will be their first location west of the Loop 101 as they expand westward.

“With our other restaurants, we have made a name for ourselves by offering customers authentic Thai recipes, exotic flavors and freshly made cuisine in a quick-serve setting that allows guests to come in, get a great meal and go about their day,” said owner Akshat Sethi. “We feel that Scottsdale’s diverse clientele of daytime professionals and residential diners with sophisticated palates are primed for a Thai Chili 2 Go in their neighborhood — and we’re excited to bring it to them.”

Thai Chili 2 Go menu

The user friendly menu offers affordable and delicious that are fresh-to-order and help to introduce Thai cuisine to the masses. Starters such as dumpling and Spring Rolls,  Thai Hot & Sour soup and traditional Thai entrees that include Spicy Eggplant, Red Curry, Pad Prig Pao, Drunken Noodles and Thai Chow Mein and more.

If eating at the restaurant  isn’t part of your plan Thai Chili 2 Go has several options including partnering with UberEats, Postmates, Door Dash and Grubhub to deliver food to your door.  To save time you can order online or on the mobile app in advance so you can pick up you food and skip the line.

Grand opening specials

To celebrate the opening of the Scottsdale location a month long celebration in December will offer guest discounts and free food. Follow Thai Chili 2 Go on social media to find out  specific dates and promotions in the coming weeks.

Thai Chili 2 Go will be at 16203 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 105. See their website for other locations and to keep up with them.

 

 

 

Famous 48 opens in November in downtown Scottsdale

Update: With a month under their belt Famous 48 will start serving brunch on Sat. & Sun’s possibly starting this weekend Dec. 2 & 3rd.

Square One Concepts wasted no time in filling the space left vacant by Crab & Mermaid earlier this year. Realizing people in old town Scottsdale prefer tavern style regional American fare the restaurant group will be opening Famous 48 on Monday November 6th.

Famous 48
Half roasted chicken and other photos courtesy of J. Martin Harris Photography.

Once opened Famous 48 will have an ambience that balances both casual and fine dining and will celebrate the regional cuisine of the lower 48 states of the United States including BBQ, seafood, pizza and other American classic comfort foods. The tavern themed menu will serve food cooked with fresh and high quality ingredients using an artisanal approach to cooking.

Signature cocktails, craft beers from Arizona and wines will compliment the regional cuisine.

Famous 48 hours

The restaurant will serve lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends in the leather booth line dining room and on the patio. Happy Hour starts early at 3p.m. til 6p.m. Mon.-Fri. and will include tasty bites to eat, premium cocktails and house wines.

Famous 48
Miso salmon

The open air patio will include fire pits and couches that will offer diners a more intimate experience.

Hours for Famous 48 will be Mon.- Fri. 11 a.m. -close, Sat. & Sun. 8a.m.- close. and weekend brunch 8a.m.- 2 p.m.

Famous 48 is at 4218 N. Scottsdale Rd. 85251 480-758-4994. To see the full menu got their website. Famous 48 is owned by Square One Concepts.

 

$10 off tickets for next weekends AZCentral.com Food & Wine Experience

Hopefully those that are reading this bought their tickets for next weekends AZCentral.com Food & Wine Experience since I posted the announcement back in July. If not, now is the time as my readers can save $10 off tickets for the 3rd annual AZCentral. com Food & Wine Experience presented by Cadillac using the promo code at the bottom of this post.

Since the announcement Martha Stewart confirmed she will be in attendance at the popular event.

Schedule of food and wine events.

First a quick review of schedule events of the 2-day food festival on November 4th & 5th at Salt River Fields.

  • Grand Tasting.  Tickets in advance are $85 and offer unlimited sampling of chef creations; access to chef demonstrations and panels; and tastings of fine wines, craft beers and distinctive spirits. Saturday or Sunday
  • VIP Grand Tasting.  Tickets in advance are $120 and guests enjoy all the benefits of the Grand Tasting, plus entry at noon, access to the VIP Lounge, and private tastings from wineries and distillers. Preferred parking and VIP restrooms
  • The Cellar.  A $20 upgrade to any ticket above, the wine seminar offers special tastings and an insider’s knowledge of wines sampled; led by the winemaker or wine ambassador.
  • The Chef’s Package.  A $180 ticket, a private meet & greet with a special guest chef of national renown.  Details coming soon
  • Private Dining ‘Experiences.’ A schedule of separately ticketed private dining Experiences created by popular chefs and restaurateurs will be announced soon.  Experiences can occur within the event footprint or at participating restaurants.

Participating restaurants

During the Grand Tasting over 60 local restaurants will be sharing tastes of their cuisine that have put them on the culinary map. Here are a few of the restaurants and chefs that will be serving up their special dishes.

  • Jennifer Russo, The Market by Jennifer Russo
  • Aaron Poole, Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup
  • Paul Haworth, Cartel Coffee Lab
  • Charles Wiley, Hearth `61 at Mountain Shadows Resort
  • Russell LaCasce, ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho
  • George Frasher, Frasher’s Smokehouse
  • Chef Joshua James “Chef J” Amonson, Bourbon & Bones Chophouse | Bar

$10 off tickets

To get your $10 off your tickets click here and enter the promo code “Insta10“.

See you there.

 

Voila French Bistro to host authentic French wine dinner

If you’re a fan of white table cloth draped tables and authentic French cooking paired with wine then circle Sunday November 5th on your calendar and make a reservation for a 3-course dinner at Voila French Bistro in Scottsdale.

Your hosts Chef Jean-Christophe Gros and his wife Segolene re-located to Scottsdale from France in 2015 where Chef Gros as a Master French Chef spent 30 years working in restaurants  with Michelin star ratings.

Voila French Bistro menu

Once you walk in the doors you’ll feel as if you’re in Paris and this 3-course menu will make you wish you were there.

LE CABILLAUD :                                                                                                     Chilled Cod and Spinach Papillotte Over Tomato Tartare and Niçoise Olive Tapenade
Chardonnay
***
LE CHAUSSON DE VOLAILLE:                                                                   Chicken Wellington With Porcini Mushrooms and Napa Cabbage Stuffing
Pinot Noir
***
LE SAINT-HONORE A LA POIRE:                                                                      Puff Pastry with Poached Pear and a Praline Butter Cream and a Dark Chocolate Sauce
Crément

The early dinner will start at 5 p.m. and conclude by 8 p.m. Price is $65 per person with reservations required that and can be made by calling 480-614-5600. More information about the restaurant can be found on their website.

Voila French Bistro is at 10135 Via Linda. Scottsdale 85258

Pita Jungle introduces new Fall menu

Locally owned Pita Jungle is on a mission to have its guests eat healthy and in doing so offers its Seasonal Kitchen Crafts Menu and has introduced the Fall menu recently which will be available until the Winter menu rolls out in January.

Pita Jungle Fall Menu

All of Pita Jungle’s menus are influenced from around the globe with a strong emphasis from the Mediterranean region. As part of its healthy and sustainable philosophy the menus always  include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free  options.

The Fall menu consists of 8 new dishes with their roots coming from the  Levantine cuisine of the eastern Mediterranean. The new Fall menu dishes are……

Avocado Balila                                                                                                                        Garbanzo beans, garlic infused EVOO and cumin,  avocado, tomato, cucumber, jalapeno, green onion, red onion, fresh herbs, sumac, chili powder, blue corn chips

Flat Italian Green Bean Stew                                                                                        Local Arizona grass-fed beef, romano green beans, calrose white rice, onion, Greek yogurt

Pita Jungle

Baked Kibbeh (Lebanese Meatloaf)                                                                  All-natural ground turkey, russet potato, onion, basil, quinoa, walnut, golden raisin, beet & greens salad, red onion, tahini-beet dressing

Levantine Beluga Lentil Risotto and Kohlrabi (Mujaddara)                      Beluga lentils, organic brown rice, chopped kohlrabi root, cucumber, tomato, green onion, red onion, jalapeno, fresh mint, sumac, organic apple cider vinaigrette (mother included)

Streets of Beirut Chicken Pita                                                                      Grilled all-natural chicken breast, toum (unadulterated Lebanese aioli), parsley-red onion aleppo salad, side Greek salad, gluten-free flatbread. Also available with tofu or falafel.

Avocado Beef Asada Shawarma Lavash Pizza                                                   Local Arizona grass-fed beef, avocado, wood-fired tomato, bean mash, cheddar, mozzarella, lettuce, green onion, cilantro-avocado crema, cumin yogurt sauce, red chili hot sauce, herbs, green onion, lavash bread (gluten-free pizza crust available +2.49)

Turkey Kafta Burger

Gluten-Free Chocolate Pavé with Vanilla Ice-Cream

Pita Jungle has 19 locations in Arizona and 1 in California. To find a location near you check their website.

 

 

Scottsdale League for the Arts to host The Brunch Club December 2nd

Who doesn’t like sipping on champagne while eating French toast, the smell of bacon while lounging at one of the newest resorts in the valley.  Not me, that’s why I’ll be joining The Scottsdale League for the Arts for their newest fundraiser, The Brunch Club on Saturday December 2nd at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley.

SCottsdale League for the Arts
Photos courtesy of Jen Pruett and Landon Evans

The Brunch Club will gather starting at 11:30 a.m. and members will spend the next three hours sipping on rose, Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s as local restaurants will serve up tasty bites to eat including savory quiche to sweet French toast.

In between sips and bites stroll the grounds of Mountain Shadows manicured grounds with Camelback Mountain serving as you backdrop.

The Brunch Club tickets

To become a member of The Brunch Club you must be over 21 years of age and can purchase you tickets online with General Admission ticket priced at $40 until 10/31. From 11/1-12/1  tickets will be $45 and $50 at the door while supplies last.

Want to get an early start while others are still waking up, early admission at 10:30 a.m. tickets are available for $65 until 10/31. From 11/1-12/1 for $70 and at the door for $75.

Scottsdale League for the Arts

All net proceeds raised will go to the non-profit Scottsdale League for the Arts which raises money to promote the arts and arts education organizations in the Phoenix area.

Money is raised through out the year by hosting fundraisers such as The Scottsdale Culinary Festival and The Friends of James Beard Dinner. They have donated over $4 million dollars since 2002 to organizations such as Childsplay, Ballet Arizona and Free arts of Arizona.

Mountain Shadows Resort is at 5445 E. Lincoln Dr. Paradise Valley 85253.

Arizona’s first cidery, Cider Corps to host Veteran’s Day Open House

I love a good cider as nothing beats it on a hot summer day and with the autumns seasonal foods and holidays. Just in time for the holiday season Arizona’s first cidery,  Cider Corps will open its doors for its first public event on Saturday November 11th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for its Veteran’s Day Open House.

Cider Corps open house

The veteran owned cidery is just off Main St. in downtown Mesa and the open house is two blocks from the finish line of Mesa’s Veteran’s Day Parade. From 10-11 a.m. guests a can come by and get a mulled cider or coffee to go so they can watch the parade.

Brothers Josh and Jason Duren will be showing off their small batch hard ciders, non-alcoholic mulled ciders and cold brew coffee during the open house. A food truck will be on hand to serve food to guests and tours of the cidery will be given.

Small batch “Pie Ciders” will be available for purchase in Cider Corps limited edition 32 ounce “crowlers” or you can bring your own growler. Cost of the ciders to go will range from $12- $20.

“Pie Ciders” will remind guests of their favorite holiday pies like mixed berry and pumpkin. Cold Brew cider will also be available.

Cider Corps ciders are currently available at over 30 bars and restaurants around Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott.

Veterans community spot

Jason is a retired Sargent in the United States Marine Corps and will be speaking about his time in the service and how he and Josh plan to help veterans through Cider Corps. The cidery is dedicated to be used by veterans and veteran organizations as a community gathering place.

“To open the taproom this way is the embodiment of Cider Corps’ mission: Drink great ciders, honor great sacrifice,” said Josh. “We want it to be a place for veterans to be honored through times of awareness.”

The parade and Veteran’s Day Open House are important part of the brothers devotion to cider and veterans as they started making cider a s a hobby when Jason returned home from Afghanistan with 2 traumatic brain injuries from IED blasts.

Cider Corps is at 31 S. Robson Dr. Mesa 85210.

 

 

Farm & Craft to open along 7th Street restaurant row in Phoenix

Scottsdale’s Farm & Craft is set to open its 2nd location in the spot recently vacated by The Herb Box at The Colony along the popular 7th St. corridor in north central Phoenix. Riot Hospitality Group, owner of Farm & Craft and other local restaurants and bars plans to open the new location in early 2018 after the renovations are complete.

Photos Captured by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography

Farm & Craft offers guests a healthy and sustainable food and drink menu all in a fast casual atmosphere during breakfast and lunch and a full service restaurant experience during dinner.  The menu will be similar to that of  the Scottsdale location and guests will notice a different design to the Phoenix location as the neighborhood it serves is different and the owners like to adapt to those differences.

“We are very excited to open another Farm & Craft in the Valley,” says Ryan Hibbert, CEO of Riot Hospitality Group. “We saw an opportunity to bring this unique concept to The Colony and we plan to continue to grow the brand.”

Farm & Craft
Photos Captured by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography

The Wellness Menu offered at Farm & Craft focuses on optimal health through four specific philosophies, “anti-inflammatory diet”, “increasing pro-biotic levels”, “maintaining a high level of anti-oxidants” and “reducing overall stress”. This is done by working with local suppliers to create a menu that uses ingredients that are local, gluten-free, hormone free, organic and sustainable.

Photos Captured by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography

Farm & Craft offers a juice program that features cold pressed juices and “Kombucha Cocktails”. Signature “Cold Pressed Cocktails” use organic spirits are available at the indoor/outdoor bar as are local beers and unique wines poured from the tap.

With the 2016 opening of the Scottsdale location and the anticipated success of the Phoenix location, Riot Hospitality plans to continue to expand the Farm & Craft brand locally and nationally.

Farm & Craft will be at 5538 N. 7th St. Phoenix 85014.

Chase’s Diner celebrates 20 years in business with 3 days of fun

The Phoenix metro area doesn’t lack much in the culinary world nowadays but one thing I hear is it could use a good east coast styled diner. When I hear that I correct them and say we need “more” diners and remind them that down in Chandler there is Chase’s Diner.

Owners Skip and Nancy Chase are celebrating their success of 20 years with 3 days of fun and food for the whole family October 20th-22nd.

Chase’s Diner 3 days of events

Like all diners, Chase’s serves all 3 meals and will start the celebration during breakfast at 9 a.m. on Friday the 20th with a 3 hour-long “Friend or Fair” in which Chase’s vendors will be celebrating with customers and having fun with the kids. Hickman’s Family Farms, a local supplier of eggs, will be sending the Funky Chicken and friends from the City of Chandler, Arizona Restaurant Association and Dr. Pepper will be joining the anniversary celebration.

On Saturday the 21st it’s “Giveaway Day” with the first 50 guests receiving a card getting them a free short stack of Chase’s delicious buttermilk pancakes. Those same 50 guests will also eligible to win other great prizes including  a flat screen TV, gift cards and the grand prize …. a years worth of pancakes.

Sunday will be Chase’s “Give Back Day” and will be raising money for Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. Kittens and puppies will be brought over from the shelter from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. to share their cuteness. Chase’s Diner will be matching dollar for dollar all money donated on the 22nd and will be collecting donations including collars, leashes, toys and bones throughout the month of October.

The 50s style Chase’s  Diner is at 2040 N. Alma School Rd. Chandler and is open Sun. – Thurs. from 6 a.m. – 9p.m. and Fri. & Sat. 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Former music venue to become Casa Amigos and Sky Lanes

The restaurant business is not the only local industry that is also in the constant state of flux, so is the live music venue industry as smaller venue continue to seek your entertainment dollar. Scottsdale’s Livewire became a recent victim and shut its doors a few months back. Evening Entertainment Group(EEG) are quickly transforming the two-story building into Casa Amigos and Sky Lanes with an anticipated opening before year’s end.

The $4 million dollar renovation started over the summer with the authentic Mexican restaurant Casa Amigos occupying the ground floor space with the lounge and state of the art bowling alley Sky Lanes upstairs.

Sky Lanes lounge. Photos courtesy of EEG & MMPR Marketing

EEG’s owners Diane and Les Corieri are  familiar with the building and the Scottsdale Entertainment District having run several nightlife venues in the area for almost 20 years. They are working with  decorator Alison Victoria who many may recognize from HGTV’s “Kitchen Crashers” and who the Corieri’s hired to design their central Phoenix restaurant Casa Anejo which opened last year.

“This location has always been special to Diane and me,” says Les Corieri, co-owner of Evening Entertainment Group. “From our original ultra-lounge and nightclub, Axis-Radius, to the former Livewire music hall, this space has always been a landmark in the Scottsdale nightlife scene. So when we looked to launch a new concept, we knew we had to go all out and create a one-of-a-kind experience that speaks to the way people like to nightlife today-casual yet stylish dining in an indoor-outdoor that setting takes advantage of Arizona’s wonderful weather. And then with Sky Lanes we know there a market for fun, cocktail-friendly entertainment with a high-energy vibe.”

Casa Amigos

The Santa Barbara inspired designed restaurant will serve traditional Mexican fare for the nightclub crowd that will include tacos such as octopus and picadillo beef, a build your own Guacamole menu, shared plates and entrees that include a bacon wrapped Sonoran dog and Veracruz grilled swordfish.

Handcrafted cocktails, cold beers along with an extensive list of premium sipping tequilas and mezcals will be available as will several varieties of Margaritas.

Sky Lanes

Upstairs the state-of-the- art bowling alley and lounge will impress even the Scottsdale crowd with its retro modern decor. The boutique bowling alley will offer bottle service in the lounge and classics jams of the 80s & 90s will keep the energy going while guests bowl the night away.

Casa Amigos and Sky Lanes will be at 7340 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale 85251.

 

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