SugarJam The Southern Kitchen celebrates a busy 2 years

Two years in the restaurant business might as well be a lifetime therefore it worth celebrating. That’s what’s been going on lately at north Scottsdale’s popular brunch spot SugarJam The Southern Kitchen. Owner Dana Dumas started baking her SugarJam cookies over 20 years ago for friends and family and business has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 2 years.

With no formal training cooking herself she learned from her Le Cordon Bleu trained great aunt Mable and her grandmother Thelma how to make baked goods and the family’s southern food recipes. Dana herself grew up in New York City and the suburbs of New Jersey (like yours truly) before moving to Scottsdale after the events of September 11th 2001. A career in business for Macy’s and Toy’s R Us taught her how businesses were run and how to use marketing to her advantage.

“It is an honor to bring authentic southern cuisine to the Valley and to be able to create a unique brunch experience that brings everyone together,” said Dumas. “I am truly grateful for the outpour of love and support from my customers over the past two years, and since the beginning of SugarJam. We are excited for another year at SugarJam The Southern Kitchen and all that’s in store.”

The early years at SugarJam

Dana started SugarJam Cookies in 2011 baking her signature jam filled sugar cookies at home and selling them at farmer’s markets and street fairs. With demand growing she needed more kitchen space for baking and the catering requests she was getting. She found a spot down the road from the current location in the Scottsdale Airpark. The bakery and small cafe featured a small breakfast & lunch menu and her baked goods. Things we going well until March of 2020 when the Covid pandemic brought dining out to a halt. The business started doing family meals and before she knew there were cars lined up for a few hours on Friday nights and Saturday mornings for people to pick up their meals.

As restaurants began to open up in the Spring, Dana knew once again she would need more room to accommodate the growing popularity of her cooking and baking. It turns out as she and her husband started looking at other locations nearby, one of her regular customers was a property manager of a strip mall a mile up the road with a vacancy. After the owners would fly in to meet with her and taste her Southern cooking, a deal was struck and SugarJam The Southern Kitchen opened on January 29th 2021.

SugarJam cookies

She hasn’t gone without some struggles like that of the rest of the restaurant industry. Staffing and supply chain issues had Dana treading cautiously but now has a staff of 32 “family” members serving breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Sunday. Several have been with her the last two years. She tried dinner service, although successful it wasn’t successful when it came to a work life balance as a wife and mother of 2 teenage boys and dinner was short lived. When not in school or driving them to high school sports her sons and husband may be found lending mom a helping hand at the restaurant. Her dad played a role in helping design the restaurant and is her “Mr. Fix It” when needed.

In the summer of 2022 she opened The Market at SugarJam, a gift shop featuring finds from local and national businesses.

I know you’re asking what’s on the menu? How about scratch made Creole Shrimp N’ Grits, French Toast & Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders with a delicious house made rum maple syrup, Salmon Croquettes, Catfish and Southern style grits along with pies, beignets and lots more. With a full bar guests can enjoy craft cocktails and flights of Mimosas.

What’s next?

In the coming weeks Dana will do some re-arranging moving The Market and cases filled with baked goods to an adjoining space she’s used for extra seating capacity. The freed up space will have more seating and a better flow enhancing the guest experience.

Having picked up several corporate and private catering opportunities she’s staffing up and training the kitchen staff in order to bring back catering in the coming weeks to grow the business. Don’t expect to see other locations of SugarJam as it’s not in the cards for her. The time away from the Airpark location would have her spending less time in the kitchen and with her customers. She also feels that it’s a destination restaurant with many guests flying in to Scottsdale Airport and making the restaurant their first stop.

SugarJam The Southern Kitchen is at 15111 N. Hayden Rd. Scottsdale 85260. Hours are Wednesday – Sunday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. with the kitchen closing at 2:30. To view the menu and for more information visit their website.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

Saturday’s Laveen BBQ returns to Caesar Chavez Park

Over 100 vendors including BBQ pit masters and artists will be on hand at the 71st Annual Laveen BBQ tomorrow February 25th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission and parking is free with food and drinks sold separately.  The Laveen Community Council hosts the annual event that brings the community together for food and fun. The money raised stays in the community supporting local non-profits.

AZ Women in Food celebrate Women’s History Month

Thursday March 2nd will be an evening of women in the food and beverage industry with food, wine, cocktails and a good time in downtown Phoenix. Farish House hosts Gold. Glamour. Gourmet from 5 – 9 p.m. with tickets $95 at Tock.

GenuWine Arizona pouring Dos Cabeza wines March 3rd

Drop in to the downtown Phoenix wine bar next Friday night to sample wines from this celebrated Arizona winery. The tasting is free for those 21 and over and bottles will be 20% off that night.

Chompie’s is baking Hamantaschen for Purim

All 4 Phoenix area locations are getting an early start to the festive holiday on Tuesday, February 27th offering the baked delicacy. Raspberry, apricot, prune and poppy will be available through March 7th when the two day holiday ends.

Truland Burger offers Beer Cheese Pub Burger for a limited time

Just in time for Spring the downtown Chandler location adds a new burger to the menu. Get a hefty stack of two Niman Ranch all-natural beef patties, including our house-made beer cheese, all-natural bacon, crispy onions and a sweet-savory bacon jam for $14.50. Order it online or in person at 140 N Arizona Ave #100
Chandler, AZ 85225.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

The Camp Verde Wine & Pecan Festival is back for its 22nd year

Downtown Camp Verde celebrates two of the region’s biggest draws Saturday and Sunday March 18th and 19th with the return of the 22nd Annual Camp Verde Wine and Pecan Festival. Fifteen of the region’s best wineries, food trucks, live music, a variety of pecans, a competitive pecan eating contest and more will keep attendees busy during the two day event.

The Verde Valley Wine Consortium and the Town of Camp Verde host the annual festival. “The Verde Valley American Viticulture Area (AVA) has achieved so much acclaim since its designation in 2021 that we are expecting a great turn out this year,” said Parks & Recreation Manager Michael Marshall.

Bodega Pierce, Salt Mine Wine and Burning Tree Cellars are a few of the wineries pouring wine starting at 11 a.m. Live music starts at 12 p.m. with Eric Ramsey on Saturday and Chicago Bob & The Blues Squad on Sunday.

The festival is free to attend and open to all ages. Those 21 and over can purchase tasting tickets in advance for $20 at http://www.verdevalleywine.org/  or Eventbrite. Day of tickets are $25 and all tickets include a commemorative glass and 6 tasting tickets. Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the festival.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

Kingman gets the 4th location of Grand Canyon Brewing +Distillery

“Go west young man” said author and newspaper editor Horace Greely as America expanded to the West to find riches. Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery founder John Peasley is taking those words to heart as he opens the 4th location of his brewery along the historic Route 66 in Kingman in March. In the past Peasley has expanded east to Flagstaff and Page from the original location in Williams.

Located in downtown Kingman at 312 E. Beale St. the building was previously used by Rickety Cricket and is almost 10,000 square feet and comes with a seven barrel brewhouse. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to expand our brand into Kingman. The community there has already welcomed us with open arms, we can’t wait to join the downtown area with our brand,” said Peasley.

Once opened, guests will enjoy Grand Canyon Brewing beers along with beers from other Arizona breweries. The cocktail list will feature signature cocktails from their distillery. The food menu will include comfort food favorites burgers, pizza, pretzels, sandwiches and more. Guests can purchase beers, spirits, ready-to-drink canned cocktails and merchandise in the retails space. Have fun playing corn hole, shuffleboard, pool, horseshoes and arcade games to help pass the time.

Listen to Alex Phillips, sales director at GCB on Episode 15 of our Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast.

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

Mardi Gras Party at Pedal Haus in downtown Phoenix

From 2 p.m. until midnight tomorrow Saturday, February 18 celebrate carnival New Orleans style at the Roosevelt Row restaurant. Spicy Jambalaya, Po’ Boys and NOLA Hurricanes are featured along with live music for this free event starting at 4 p.m. Beads and beer will also be served.

Glendale hosts the Chocolate Affaire this weekend

It will be a sweet Saturday and Sunday in downtown Glendale as the popular event returns. Cooking demonstrations, chocolate tastings, wine pairings and more will be at this free event that starts at 10 a.m. Nothing Bundt Cakes, Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream, more vendors, food trucks and unique attractions will benefit Magical Builders.

Strong Beer Festival pours beer tomorrow

The Arizona Brewers Guild hosts their Strong Beer Festival Saturday, February 18th at a new location at Salt River Fields. Tickets are still available and all the details and link to tickets are at my featured post.

National Margarita Day is February 22nd

Next Wednesday sip on the refreshing cocktail for less at restaurants around the Phoenix area. In the bar at The Roaring Fork all night long guests can get their signature Huckleberry, RF margaritas and others for only $7. Z’Tejas will be celebrating with $7 margs all day and from 5-6 p.m. and 9-10 p.m. their Sixth Street margarita is only $1. Scottsdale’s Diego Pops offers margarita and tequila samplings all day with $6 margaritas for happy hour from 3-6 p.m. Salt & Lime has $7 house margaritas and more on special all day long.

LDV Winery releases new wines

4 new bold red, white and rose wines are now available from LDV Winery at their Scottsdale tasting room. The 2017 Syrah, 2019 Rhyolite White, 2019 Sky Island Viognier and 2020 Rosé of Grenache are sourced from their vineyards in the shadows of the Chiricahua Mountains and are in limited supply.

“We are thrilled to debut these new wines, which will be available soon and in the next package for our wine club members,” says Peggy Fiandaca, who co-owns LDV winery with winemaker Curt Dunham. “We look forward to sharing these new varietals with wine enthusiasts and we hope you all love them.”

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

“Little Italy” comes back to Phoenix and first event Sun City

Downtown Phoenix’s Heritage Square and the Sun Dial Recreation Center in Sun City become “Little Italy” for two weekends in March when The Italian Association of Arizona hosts its 8th Annual Italian Festival. Saturday & Sunday March 4th & 5th the festival will be at Heritage Square then the celebration of Italian heritage and culture heads to Sun City for the first time March 11th & 12th.

“The Italian Festival is part of a dream to bring a piece of Italy to the desert,” said Italian Association’s Executive Director, Francesco Guzzo. “We started with a small event along the Southbridge in Old Town Scottsdale in 2014 with a few vendors and lot of enthusiasm. Eight festivals later, we are hitting attendance capacity and keeping Italian traditions alive.”

Festival goers can expect local food vendors serving authentic Italian cuisine, opera singers, The Sicilian Band, dancers and more entertainers. Pizza, gelato, espresso, pasta and more will be available from local vendors Pomo, Pasta Rea, L’Impasto, Little Italy of Scottsdale and others. Non-food vendors including Italian leather purse makers and handmade jewelry will be available for purchase. A Kid’s Zone with face painters and balloon makers will be on hand to keep the kids happy.

Tickets are available online for $10 in advance and $20 the day of event and children under 12 years old are free. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the Phoenix and Sun City websites.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

Little Pickle NY style deli pop-up opens at The Esplanade

A taste of New York has popped up serving deli sandwiches, pastries, lox and more for breakfast and lunch for a limited time. The Little Pickle is from Merc Bar owner Rick Phillips and friend celebrity chef Aaron May. Phillips missed Jewish deli food found in such New York delis Katz’s and Zabar’s so he and May got to work to open one on a small scale and for a limited time.

Phillip’s taught himself to how to make smoked salmon and would serve flown in bagels with his homemade lox to friends and family and the Little Pickle was born. Named for what Phillip’s mother would call him growing up he thought it would be great name for a deli and has since passed on the nickname to his daughter.

On the menu at the Little Pickle

“Perfecting our recipes and opening Little Pickle has helped bring tastes of NYC to the Valley.” says May who joined his fellow east coaster in making a pastrami palace. During breakfast guests can expect perfectly prepared smoked salmon and a bagel, Challah French Toast, blintzes, overnight oatmeal and chia seed pudding. For lunch the mouth-watering Pastrami Reuben is the go to sandwich along with over 10 other sandwiches and fixins’. Scratch made Matzoh ball soup will be served during the winter and pan fried latkes are also a hit with customers.

“We are thrilled to have the Little Pickle pop-up open at the Esplanade expanding our options for breakfast and lunch for tenants and visitors,” said Robert Marino, Vice President of Asset Management for Tourmaline Capital Partners. “Passionate operators with chef driven concepts translates to great food and the partners we want to work with to continue to build an amenity rich environment here at the Esplanade.”

The Little Pickle is open through Passover (September) Monday- Friday from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. with coffee and pastries available after 2 p.m. Catering is also available for meetings, family gathering or any group function. For more information and to view the menu visit their website.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

Valentine’s Day under the stars with TLC eXperience

If you haven’t made you plans for next Tuesday, February 14th seats are still available for the 6:30 p.m. cocktail reception followed by 3 course dinner. The Orchard at Agritopia hosts the locally sourced menu curated by Chef Tom and his culinary team. Seats are by reservation only and are $180 per person or $360 per couple. To view the menu and reserve you seats visit their website.

It’s a Schmoozetacular weekend in Scottsdale

The downtown Scottsdale coffee shop/cafe celebrates golf & football all weekend long.  Get 15% off all Bloody Mary’s and cocktail flights Fri, Sat & Sun. when you use promo code CHEERS15. Enjoy Schmooze after dark Friday & Saturday nights from 4 -10 p.m. and there is a Super Bowl Watch Party with light bites and cocktails on Sunday from 4-9 p.m.

New “Level Up” menu at Los Sombreros

Guests visiting the Mesa, Scottsdale and Phoenix Mexican restaurants can now experience new dishes to the menu. Enjoy The Molcajete features lobster, shrimp, chorizo and snow crab in a spicy broth. Beer battered Lobster Tacos, Wagyu Asada and Lamb Adobo also make up the new dishes.

Dirty Dough opens north Phoenix location

The Tempe cookie maker who mantra is “it’s what’s on the inside that counts,” has opened its newest location in The District at Desert Ridge Marketplace. One of a kind cookies with unique flavor profiles updates its cookie menu every Friday. Current favorites are Monster Mash, Candy Bar and Kitchen Sink cookies are available.

February specials at Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants

All 4 locations are serving up a margarita, entree and dessert specials all month long.

Rio Margarita: A house favorite since 2011, this handmade margarita is made with Hornitos Tequila, Hiram Walker Orange Curacao, lime juice and Agave triple sec. $9.99

Al Pastor Chicken Platter: Al pastor grilled chicken paired with fajita veggies, fried potatoes and a stuffed Anaheim pepper and served with a side of guacamole, roasted chipotle salsa and house-made tortillas. Choice of a cup of chicken tortilla soup or house salad to start.  $19.99

Strawberry Shortcake: Layered with vanilla sponge cake, strawberry puree and strawberry cheese cake, and topped with whipped cream and graham cracker crumble. $7.99

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

Give Me Sum delivers dim sum to you

A new delivery concept recently started delivering dim sum to your door if you live in the Superstition area of Mesa. With a location in California and Washington, Give Me Sum lets you order traditional dim sum along with other craveable dishes.

Order online chicken or pork dumplings, steamed bao buns, chicken wings, salmon bowl with fried rice and more. A variety of sauces including teriyaki, garlic chili & sriracha aioli for dipping and sides include Togarashi fries. Combos are available and two desserts are offered, Mochi and Chocolate Lava Cake.

To order from Give Me Sum visit their website.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

Jalapeño Inferno has been serving Mexican food for over 23 years

Mexican food runs rampant throughout the valley’s restaurant scene but it’s not that easy to find authentic Mexican cuisine. That’s why Terry and Laura Craig opened their first Jalapeño Inferno over 23 years ago in north Scottsdale. With a career in restaurant & hotel management the couple knew how to keep guests happy and it’s worked as they now have four locations in Scottsdale and Peoria.

They recently converted their Rhythm & Wine bistro at Pinnacle Peak and Hayden Rd. to the Cantina to accommodate the demand for take-out and catering. Guests can enjoy many if not all of the dishes and drinks at the Cantina as well. A DC Ranch area Cantina is currently in the works.

On the menu at Jalapeño Inferno

Scratch made food, signature margaritas and top shelf service keeps regulars coming back and draws in new guests as well. Whether their celebrating Taco Tuesday, Hatch chile season, happy hour or a the chef’s daily special there’s always something new to eat or sip on at Jalapeño Inferno.

Sip on their signature “The Boss” margarita for those who like an authentic tart taste with your trio of chips & salsa while deciding what to order next. The “Top Shelf” Ceviche has chunks of shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers and more served in a martini glass. Not every restaurant serves tamales year round but here “The Illustrious Green Chile Tamales” is a staple on the menu. White corn masa, four cheeses and topped with green chile sauce, you’ll be glad you order it.

Sizzling fajitas never disappoint and there’s always some left to take home. “Courtney’s Burrito” could be a belt buster. The char-grilled chicken is spicy and filling thanks to the Inferno and red enchilada sauce. Choose grilled chicken or steak for your “Street Inferno Style” Tacos that come 3 to a plate served on double corn tortillas. All three dishes and others come with refried beans, Mexican rice and garnishments.

I’d say cool off with a “Jalapeño Inferno” but that brings the heat with chunks of jalapeño peppers if you want to keep pushing your limits. The “Comfortably Numb” might do the trick with tequila, elder-flower liquor and Aperol. Save room the “Burnt Sugar Caramel Flan”, sweet and creamy you’ll be back for this whipped cream and caramel topped custard.

The restaurants are open 7 days a week at 11 a.m. with Happy Hour Monday- Friday from  3- 6 p.m.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

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