Category: northern Arizona

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.

Semifinalists for 2023 Restaurant & Chef Awards announced

This morning The James Beard Foundation announced the Semifinalists for its 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Arizona is again well represented throughout several categories. Nominees will be announced Wednesday, March 29th and winners announced Monday, June 5th 2023 in Chicago. You can see the list of all 2023 semifinalists here.

The 2023 Arizona semifinalists are……

Outstanding Chef

Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café, Phoenix

Outstanding Restaurant

Proper Meats + Provisions, Flagstaff

Emerging Chef

Christian Lowe, Shift Kitchen & Bar, Flagstaff

Outstanding Bakery

JL Patisserie, Phoenix and Scottsdale

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Glai Baan, Phoenix

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

Rene Andrade and Roberto Centeno, Bacanora, Phoenix

Jaren Bates and Brett Vibber, The Table at Junipine, Sedona

Nephi Craig, Café Gozhóó, Whiteriver

Wendy Garcia, Tumerico, Tucson

Fernando Hernández, Testal, Phoenix

Yotaka and Alex Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix

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

Earn Your Booze & Grand Canyon Brewing team up for new beer

Come January just as we’re hoping to maintain our New Year’s resolutions two locally and veteran owned business are encouraging us to do that. And it includes drinking a new beer from Grand Canyon Brewing & Distillery. The Williams brewery is teaming up with Earn Your Booze combining beer and fitness to release Dead Hanger Pale Ale.

“Our collaboration with Earn Your Booze is a great opportunity for us to share our common core values and elevate two local businesses through physical fitness and enjoying great craft beer. We have a lot of fun events and activation’s planned this year and encourage our friends to join us as we spread the good word about living adventurously and earning it all,” says Alexander Phillips, Director of Sales, Marketing and National Accounts, Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery.

Dead Hanger is a hazy pale ale with a delicious mouthful of hop flavors and tropical & stone fruit characteristics and a bold grapefruit taste. It will be sold in 4-packs in Albertsons and Safeway and by the pint in bars and restaurants around Arizona.

How to Earn Your Booze

The new beer is named after the physical fitness test “Dead Hang”; where one hangs from a pull up bar using all your strength to hang on. It’s considered the ultimate test of one’s physical ability. “I believe that the best things in life are earned, including great beer, so we have teamed up with the great people at Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery to create this amazing beer that tastes like hard work and sweet rewards,” Justin Cross, CEO & Founder, Earn Your Booze.

Cross founded Earn Your Booze after his time in in the Navy, where he worked hard and played hard. After working in a brewery he realized the alcohol industry isn’t focused on health and fitness so he started the business. He didn’t want to discourage beer drinking and playing hard but to “Earn Your Booze” through prepping the mind and body. Today he offers monthly coaching and 90 day Total Recreation to transform your mind and body.

Grand Canyon Brewing and Earn Your Booze aren’t stopping at beer, their planning two outdoor fitness festivals in Flagstaff and Phoenix and other events in 2023. Hear Alexander Phillips speak about Grand Canyon Brewing & Distillery and more on my podcast.

20th anniversary celebration coming to Picazzo’s

One day over lunch in 2002 custom home builders Rick Freedman and Doug Stanton realized there was no good pizza in their new hometown of Sedona. So what did the Portland transplants do, they decided to open their first Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen, now their getting ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary Wednesday, November 9th.

In the 20 years since they opened the Sedona location they’ve opened five more in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arrowhead, Tempe and Gilbert. Since day one the gourmet pizza restaurant has focused on dishes that are vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free with allergy-friendly options. They’ve since added Italian dishes with 95% of all ingredients being organic with many including sauces and dressings made from scratch.20th anniversary

“We pride ourselves on providing quality, healthy dining options for individuals who may have dietary restrictions as well as our guests who do not,” says Picazzo’s Managing Partner Chris Disney. “Picazzo’s is excited to celebrate our 20th year in business, and we’re even more excited looking towards the future and our continued growth. Our team can’t wait to celebrate with our many loyal customers, and we hope to see everyone on November 9!”

All 6 locations will be celebrating their 20th anniversary with happy hour specials from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. along with giveaways and fun photo opportunities. The first 20 guests over 18 at each location will receive a $20 gift card and those photos posted on Instagram and tagging Picazzo’s will be entered in a sweepstakes to win a $200 gift card. Details about the IG sweepstakes are available at each location which you can find at their website.

Hear more about Picazzo’s from Chris Disney listen to Episode 29 of Pulling Corks and Forks: The Podcast.

Mystical Pizza Festival launches this weekend in Sedona

Restaurateur and chef Lisa Dahl is celebrating the opening her Oak Creek Village location of Pisa Lisa in a mystical Sedona way. The new Mystical Pizza Festival starts this Friday, September 16th and goes all weekend long with a pizza dough ribbon cutting, flying saucer unveiling, a cookbook signing and more.

The festivities start Friday at 5 p.m. with Kick-Off party and a welcome from the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, a Dedication and Blessing ceremony by an Uqualla medicine man and Drumming Ceremony with Sabina Sandoval. Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m. guests can enjoy sound therapy, a gelato tasting, astrology readers, doggie meatball tasting with Chef Lisa, animal massages and more.

The Mystical Pizza Festival goes until 5 p.m. and there is no cost to attend but some weekend events may have a cost. Guests are encouraged to wear mystical attire for the many photo opportunities. Pisa Lisa is at 6657 AZ-179 Ste D1, Sedona, AZ 86351

 

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Quick sips & bites of news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

A new modern look at Federico’s 25th location in Tolleson

The locally owned Mexican fast food restaurant shows off a new modern look and the same classic tacos, burritos, tortas and more. The new location at 220 N. 83rd Ave. is open 24 hours a day offering daily and Taco Tuesday specials. Co-owners Isidro Araiza, Ricardo Araiza and Carlos Vazquez opened the first Federico’s in 2005 with other locations throughout the Phoenix area, Arizona and New Mexico.

3rd Tuesday dinner at Romeo’s Euro Cafe

Three courses paired with California wines is how Chef Romeo Taus shows off his popular dishes and his next dinner is Tuesday August 16th. $39.00 gets you a seat at the table; reserve your seat by calling 480-962-4224.

Walter Station Brewery’s Ale Wagger to raise funds for life saving pet programs

The local brewer and Arizona Animal Welfare league (AAWL) team up for the new Ale Wagger for the rest of the summer or while supplies last. On Saturday August 20th celebrate with a launch party from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. to load up on some beer, food and puppy cuddles. A portion of the proceeds will go towards vet services, vaccinations, pet education and more.

Back to school deals at Picazzo’s in August

Every Monday this month Buy One, Get One 50% off lunch combos and Kid’s Eat Free on Wednesday’s. Lunch is from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and kid’s 12 and under get a free Junior Meal with a purchase of $25 or more. Available at all 6 locations in Phoenix and Sedona.

White Castle opening 2nd Arizona location

Love them or hate them, east coast and mid-westerners have an affinity toward these sliders. A new Tempe location has been announced with a mid-2023 opening planned. The first Arizona location opened in 2019 on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Reservation off the Loop 101 in Scottsdale.

Don’t forget to check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

Lisa Dahl opens second location of Pisa Lisa

Sedona’s Culinary Queen, Lisa Dahl has brought her popular restaurant and pizzeria Pisa Lisa to the Village of Oak Creek. This is Dahl’s sixth restaurant in the Sedona area and the first with a second location. The first Pisa Lisa opened in west Sedona in 2013 with the new location offering an expanded menu with favorites including wood-fired thin crust pizza, organic salads, tapas and locally made gelato.

Pisa Lisa gets its name from what Dahl’s father would affectionately say to her when giving her a pinch growing up, “I wanna little piece of Lisa”. “I put my heart and soul into the first Pisa Lisa location which is a testament to my dedication to serving people special experiences that will turn into cherished memories while honoring the adoration I feel for my family members who are no longer with us,” said Dahl.

A personal touch from Lisa Dahl on the menu

Guests will find many personal touches on the menu including naming dishes after family members. Da Dororthy pizza is named after her mother and made with Mother sauce, provolone-mozzarella, fennel sausage, picante peppers, Parm-Reggiano. The Justino pizza is dedicated to her late son and made with Ricotta, provolone-mozzarella, San Danielle prosciutto gold, organic arugula, and white-truffle oil.

New are the antipasto plates including Lisa’s Plate, an antipasti sampler with fresh bocconcini mozzarella, tomatoes, finnochio slaw, magic mushrooms, caselveltrano olives and fire-roasted artichokes. New from the pastry team for dessert is the Cookie Monster, a warm and molten giant chocolate chip cookie sundae with Strawberry-stracciatella plant-based gelato (vegan and gluten free).

Beverages include natural sodas, local mead, 16 taps for craft beers, and top selling wines. A wide-range of healthy grab-n-go items including paninis, prepped pizzas, morning treats, and locally sourced roasted coffee are available.

The restaurant has an industrial and bohemian look in its 3,500 square feet. The raised bar is surrounded by Rock n Roll memorabilia from Capitol Records from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Indoor and outdoor seating is available as is communal seating at two large tables.

“This new location enables us to expand this heartfelt concept to a larger audience as it is ultimately a culmination of my work and passion for the Sedona culinary scene and my gratitude for those who dine at Pisa Lisa and stand with me in the belief that Rock ‘n’ Roll is here to stay!”

Pisa Lisa in the Village of Oak Creek is located at 6657 AZ-179 Ste D1, Sedona, AZ 86351. For more information visit their website.

Putts and Pints Charity Golf Tournament returns in August

Golfers and beer drinkers get ready to tee it up for a good cause at Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery’s annual golf tournament on Saturday, August 27th. This year’s Putts and Pints Charity Golf Tournament benefits the Williams High School Athletic Department will be held at Elephant Rock Golf Course.

“This event is really special to me, it’s a great day to get out and enjoy a fun day of golf while raising money to support a fantastic local group who are doing great things for the youth in our community. I hope everyone who loves craft beer and golf will sign up to join us on August 27th,”  says brewery founder John Peasley.

Check-in begins at 7 a.m. with the shotgun start at 8 a.m. with a 50/50 raffle and prizes for golfers. Registration is open for individuals and foursomes for $150 for individuals and $500 per foursome if registered by July 24th. After July 24th foursomes will be $600. Sponsorships for Putts and Pints is available by emailing info@grandcanyonbrewingco.com. Elephant Rock Golf Course is at 2200 Country Club Dr. Williams 86046.

Don’t forget to check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

Stagecoach Country Roadhouse opens in Sedona

Wild Thyme Restaurant Group recently transformed the former Olde Sedona Grill to the new Stagecoach Country Roadhouse that’s now open for business. Led by Founder and CEO Heinrich Stasiuk, Wild Thyme bought the property late last year then spent $3 million remodeling it inside and out. The result is gorgeous views of the surrounding red rocks from the the dining room and rooftop bar and a menu designed by James Beard recognized Chef Roberto Madrid.

“After being part of the Sedona community for close to a decade, we are thrilled to open an upscale steakhouse and lively saloon in the heart of town,” said Heinrich Stasiuk, Founder and CEO of Wild Thyme Restaurant Group. “There is nothing like a great steak or hearty BBQ after a long day on the trails, and Stagecoach is the perfect place to dust off your boots for outstanding food, drinks and fun,” he said.

Wild Thyme’s other restaurants in Sedona include Shorebird and Timo Wine Bar and they manage the Spoke and Wheel Tavern at the nearby Los Abrigados Resort & Spa. They also own & manage other restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and the Caribbean.

What to expect at Stagecoach Country Roadhouse

Executive Chef Bert Bonnarens handles day to day operations in the kitchen that features bone-in and hand cut steaks, fresh seafood and country roadhouse fare with a Southwestern twist. Bonnarens previously worked in hotels and resorts as did Wild Thyme’s Corporate Chef Madrid who formerly worked at Deseo at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.

The finest cuts of prime Angus certified beef include a cowboy style Ribeye Steak, Filet Mignon and a Wagyu spiral cut. The Smoking Wagon will crank out fall of the bone St. Louis style ribs, pulled pork, Andouille sausage and more. Burgers are piled high with all the gourmet toppings and fixins’ and plenty of salads are on the menu along with a Vegetable Tower and more for vegetarians. Signature dishes include Scottish Salmon, Bison Short Ribs and Sedona Red Clay Chicken. A full compliment of starters, classic side dishes and desserts round out the menu.

Beverage Director Topher Bray’s curated the wine list and his cocktail menu includes a variety of tequila and mezcal cocktails. The Sedona Sunset and Blood Orange Mezcalita are a couple of his signature cocktails.

On weekends guests can burn off the calories on the dance floor to live music or ride the mechanical bull. Private and semi-private rooms are available for parties of up to 80 people.

Stagecoach Country Roadhouse is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:00AM to 9:00PM. Saloon hours are 9:00PM – Midnight (Sun – Wed), 9:00PM – 1:00AM (Thu – Sat). Stagecoach Country Roadhouse is at 1405 AZ- 89A. For more information visit their website.

Don’t forget to 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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