Ever wonder where your morning cup of coffee came from and how Press Coffee determines what coffee’s to roast then sell, those questions will be answered in Coffee 101. Classes at the Scottsdale Waterfront’s “Speakeasy” classroom start tomorrow. The Scottsdale Quarter and Ocotillo locations have taught the popular class on Saturday mornings.
I recently took the class and learned which roasts I prefer, taste profiles and more.
Coffee experts will teach the “cupping” method of tasting coffee, the roasting process and where coffee originated when you take the 1-hour class.
Coffee 101 starts at 10 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Saturday’s(tomorrow) at the Scottsdale Waterfront and Chandler (Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 15, Jan. 6, Jan. 20) with Scottsdale Quarter classes on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays.
Classes cost $20 and you receive a $10 gift card when class lets out.
With the popularity of ciders the last few years, local cideries decided to showcase this refreshing beverage. The inaugural Southwest Cider Festival takes place on Saturday Nov. 10th at Cider Corps in Mesa. At the 5-hour festival Cider Corps will pour Arizona’s Stoic Cider & Crush Craft Cider and ciders from Colorado, Texas, Washington, California and New York.
Guests will also be able to sample bites from local food trucks and enjoy live music.
“People are so interested to learn about and experiment with cider and that’s what this event is all about – a chance for everyone to continue to learn, sample and collaborate,” said festival organizer Josh Duren.
Brothers Josh and Jason opened Cider Corps last year and have produced over 70 ciders and have a loyal legion of fans. They push the envelope when it comes to making cider and helped put Arizona on the cider map.Tickets for the festival are $50 per with a portion going to Operation Homefront. A non-profit Operation Homefront helps local veterans and their families. Tickets include up to 20 cider samples and $5 food truck credit. The festival goes from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Don’t make any plans for the week of February 17th-24th 2019 until you’ve bought your tickets to Devour Culinary Classic. Named by the New York Times as the Best Culinary Festival in the Southwest DCC returns to the Desert Botanical Garden for its 10th anniversary.
“Our main objective is to support the development and promotion of the culinary and extended local food community and culture in Arizona, bringing deserved local and national attention to our state’s food scene,” said Thomas Barr, Executive Director of Local First Arizona. “Ten years later after this event started, we can really see the effect it has had on building Phoenix and Arizona as a culinary destination.”
Photos courtesy of Devoured
Culinary events
Like in previous years culinary events are planned during the week leading up to the two-day event. The week kicks off on Sunday the 17th with Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition. Location and times are not yet confirmed.
On Thursday the 21st is Devour the World at the Japanese Public Garden in downtown Phoenix. From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. guests will enjoy the international flavors of Phoenix. The line-up of local chefs is still being planned. $75
The weekend at Desert Botanical Gardens
With locals chefs such as James Porter chef/owner of Terra farm + manor, Tamara Stanger chef at Cotton & Copper will be there as will headliner Silvana Salcido Esparanza. Esparanza is owner/chef of Barrio Cafe and Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva.
“Does it get any better than strolling through the magnificent Southwest landscape, noshing on deliciously crafted small plates while sipping Arizona wines under the springtime desert sun? Not to me, or to the thousands of enthusiastic attendees who sell out Devour year after year,” said Howard Seftel, renowned and retired Arizona food critic who has attended the Devour Culinary Classic over the last decade.
The full line-up of chefs and restaurants is still being finalized for the two-day event.
Arizona is on the worldwide map with its craft beers, wines and spirits with the trophies and awards given over the last few years. To showcase all things Arizona there will be the first ever AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews festival at Salt River Fields on November 3rd.
Photo courtesy of Salt River Fields
The beers, wines and spirits will be made exclusively for the festival and use Arizona yeast, hops, grapes and water.
With a great view of the McDowell Mountains from the concourse of Salt River Fields festival goers will be able to sample from 2-5 p.m.
Over 30 brewers, wineries and distillers are scheduled to participate and the list keeps growing. SanTan Brewing Co., Helton Brewing, Elgin Distillery, Cellar 433 and McFate Brewing are a few of those announced.
Tickets are limited and are $50 for 12 drink samples and access to food trucks to purchase food. V.I.P tickets are available at $65 and allow entry an hour early at 1 p.m. Designated drivers pay only $19 and get a free swag bag. For more information and to purchase tickets visit the festival website.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is at 7555 N. Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ
Food festival season is starting to get ramped up as the summer slowly comes to an end. On of the first festivals is the 7th annual Rockin’ Taco Street Fest on Saturday September 15th in downtown Chandler.
This years festival hosts 20 restaurants and food vendors making more tacos than one can eat. Restaurants such as Las Palmas, Taco Guild and Nando’s Mexican Cafe are just a few restaurants breaking out the recipe book to create unique tacos. Specialty Poke tacos, cactus and Korean chicken tacos are a few of the non-traditional tacos being served up at the family friendly event.
Evil Waze. All photos ciourtesy of Jen Pruett of HDE Agency
More than just tacos
You can’t eat tacos for all 9 hours of the festival so entertainment from Santana cover band Evil Waze will take the stage. Metalachi, the world’s first and only mariachi heavy metal band will headline the festival.
A custom low-rider car show with In the Streets magazine will show off over 60 cars, bikes and trucks. Lucha libre wrestling and food eating contest will be going on throughout the day.
Get your tickets here
General admission tickets on-line are $10, $15 at the door with kids 12 and under free. The 21 years old + VIP tickets are $100 and available on-line only. VIP ticket holders get a private area, 6 alcoholic beverage tickets, catered food and shaded area.
The Tequila Tavern tickets are $30 on-line get you 10 tequila samples and unlimited chips and salsa.
A portion of the proceeds from the festival will be donated to the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership. The non-profit DCCP mission is to use leadership and resources to promote the downtown Chandler area.
Good times return to downtown Chandler on Saturday March 24th as the 9th annual Great American Barbecue & Beer Festival opens its gates at noon. The festival will be serving up slow cooked foods, cold adult beverages, live entertainment and more til 10 p.m.
Barbecue, Beer and more.
Over 20 BBQ aficionados will be smoking and cooking up finger licking ribs, chicken, pulled pork and many more not BBQ dishes. Local craft beer brewers including SanTan Brewing Company along with national beers and spirits will be poured to cool you and your palate down as a lot of the foods will be bringing the heat. Below is a list of a few of those slow cooking your favorites.
Farmboy Smokehaus – brisket, pulled pork, who hog spit, andoullie sausage, baby back ribs, chicken, chili and Johnny cakes
SanTan Brewing – chopped brisket or pulled pork sandwich & mac & cheese
All photos courtesy of Jen Pruett of HDE Agency
Live music, tickets and more.
Country music superstar Rodney Atkins headlines the music for the festival along with food cooking demos, a mechanical bull riding competition. There’s plenty of fun for the whole family with a kids zone.
$20 Online Presale $25 Day of Walk Up Pricing $10 Veterans & Military Discount Online Presale & Walk Up Pricing $10 Presale at any valley Bashas’ Locations *Kids 12 and under receive free general admission *General admission includes entry into the festival, access to all entertainment, zones, vendors, interactive experience and activities. Food and beverages are not included with admission.
VIP Pass (21+ over only)
$175 Online Presale Only – now through 3/23/18 OR when tickets are sold out Includes: six beers, unlimited soft drinks and water, catered food throughout the day, front stage access/view, private air-conditioned restrooms, private seating, shaded area, entry into the festival and access to all entertainment, zones, vendors, interactive experience and activities.
B² raffle giveaways at end of each quarter (must be present to win)
55 inch TV giveaway at end of game (must be present to win)
10% OFF for all pre-ordered take out + $15.00 craft growler fills
Photos courtesy of B2 Burgers and Brews
For parties of 8 or more reservations can be made.
The locally owned restaurant is passionate for burgers and wings and goal is to create the best burger. Salads, protein bowls and more are available if you’re not in the mood for a burger or wings.
B2 Burgers and Wings is at 393 W. Warner Rd. Chandler 85225 (480)917-4937. Visit there website.
Most of us ice cream lovers get to experience its delicious taste for a few quick minutes a few times a month or however often we give in to the craving for the cold, sweet treat. With so many flavors and styles of ice cream we need more time to experience our love affair and for only 3 months starting Dec. 1st the Art of Ice Cream Experience is coming to Scottsdale.
This interactive pop-up exhibit will be housed in a 2 story building near Craftsman Court and 3rd Ave in old town Scottsdale and will offer visitors theme filled rooms such as the Push-Up Pop Room, the Banana Split Room and the Sundae Room. Visitors can schedule 60 minutes to explore the different rooms to learn about, take photos and most importantly taste samples of ice cream that will tempt all 5 senses.
The Art of Ice Cream Experience is good for all ages especially millennials as the exhibits are social media friendly and photos and selfies are encouraged to remember ones tasty experience.
Ice cream lovers can scoop up their tickets now as a limited number of tickets will be available each day during the 3 month engagement. The Art of Ice Cream Experience will be open daily from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Group tickets are available and the pop-up can be used for corporate or holiday parties.
With 6 successful years under its belt HDE Agency and SanTan Brewing Company realized that their AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival was ready for expansion to the bigger and centrally located Margaret T. Hance Park in central Phoenix. Saturday May 13th is when over 100 local and national craft beer brewers will be pouring over 250 beers to beer enthusiasts from across the Phoenix area.
All photos courtesy of Landon Evans & Jen Pruett
The 6 hour event (12pm -6pm) will not only include canned beer tastings but live music, beer seminars, food, a beer science garden, beer Olympics and a rare beer garden. Included in 250 plus beers being poured will be beers previously not available in Arizona.
A week prior to the festival more than 40 certified beer judges will gather to taste and cast their vote for their favorite beers in 9 categories including IPA, American Pale Ale, English Pale Ale, Wheat Beers, Stouts and Porters, Ambers and Browns, Golds, Blondes, Pilsners and Light Lagers, Fruit, and Specialty Beer. Winners of gold, silver and bronze will be announced during a live streaming event on May 6th at http://www.cannedcraftbeerfest.com/
This is a 21 and over festival and tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 General Admission(1pm entry, 4oz tasting can & 20 beer samples), $45 day of and VIP tickets(12 noon entry, 4 oz. tasting can, 20 beer samples, access to VIP beer garden, private restrooms and a meet and greet with brewers) are only available on-line while supplies last for $100 at the link above. Designated driver tickets are $20 online & day of with entry at 12 noon and include soft drinks, no beer.
Part of the proceeds AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival will be contributed the Arizona Society of Homebrewers (ASH) which works to promote and preserve the tradition of homebrewing through education, information and dedicated practices. For more information or to become a member go to http://www.azhomebrewers.org/
Margaret T. Hance Park is at 67 W. Culver St. Phoenix 85003.
