Tag: central Phoenix

RKDA Kitchen hosting Malabar Spiced Liqeur Cocktail Dinner

Arcadia Lite’s RKDA Kitchen is hosting a dinner inspired by the spice route of India. Malabar Spiced Liqeur will be paired with a 5 course menu designed by Bob Tam. Wednesday, January 29th guests will a meal full of flavors as the exotic Malabar pairs with fish, duck and more.

Opening act
Yuzu Mint Raita & Crisp Papadums
amuse bouche
Crimson & Clover- Malabar, rum, lime, tamarind.

act 1
Tuna Tataki
heirloom tomato salsa
Sundown Aperitif – sparkling wine, Malabar, apple spiced, peychaud’s bitters, lemon, apple.

act 2
Tikka Marsala Moules Frites
pei mussels, butter, garlic, marsala, wine, tomato, ginger, basil, cilantro, yogurt, lemon, fries.

Coconut Conundrum- gin, Malabar, coconut, lime, curry, sugar.

Headliner
Smoked Malabar Duck
orange kecap glaze, many roots puree, braised greens.
Promisa De La Tierra- tequila, Malabar, lemon, egg white, beet, cinnamon, mint.

encore
White Chocolate Malabar Creme Brulee
seasonal fruit.
Wonderland- cacao nib washed Malabar, vodka, peche de vigne liqueur, almond milk.

RKDA Kitchen open quietly last year at the busy intersection of 40th St. and Indian School Rd. Featuring sandwiches, salads, creative signature cocktails from Trish Renehan Vodrazka and a sushi menu, RKDA Kitchen brings out your inner rock star with its music and decor.

The family style dinner starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $71 pp and include tax & gratuity. Limited seats are available and can be reserved at https://rkdamalabardinner.bpt.me/. RKDA Kitchen is at 3950 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix 85018.

Cock N’ Tails to rock the Uptown Phoenix restaurant scene

The popular 7th Street strip is packed with restaurants, some have survived the ups & downs and some replaced now shuttered eateries. Come mid-January, Cock N’ Tails will be the newest restaurant in the Uptown neighborhood. Taking over what was once Joe’s Midnight Run then another forgotten restaurant Cock N’ Tails brings a chef driven modern brasserie with its rock music theme.

Ahwatukee native and owner Kurt Johnson didn’t just come up with theme but lived it as a musician in L.A. “I spent seven years in the music scene in LA working the Sunset Strip bar scene and recording music at my own studio in North Hollywood. Those years were some of the most amazing times in my life, I grew so much and really honed my craft,” says Johnson.

Executive Chef and friend Donna Sites is creating a chef driven menu of classic American fare and late night bites. Sites comes from Phoenix’s Kuber Hotels where she opened and operated several outlets for over a decade. Her menu will feature steaks, seafood, chicken pot pie, burgers and her version of pate and bone marrow.

“While I was in the studio recording I started thinking about the idea of opening a bar and how cool it would be to model that bar after what I was seeing and experiencing in the music scene. I wanted it to look and feel like being in the studio. That’s what I’m hoping people will take away from their experience at Cock N’ Tails”.

Cock N’ Tails is at Seventh Street and Bethany Home Road, 6101 N Seventh Street. For hours and more information check the website.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” dinner at Match Restaurant & Lounge

Match Restaurant & Lounge’s Executive Chef Orlando Parker takes you on a trip to Whoville on Saturday December 7th when he and his culinary team create a five course dinner based on the Dr. Seuss classic Christmas film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Guests will have a full stomach and a smile on their face when dinner concludes.  All courses will be paired with a specialty cocktail to complement each other.

1st Course: Whoville Treat — Cherry and Plum Bruschetta paired with The Green One cocktail

2nd Course: Grinch Greens — Creamy Spinach Soup with croutons served with The Stolen Christmas Tree cocktail

3rd Course: Cindy Lu Salad – Orange and Pomegranate Salad with buttermilk dressing complemented by Martha May’s Little Helper Cocktail

4th Course: Roast Beast – Rosemary Roast Beef and potatoes and carrots with horseradish crema served with the Lou Who Family Recipe Cocktail

5th Course:  Who-Pudding – Plum Pudding with crème anglaise topped with fresh raspberries paired with The Mean One Cocktail

The “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is $96 plus tax per person and reservations can be made by heading to the Eventbrite page.

Match Restaurant & Lounge is in the Found:R.E. Phoenix Hotel at 1100 N. Central Ave. Phoenix 85003.

Strong Beer Festival tickets go on sale Black Friday

Once you wake up from your turkey coma on Black Friday make your way down to Arizona Craft Brewers Guild’s Tempe office as tickets for the Strong Beer Festival go on sale. Other locations around Arizona will also offer the best prices for the February 8th festival before they increase December 3rd.

“The only gift better than tickets to the Arizona Strong Beer Festival is tickets that come with a Festival t-shirt or hat,” says Rob Fullmer, Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. “Locals can visit the Guild office on Black Friday for the best ticket prices in town plus Arizona Strong Beer Festival and Arizona Beer Week swag you won’t find anywhere else.”

This year’s festival marks its 20th anniversary and brewers will collaborate on special beers for the festival. The festival is part of the annual Arizona Beer Week from February 6th – 16th with over 200 events planned.

Strong Beer Festival tickets on sale

The Guild’s office at 201 E. Southern Ave. #109 will be selling tickets from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. starting at $40.  Discounted tickets, with no online fees, will be available at the following locations from Black Friday, Nov. 29 through Mon., Dec. 2: 8-bit Aleworks, 12 West Brewing Co., Arizona Wilderness, Bone Haus Brewing Co., Brewers Connections, Front Pourch Brewing Co., Growlers USA – High Street, Hungry Monk, Huss Brewing Co., Lumberyard Brewing Co., Oro Brewing Co., Tap & Bottle, and Throne Brewing Co.

General admission tickets are $40 then go up to $64.33 on Tues. Limited amounts of VIP tickets (in person only) are $70 then $85.22 next week. VIP tickets include a food voucher, access to VIP area, a private restroom and access to specialty beers. New this year is Super VIP tickets which are $90 then $106.51. Included are all the above plus Friday wristband pick up, express entry and entry to the Brewer’s reception on Sunday.

“You have to act fast if you want to score tickets to the best beer festival of the year, especially with this year’s added collaborations” says Fullmer. “Our VIP tickets typically sell out well before the new year.”

A complete line-up of brewers, entertainment and food will be available soon at http://arizonabeerweek.com/arizona-strong-beer-festival/. You can also purchase tickets at the link.

The festival will be at Steele Indian School Park at 300 E. Indian School Rd. in Phoenix from 1 – 5 p.m.

Macayo’s Patron Reposado Tequila now available in Mesa

Macayo’s Mexican Restaurants recently introduced their own barrel selected tequila along with new menu items. Macayo’s partnered with Patron to supply the restaurants the tequila aged in an Hungarian oak barrel for five months. Patron often partners with restaurants to supply their own barrel aged tequila. The Barrel Select Margarita ($11.59) uses the tequila at all locations and a bottle ($69.99) can be purchased at the Mesa location.

The restaurant also introduced new menu items along with returning favorite based on customer requests. Spinach con Queso ($5.99 cup, $8.99 bowl), Carne Asada Fries ($8.99), Harvest Chopped Salad ($10.99) and Armando’s Steak Dinner ($16.99) has debuted. Returning to the menu is the popular California Burro.

Also returning today is their popular Recipe Box filled with over 80 recipes from the last 70 years. The Recipe Box sells out quickly and makes a great gift for the upcoming holiday season. You can purchase a Recipe Box at any Macayo’s location or online for $40. For $20 you can purchase only the recipe cards included in the box.

To order your Recipe Box or find a Macayo’s location near you go to https://www.macayo.com/

The Camelback Market at Vincent’s has returned for another season

The Camelback Market
The beet goes on.

Those farmer’s markets that took the summer off have re-opened for our cooler months. One of the more popular markets that is back is The Camelback Market at Vincent’s on Camelback. The opened air market with European flare runs through early May from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Saturday.

Customers can wander by local produce vendors along with imported exotic fruits and vegetables, warm & crusty breads, buttery croissants, fresh pasta, homemade jams, imported cheeses and more.

Enjoy made to order omelets, crepes, wood fired pizzas, meat & seafood paella and other delicacies from Vincent. Relax with a glass of wine and watch the crowds go by. It’s also a great opportunity to pick up gifts for the holidays imported from the south of France.

The Camelback Market is held in the parking lot of Vincent’s at 3030 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix 85018. For more information visit their website.

Mediterranean diet favorite dishes return to Pita Jungle

For the last 25 years Pita Jungle has been serving up healthy Mediterranean diet inspired dishes. Many customers have their favorite’s over the years but they tend to come and go with seasons. As part of their Seasonal Kitchen Crafts Menu they’ve brought back many fan favorites from the past.

All 23 locations throughout Arizona are serving dishes with a balance of Mediterranean diet and global cuisine. The menu is popular with all dietary needs including keto, paleo, vegan and gluten-free. The seasonal menu will be available thru the rest of the year. Dishes include……

  • Cauliflower Hummus (V) – cauliflower, tahini, garlic, evoo, lemon juice, cucumbers, pita (gluten free with blue corn chips).
  • All Veggie Pita Pocket – avocado, baby greens, seasonal mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onion, sprouts, tabbouleh, lemon vinaigrette, in a pita pocket, severed with tahini (vegan with no tabbouleh, gluten-free with gluten-free pita upcharge).
  • Bone Broth Ramen with Shirataki Noodles (GF) – beef bone broth, with miso, kimchi, red onion, gluten-free soy sauce, garlic and ginger, shirataki noodles, spinach, green onions.
  • Ginger Stir Fry with Shirataki Noodles (GF) – stir-fried fresh vegetables and kimchi, shirataki noodles, spicy ginger sauce, beef bone broth, fresh cilantro, fresh mint, pea sprouts (vegan with no kimchi and no beef broth).

    Mediterranean
    Ginger Stir Fry with Shirataki Noodles
  • Wood-Fired Medchilada (GF) – savory garlic-cilantro chicken in a beef bone broth enchilada sauce, cheddar and feta, turmeric cauliflower rice, cabbage-kale super greens, fresh jalapenos, radish, pico de gallo, pine nuts, gluten-free pita.
  • Chicken Avocado Pita Tostada with Cauliflower Hummus – grilled and chopped marinated all-natural chicken breast, avocado, cilantro-avocado crema, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled red onions, bell peppers, cauliflower hummus, feta, pine nuts, baby arugula, pea sprouts, chipotle vinaigrette, pita tostada or low-carb pita or gluten-free pita (vegetarian option without chicken.
  • Mediterranean Tuna Pita Pocket – albacore tuna, avocado, seasonal mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, red onion, tabbouleh, lemon vinaigrette, pea sprouts, in a pita pocket.
  • Baklawa Bread Pudding sweetened with stevia and agave syrup.

To find a Pita Jungle near you head to their website.

Husstoberfest with authentic German fare and fun at Uptown Plaza

Oktoberfest becomes Husstoberfest when Huss Brewing Company celebrates the traditional German eating and drinking festival at their Taphouse at Uptown Plaza. Saturday October 19th guests will enjoy locally made bratwurst and other authentic German fare from Schreiner’s and the untapping of Huss’s Bavarian style Marzen beer. The full bodied dry beer is copper red in color and has slightly malty sweet taste.

Other award-winning Huss beers will be poured in traditional German steins.  Gourmet caramel dipped apples will be available from Not Your Granny’s Apples food truck.

Husstoberfest takes place from 12- 6 p.m. at 102 E. Camelback Rd. Suite 160 Phoenix 85012.

National Cheeseburger Day is Wednesday September 18th

Although National Cheeseburger Day is this Wednesday, where I live it can be everyday as I love a good cheeseburger.

A few restaurants around the valley are offering deals on the American favorite comfort food.

Twin Peaks is celebrating with a $6 cheeseburger and fries with the purchase of a beverage. Visit them at 2135 E Camelback Rd. in Phoenix, 8787 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. in Scottsdale, and 6922 N. 95th Ave. in Glendale.

National Cheeseburger Day
Broadway burger at Miracle Mile Deli. Photo credit Joanie Simon

Miracle Mile Deli isn’t waiting til Wednesday as today thru the 22nd they are offering their Broadway Burger for $10. This burger is topped with aged Cheddar, crispy bacon, Green leaf lettuce, tomato, red onion and Miracle Mile dressing. Miracle Mile is at 4433 N. 16th St. Phoenix 85016.

Dorian offers 2 sliders and a beer for $10. Get 3 three sliders and without the beer for $13. Dorian is located at 7419 E. Indian Plaza Drive, Scottsdale 85251.

Arcadia Tavern saves you a few dollars on their Tavern Burger for $10, normally $13.99. The tavern is located on the corner of 48th and Indian School in Phoenix.

Luci’s at the Orchard and Pomelo at the Orchard is giving you 10% off any burger On National Cheeseburger Day. Stop by 7100 N. 12th in Phoenix for your cheeseburger.

Luci’s at the Grove is also giving you 10% off all day on any burger at McCormick Parkway and Hayden Rd. in Scottsdale.

National Cheeseburger Day
Twin Peaks

Luci’s Healthy Marketplace at Bethany Home Rd and 16th St. is saving you 10% on all burgers all day long.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill’s 3 valley locations is serving up the Gastropub Burger. Filled with Gorgonzola infused burger with grilled sweet onion, maple pepper bacon, white cheddar, arugula and horseradish cream. Here are three Valley locations: 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Suite 1041  in Tempe, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 1423  in Scottsdale and 2212 E. Williams Field Road  in Gilbert.

DoH! central Phoenix’s newest donut shop opens today

With Phoenicians love for donuts one shouldn’t be surprised that there’s a new shop in central Phoenix. Opening this morning is DoH! on 16th St. just north of Bethany Home Rd. DoH! is connected to the recently opened Brat Haus as it’s from the same owner Dave Andrea.

“Opening the two concepts in the same location was intentional,” Andrea said. “Adding DōH! allows us to give the neighborhood a casual yet mouthwatering place to enjoy fresh doughnuts, New York style bagels and Arizona roasted coffee on their way to work or while enjoying weekend mornings on the expansive, dog friendly patio.”

The donuts are locally sourced along with with New York style bagels from New York Bagels & Bialys and cold brew from CULT Artisan Beverage Company. The cold brew, Wild Tonic Kombucha and Zardetto Prosecco are served on tap.

Looking to inject fun to the new concept “drunken” donuts are available for $1 extra. This allows adults to inject a “pipette” of specialty liquor to the favorite donut. A signature “Manmosa” is served combining 32 oz. of Weihenstephan Hefeweissbier beer with a splash of prosecco and orange juice.

“We’re catering to a community that’s looking to add a little diversity to their morning routine,” Andrea said. “This is a sweet stop for families looking for morning treats, friends looking to let loose on their weekend mornings and anyone in between.”

DoH! is open Wednesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop is located at 6025 N. 16th St. Visit their Facebook page for more information and updates.