Tag: Chandler

Sips & Bites: News you can use from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

Over Easy and Hickman Family Farms raising money for United Food bank in April

Starting today and all month long, the 11 locations are matching customer donations dollar for dollar and the farm will donate a dozen eggs for each donation. The two local businesses have a goal of donating $20,000 and 10,000 dozen eggs. Customers will see a prompt when paying their bill asking if they want to make a donation to United Food Bank.

March Madness at Koibito Poke this weekend

College basketball fan or not score $4 off your order when ordering online or on their app. Use promo code FINAL4 this Saturday and Sunday for this Final Four deal.

Rusty’s Beer Fest is this Sunday

Enjoy cold beers on the patio overlooking The Short Course and Camelback Mountain at Mountain Shadows Resort’s bar & grill. All the details and how to get tickets are here.

Raise a glass of rosé at Match Market & Bar

The downtown Phoenix restaurant in the Found:RE Hotel hosts its Monthly Guide to Wine featuring the perfect wine for Spring and Summer. Join the fun tasting and discussion about rosé Wednesday, April 6th from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Admission is $25 and includes light fare with tickets available here.

Leila’s Empanadas celebrates National Empanada day with 2 events

Next Friday, April 8th the locally owned artisan maker of the Latin American hand held food celebrates from 4-6 p.m. at Sam’s Frozen Yogurt located at 3434 W Anthem Way, Suite 140, Anthem, AZ 85086. On Saturday Leila will be serving them up from 10 AM – Noon at Lil Miss Butcher 4705 E Carefree Hwy. Cave Creek, AZ 85331.

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.

Sips & Bites: News you can use from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

$6 pitas all day at Pita Jungle on National Pita Day

Tuesday, March 29th at participating locations get a Gyro, Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Shawarma, Falafel, Grilled Chicken Pita and the Philly Chicken or Steak Pita when you dine-in or when you order online. Wraps not included.

Peace, Love & Bubbles every Sunday at The Hot Chick

Nothing like a cooling off from a hot chicken sandwich or warm temperatures than a bottle of cold refreshing champagne. That’s the new plan every Sunday from 12 – 3 p.m. at the Old Town Scottsdale restaurant. Get a bottle of champagne for a $1 with the purchase of an entree.

The KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival is tomorrow

It’s getting hot in Chandler for Saturday’s festival with plenty of BBQ, cold beer and country music superstars taking the stage. Tumbleweed Park now hosts the festival as it outgrew its original location. Tickets are still available online and at the door.

Z’ Tejas introduces Build Your Own Bloody Mary

The Scottsdale and Chandler locations now let guests choose from 7 Bloody Mary’s during breakfast & weekend brunch. Start with the house-made classic or spicy base and choose from Bacon-wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno, Southwest Slider, Candied Jalapeno bacon, Sriracha beer battered shrimp, Chipotle-glazed chicken tender, Diablo egg – spiced up hard-boiled egg or Z’Sausage.

Win a trip to San Diego courtesy of Lenny & Larry

With the weather in Phoenix hitting 90+ degrees this weekend you may want to think about a summer getaway. Cookie maker Lenny & Larry’s are launching their Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookie-fied Bar Sweepstakes at 9:00 a.m. Monday, March 28th. Enter to win until 5:00 p.m. June 6th for the grand prize of a trip for 4 to San Diego. The trip includes air transportation, 2 night hotel stay and an inside look at The San Diego Zoo.

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.

Sips & Bites: News you can use from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

The Ostrich brings in new talent for new craft cocktails

The downtown Chandler speakeasy starts a new era in announcing 5 new hires. They welcomed Craft Operations Manager Tyler Zhorne, Craft Bar Manager Jared Ammon, lead bartender Samantha Dengler, bartender Adam Slaton and server Tyler Yenkala to the team. With the new hires comes a new reverse happy hour to accommodate hospitality employees and collaborations with other local bars and restaurants for events & specials.

Society by EVO opens for dinner tonight in Tempe

Announced in January, Society by EVO opens tonight night at 4p.m. according to co-founder Nick Neuman’s Facebook page. The hip & high energy restaurant in Tempe will serve top notch cocktails and food until 1:30 a.m. every night. The menu will feature popular dishes from Neuman’s Scottsdale restaurant EVO along with new Mediterranean influenced dishes. A grand opening is scheduled for next Friday, March 25th.

Mother Road Brewing & Rombauer Vineyards battle it out at Zuzu

It’s beer vs. wine at the Hotel Valley Ho’s Versus Series Dinner next Thursday, March 24th. Seats are still available for when the Flagstaff brewer meets the popular Napa Valley winery paired with Chef Russell LaCasce’s has special four course menu. Seats are $159 ++ per person and you can make a reservation by calling 480-421-7997

Mesquite Fresh Street Mex opens new location in Gilbert

The newest location opens Saturday March 19th is the first that is walk-up and drive-thru only for the locally owned fast casual concept. During the grand opening a “Golden Ticket” promotion will give free burritos for a year to several winners. The new location is at 4875 S. Val Vista Dr.

The James Beard Foundation narrows down list of Award finalist.

The list of 15 Arizona nominees was whittled down to 4 finalists for the June 13th awards ceremony.

Outstanding Restaurateur– Chris Bianco, Tratto, Pane Bianco, and Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix

Best New Restaurant- Bacanora, Phoenix

Outstanding Baker- Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, AZ

Best Chef: Southwest- Giovanni Scorzo, Andreoli Italian Grocer, Scottsdale, AZ

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.

Calzone Connection now available online from Crust Simply Italian

Specialty calzones are now available for delivery or pick-up from the kitchens of Crust Simply Italian locations in Scottsdale and Chandler. The new concept, Calzone Connection offers football sized calzones for sharing or a very hungry person with fillings such as lobster ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs and linguini Alfredo with bacon.

Founder Mike Merendino came up the idea for Calzone Connection from years in Italian restaurants for serving staff meals that aren’t on the menu. “We go beyond the dishes we’re serving – we love to create our own,” Merendino explained. “These menu items we put together are what we used to eat growing up in my father’s pizzeria.”

During the recent pandemic when staff at his restaurants would eat together and have fun creating new things to eat. “We started making these wild calzones,” he recalled. Soon after staff would to have them made again and asking if they could start serving them to guests.

If you’re craving a calzone you can order online from 11 a.m. to 9:00p.m. daily & 11am to 9:30p.m. Friday and Saturday. Pick-up or delivery from third party delivery services is available.  Calzones can be picked up at Crust’s restaurants at 8300 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, and 10 N. San Marcos Pl., Chandler. A third location will in Gilbert will be opening at Williams Field & Recker Rd. later this year.

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.

Sips & Bites: News you can use from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

Rio Verde on the map for March’s TLC eXperience dinner

The sunset, desert and the stars will be the setting on Sunday, March 27th for the monthly supper club’s dinner. The Vista, a private ranch in the northeast valley will play host when Chef Tom’s mystery menu is served. Cocktail hour starts at 4:30 with dinner at 5:30. Seats are limited and are $175 per person and can be reserved here.

No spring training, no problem at Il Vinaio.

The downtown Mesa restaurant is giving locals and out of towners an exciting evening next Tuesday, March 8th with its Daylight Wines Pairing Dinner. The 4-course dinner will be paired with winemaker Doug Bezenberg in attendance. The dinner & wines are $48 per person and starts at 6:30 p.m. Il Vinaio is at 270 W Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201.

A few seats left for the Pillsbury Gone Wild dinner

Sam Pillsbury pairs his award-winning wines with dinner next Friday March 11th for the 6 course dinner at their Cottonwood tasting room. The dinner is $139 with wine, $98 without and you can reserve your seat(s) by calling Val at 949-466-1054.

Pedal Haus Brewery brews a special beer for International Women’s Day

The female leadership at the local brewer will be brewing Desert Classic Pale Ale to celebrate women on March 8th. The beer, part of their rotating hop series at their 3 Phoenix area locations won’t be available until April. When it is $1 of every pint will be donated to the non-profit Pink Boots Society.

Gilbert Pizza Festival postponed til 2023

Organizers had hoped to have the inaugural pizza festival in the east valley in March 2020 and you know by now what happened. Rescheduled to March 2021 and another postponement came again. All things were good for March 2022 but the venue was booked. Fast forward a year from now organizers are planning March 18th 2023 to make the festival happen. Tickets purchased will be honored in 2023 but if you want a refund email dave@phxfest.com

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.

Sips & Bites: News you can use from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

Beard Papa’s opens new location in Gilbert tomorrow

The Japanese build your own cream puff bakery with a cult like following is opening its newest location at SanTan Village Mall, Saturday February 26th. The Gilbert location is the 2nd in Arizona having opened in Scottsdale last year. The first 100 guests when they open at 10 a.m. will receive a surprise gift and BP will be collecting donations for Phoenix Children’s Hospital throughout the day.

Corazon Tequila Dinner at Spotted Donkey Cantina

Seats are available for authentic Mexican cuisine paired with the world class tequila for 4-courses on Friday, March 11th. Fresh ingredients will be used for dishes including Octopus Ceviche, Wagyu Beef Short Rib Mole and more. Seats are $98 per person and can be reserved by calling 480-488-3358 or online here.

Food Truck Friday West hosts more than 10-20 food trucks

Tonight and every Friday from 5 – 9p.m. foodies can try new & favorite foods from the valley’s food truck community. Momma’s Organic Market hosts the weekly event at Desert Financial Credit Union 17445 N. 79th Ave. in Glendale.

Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery open Page brewpub

Almost a year ago the Williams based brewery & distillery announced their 3rd location in the state would be on the banks of Lake Powell. It’s now open with a full menu of craft beers, spirited cocktails and scratch made food. Over 20 TVs and an indoor & outdoor seating are features that will also attract visitors to Horseshoe Bend location that used to be a firehouse.

Cajun festival tomorrow in Chandler

The great weather here in Arizona brings out spicy Cajun cooking, live music and more as Mardi Gras approaches. Tomorrow’s festival in downtown Chandler starts at 2 p.m. For more information and how to get tickets see my featured post.

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.

 

Tom Kaufman opens Bottle & Bean Coffee House & Wine Shop in Ocotillo

Restaurateur Tom Kaufman and his business partner Spike Lawrence have single handily built the downtown Ocotillo restaurant scene. The south Chandler neighborhood can thank them for such restaurants as Rock Lobster, The Living Room, CHoP Chandler and Sea & Smoke. The pair have added the new Bottle & Bean Coffee House & Wine Shop to their collection of restaurants.

The new coffee shop and wine bar opens today serving scratch made breakfast and lunch created by Chef Chris George. Tom Kaufman has been in and around the valley’s restaurant and wine scene for more than 25 years opening Rancho Pinot Grille and Humble Pie before opening The Living Room and other concepts. A certified sommelier with a passion for wine he says, “At Bottle & Bean, we showcase a variety of wines from around the world, including many of my favorites. For our bottle-to-go offerings, we’re staying competitive with major retailers and passing along great value to wine enthusiasts.”. Beers and wine merchandise are also available and local coffee roaster Infusion provides the beans for coffee and espresso drinks.

The menu includes dishes such as a Quinoa Breakfast Burrito, Beefsteak Tomato Toast and a Southwest Chicken Sausage Frittata. Lunch offers sandwiches, salads and bowls including the Steak Sandwich and the Veggie Bowl. The restaurant is open from 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. but can extend hours at night for private parties up to 50 people. Prix Fixe menus are available for $50, $70 & $90 per person for private dining.

The Bottle & Bean can seat up to 130 people inside and on the patio. Lawn seating offers lounge chairs and space for picnic like dining. It is located at 2577 W. Queen Creek Rd. Chandler 85248. For more information visit their website.

 

 

KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival expands to Tumbleweed Park in March

The popular KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival returns to Chandler with more than 20 BBQ pit masters showing off their smoked meats and more on Saturday, March 26th. The festival has outgrown previous years festivals and the 2022 festival is being held at Tumbleweed Park. The park will accommodate more people, vendors and country music superstars Lee Brice, Parker McCollum, Kameron Marlowe and Jacob Morris.

“We’ve worked so closely with everyone from KNIX to the City of Chandler and we couldn’t be more excited to drive the tens of thousands of family-based country music and BBQ fanatics to this beautiful and centralized location, delivering a true festival experience for all,” said Mike O’Donnell Director of Partnerships at Forty8 Live!.

The family friendly festival will also include a VIP lounge, X-Game skateboarding, BMX bike stunts, a kid’s zone and a March Madness lounge. “We have an incredible line-up of some of the hottest names in country music as well as legendary Barbecue Pit Masters for this annual signature event in Chandler, Arizona,” said David Horen Director of Events at Forty8 Live!.

The festival starts at 12 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. with tickets available online with General Admission $20 and $35 at the door. First responders and military personnel get $15 off at the door with i.d. Kid’s under 12 are free. VIP tickets are $225 and include catered BBQ, private restrooms, shaded seating, access to the front of the stage and more. Kid’s VIP access is $100 and tickets do not include food & drinks.

The KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival is produced by event producers Forty8 Live! in partnership with KNIX Country 102.5 and part of the days proceeds will be donated to Greater Cause Foundation which helps with critical funding for numerous non-profits around Arizona.

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.

 

Sips & Bites: News you can use from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

“Show Us Your Tickets” for a FREE breakfast cocktail at OEB

If you’ve been or are going to the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament this weekend take your ticket to OEB Breakfast Co. for a FREE breakfast cocktail. Only minutes from the TPC Scottsdale, the promotion is good for one week after the tournament. Choose a Mimosa or another breakfast cocktail with proof of attendance.

TLC eXperience rescheduled dinner is next week

The planned January dinner had to be rescheduled for next Saturday February 19th at the new hip event venue Juncture in Phoenix. The monthly supper club menu is a surprise and starts with cocktail hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6. The dinner makes a great late Valentine’s Day gift if you can’t make it to Monday’s dinner at Agritopia.

Still time to order your meals for Devour at Home

Local First Arizona’s Devour Week is a couple of weeks away but you only have until next Friday, February 18th to order your dinners for Devour at Home. Tickets are still available for the Seven Chefs dinner on the 20th which is the lick-off of the annual event. Both events are expected to sell out in the next week so don’t hesitate.

Restaurant delays for Pork on a Fork lead to permanent food truck.

Almost a year ago I blogged about the award-winning Pork on a Fork opening a restaurant in Chandler but like many businesses there have been challenges. In November 21st Sips & Bites’ I mentioned that with delays the owners set up their food truck at the location of where their restaurant will be. With continued delays the food truck is now permanent fixture with a drive-thru opening in March. They still hope to open the restaurant and the food truck will be there until it does. A limited menu of dishes is available Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday’s starting next week February 20th.

Arizona Restaurant Assoc. announces Spring 2022 Arizona Restaurant Week

The 10-day event returns Friday May 20 – Sunday May 29th with local restaurants offering creative dishes created for ARW. The popular event offers 3-course prie-fixe dinners are served for $35, $45 or $55 depending on the restaurant. Many new and returning restaurants participate in ARW with a list of restaurants and their menus available on May 1st and gets update as new restaurants get added. Reservations are highly recommended during the 10 days.

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.

Recreo brings international cuisine to its playground themed restaurant

The newest restaurant in downtown Chandler opened last week serving fun and food inspired from around the world. Recreo features specialty cocktails, an edible garden and international cuisine with its live outdoor entertainment. The theme is reminiscent of times as kids playing with friends in the school yard and playground.

“Recreo is bringing a fresh, youthful atmosphere to Chandler’s downtown area,” says General Manager Henry Malachowski. “We are thrilled to provide fresh local ingredients, an inviting indoor/outdoor garden hangout vibe and unique cocktails that will have you daydreaming about your next visit.”

The “foodventurous” uses Arizona grown ingredients for its signature dishes including charcuterie boards “The Patio Board & The Garden Board”, the Buddha Bowl, ceviche and The Amazing Mushroom. Crepes Foster and “That’ll Do, Fig” are featured desserts. Cocktails have a school recess theme called “Elementary Cocktails” and include the Greyhound inspired “The Mean Dog on the Other Side of the Fence” and the “After School Special”, a white wine spritzer. Signature cocktails include the frozen “Yolo Whip”, the “Second Star to the Right” and “Hot Pink”.

In between eating and drinking guests can have fun on the bar swing set, view the bus art installation and enjoy live music from the stage made from a shipping container suspended above the outdoor patio. “From the moment we discovered the site, we were instantly dedicated to recreating the space to honor our great state, it’s ‘melting pot’ culture, and to also creating new experiences as a community,” said Chris Field, founder of Allium Hospitality. “Recreo celebrates the history of Chandler, while simultaneously looking forward to its vibrant, bustling future.”

The restaurant is at 28 S. San Marcos Pl. Chandler 85225 and opens daily at 11 a.m. For more information visit their website.