Cheese lovers can get their tickets for the first annual Mac & Cheese Festival to be held at Chase Field on Saturday, May 24th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The family friendly event will have mac & cheese themed foods, thirst quenching drinks and live entertainment from actor and musician Thomas Ian Nicholas.
Nicholas is known for appearing in ’90s classic films “American Pie” and “Rookie of the Year” will perform an acoustic set. There will also be live wrestling, a Mac & Cheese and French fry eating contest, a Kid’s Fun Zone and giveaways. The first of its kind event in downtown Phoenix is a partnership between the Arizona Diamondbacks Events & Entertainment and Levy Restaurants.
Actor and musician Thomas Ian Nicholas
Tickets for the Mac & Cheese Festival and to see Thomas Ian Nicholas start at $15 with VIP and Ultimate VIP tickets available for $50 and $75. VIP tickets come with 2 drink vouchers, 3 food vouchers and Fast Lane access and Ultimate VIP comes with 3 drink vouchers and access to other Ultimate VIP amenities. For more information and updates visit their Facebook page and to purchase tickets visit Tickemaster.
Quick sips & bites of news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.
Arizona Restaurant Week kicks off today
10 days (Sept. 16th -25th) filled with special multi-course menus at over 100 Arizona restaurants. The Arizona Restaurant Association’s twice annual celebration has meals at three price points $33, $44 & $55. I’m visiting restaurants I’ve never been to and can’t wait, see the full list of restaurants and menus at the ARW website, reservations highly suggested.
Third Tuesday dinner at Romeo’s
The popular downtown Gilbert restaurant hosts its monthly dinner coming next Tuesday September 20th. The 3 course menu starts with Char- Siu Pork Soba Noodle salad followed by Jägerschnitzel and Chocolate Carrot Cake Pops for dessert. $39++ includes wine pairings for each course with the dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. For reservations call 480-962-4224.
Still time to enjoy Serrano’s September specials
Early birds can head in starting at 3 p.m. for the Early Bird menu for $9.99. Available Tuesday – Thursday until 5 p.m. get an entree and more with 2 sides at all 4 locations. Get $10 off all to-go orders of $50 when you order take-out online, use promo code GET10. Food & drink specials include Fall Flight of margaritas including Passion-Fruit, Orange Cherry & Mango and Raspberry ($10.99). Ernie’s Pronto Burrito is filled with carne asada and all your favorite burrito fixings ($13.99). Save room for dessert and get a Snickerdoodle Delight for just $5.99.
Koibito Poke donating $2 of each Signature Bowl sold
If you’ve order a Signature Bowl in September you’ll be glad to know $2 went to the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children. Its part of their promotion as September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Choose from 5 Signature Bowls at all 4 locations in Scottsdale, Phoenix (Arcadia) and Chandler until the end of the month to continue raising money.
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers at Chase Field is now open
The newest location of the popular burger joint opened in downtown Phoenix in the left field of the ballpark. The new location will be open year round for lunch and dinner with guests able to enjoy all their favorite burgers, totchos, hot dogs and more. Exclusive at this location is The Big Unit, named after Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, the cheddar cheese filed Juicy Lucy burger comes with LTO and served between two grilled cheese sandwiches.
Quick sips & bites of news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.
Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen offer Healthy Hour menu
All 6 locations (5 in Phoenix area and 1 in Sedona) kicked off the new summer Healthy Hour recently. Daily from 3 -6 p.m. enjoy popular food items and cocktails such as Baked Wings, Mama’s Meat-Za-Balls and Baked Brie for $8. Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip and Avocado Toast are $7 and Cheese Bread is $6.
Wash them down with $4 Local Drafts, glasses of house wines for $5 and Zo’s House Made Sangria for $6. Signature cocktails including the Prickly Pear Margarita and Smoky Cadillac are $7 and both use the locally owned Shrubwell‘s rimming salt.
Dole Whip only $2 on Monday at Koibito Poke
Cool off on National Pineapple Day at the Gainey Ranch location of Koibito Poke with the the popular frozen treat. The 5 oz. Dole Whip is available all day from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Chef Brett Vibber and Pedal Haus Brewery team up for beer paired dinner
Master Brewer Derek Osborne and Wild Arizona chef Brett Vibber team up for a five-course dinner on Thursday June 30th. Dinner will take place at the brewer’s downtown Phoenix location at 214 E. Roosevelt St. starting at 6 p.m. Foraged and locally sourced dishes including Wild Mushroom Potstickers and Arizona Wagyu Brisket will be paired with Mexican Amber Lager and Haus IPA. Seats are limited and are $120 and can be reserved here.
Venezia’s Pizza in Chandler now open
The 6th location of the poplar locally owned restaurant I featured last month is now open for business. Known for pizza and wings they offer daily lunch specials and the “Slice of the Day”. Owner Domenick Montanile opened his first location in Tempe in 1998 right after graduating from ASU.
Guy Fieri’s DTPHX Kitchen + Bar now open at Chase Field
When it was announced in February that Guy Fieri would we be opening a new restaurant at Chase Field little information was known. Now we know that “Guy Fieri’s DTPHX Kitchen +Bar” has opened this week inside the new Caesars Sportsbook. Executive Chef Kayla Laasko offers scratch made food along with classic cocktails, beer & wine. Several of Fieri’s classic dishes including Trash Can Nachos and the popular Bacon Mac n Cheeseburger are on the menu along with new dishes.
Baseball fans returning to Chase Field on April 7th for the Arizona Diamondbacks season opener will wonder what’s happening up in left field. They’ll notice construction of what will be a new location of Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers in the former Friday’s Front Row. A summer opening is expected and will also include a Bourbon & Bones Cocktail Lounge, both concepts of Scottsdale’s Square One Concepts.
“I am thrilled to work with the popular Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers concept to bring a new and incredible guest experience to Chase Field,” said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. “The plans for this space are very exciting and promises to be a one-of-a-kind destination in the ballpark.”
Once opened Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers will be open 7 days a week giving guests a unique experience at the patio above the field. It will be the 13th location of Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers in the valley and the 2nd Bourbon & Bones Cocktail Lounge. Wall-to-wall TVs will line the 12,000 square foot restaurant and bar on multiple levels with the suspended patio encompassing 2,500 square feet.
“This is a special opportunity for us to raise the bar for both Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers and D-backs fans,” said Square One Concepts Founder and CEO S. Barrett Rinzler. “There is no other place in the valley where one can meet up with family or friends any day of the week to enjoy items from our scratch-made kitchen, as well as drinks, with a view of a major league ballpark.”
To celebrate the news Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers will surprise several guests at each of its 12 locations with tickets for the Arizona Diamondbacks opening day game from now until April 6th.
Quick sips & bites of news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.
Celebrate the 1st TLC Experience dinner of the season
Chef Tom‘s birthday is fast approaching and you can celebrate with him at the first dinner of the Fall season. Sunday September 19th at a private home in Paradise Valley is where the 4 hour dinner will take place. As always the evening’s menu is a surprise but you know it’s going to be good, sourcing from local farms and artisan food makers. Become a member of the EXperince and get more details here.
Labor Day Weekend deals at restaurants around Phoenix
Celebrate at home with a Hopdoddy Burger BarDIY Burger Kit, Family Packs at Miracle Mile Deli for pick-up, take-out or delivery. Other deals at Dave & Busters at Tempe Marketplace, STK Steakhouse, 50% of cheese pizza on Sunday 9/5 National Pizza Day at Fired Pie, a free domestic draft beer with purchase at Comic X, Slices get 2 large slices & drink for $7.99. BBQ style meals for catering family meals or individual meals from EAT by Stacey Weber. In downtown Phoenix head to Palomar at Kimpton Hotel as they are offering 5-7-9 Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. $5 beers, $7 glasses of wine & $9 Old Fashioneds with bites to eat from $5-$7.
Ingo’s Tasty Food now open in downtown Phoenix
As mentioned in May the 2nd location of the popular hangout at Block 23 at 101 E. Washington St. across from Chase Field and the Footprint Center. An all-day menu and LGO pastries are served Monday – Friday starting at 7 a.m. with Saturday and Sunday hours coming soon.
The Good Food Film Series new line-up announced
Local First Arizona has announced the next 3 films in the series focusing on the Arizona food community. The Fall film series showcases films dealing with how we heal the earth & how we can connect to the land. The Trail of Arizona Dairy (releasing on Sept. 14), Food as Medicine (releasing on Oct. 12),Farming as a Revolutionary Act for Food Sovereignty (releasing on Nov. 9).
11th annual AZ Taco Festival postponed til 2022
Organizers decided to pause the popular food festival as the Delta variant of Covid-19 is takings its toll. The festival is now re-scheduled April 9th & 10th 2022 and the regularly schedule 2022 taco festival is still scheduled only 6 months later on October 22nd & 23rd 2022. All tickets purchased for the 2021 festival will be honored in April 2022. Head to their website for more information.
When the Arizona Diamondbacks take the field Friday at Chase Field it will be the first time they’ve played a meaningful game in front of fans in over a year. Fans attending games this year will notice new food and drink options along with the ability for mobile ordering.
New food items also include items from locally owned Gadzooks and Danzeisen Dairy. Here are some new food items fans can snack on during the game.
Gadzooks (located at Sections 116 and 314)
Poblano Cheesesteak (Shaved Philly Ribeye, American Cheese, fire roasted poblano chile, barbecue aioli, battered onion straws)
A 25% discount off purchases at Taste of Chase for those using a Chase credit or debit card
The Still at Cutwater- Award-winning distillery Cutwater Spirits will have an assortment of ready-to-enjoy canned cocktails, including limited-edition cans of its popular classic Vodka Mule featuring D-backs marks.
Fry’s Grab n’ Go- Unique stands throughout the main concourse stocked with small bites, drinks and pre-packaged goods available to purchase quickly.
For more information about what else you can expect at Chase Field for the 2021 Major League Baseball season head to the Diamondbacks website.
Fans headed to the Cheez-It Bowl on Friday, December 27th will have more to cheer about when Air Force plays Washington State. The cheesiest bowl game of the year will offer two fan favorite foods with a Cheez-It twist.
Chase Field Executive Chef Stephen Tilder has created The Cheez-It Walking Tacos and The Coney Island Cheez-It Dog. “It wouldn’t be the Cheez-It Bowl without some fun, delicious, Cheez-It inspired food available to fans,” said Jeff Delonis, Senior Director of Marketing for Cheez-It. “Chef Tilder has really delivered some fantastic recipes that really highlight the cheesy, crunchy satisfaction that only Cheez-It can deliver.”
The Cheez-It Walking Tacos combines Arizona’s southwest flare with college football’s official snack. Enjoy a bag of Cheddar Jack Cheez-It crackers topped with pork carnitas, Cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream. It will be available for $11 at Taste of Chase.
The Coney Island Cheez-It Dog is topped with chili, Monterey Jack cheese sauce, onions and original Cheez-It crackers. It will be available for $10 at Taste of Chase.
“A college football game isn’t complete without some delicious snacking. When you work with a fun and creative brand like Cheez-It, and Chef Tilder at Chase Field, our fans are the ultimate winners,” said Cheez-It Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy. “I can’t wait to try these on December 27 while watching some exciting offensive football.”
The Cheez-It Bowl kicks off at 8:15 p.m. at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. For more information check out their website.
College bowl season has kicked off and the Phoenix area hosts both the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium & Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. With thousand of fans coming to town for the bowl games , restaurants put on their game face to attract out-of-towers here for the games or just to enjoy our beautiful holiday season.
Several restaurants are hosting special bowl game events while you watch the games.
Bowl games buffets at Match Restaurant
Downtown Phoenix’s Match Restaurant is throwing a tailgate inspired buffet when UCLA & Kansas State battle for Cactus Bowl supremacy at near by Chase Field on Tues. Dec. 26th from 4:00- 6:00 p.m.
They’ll do again a few days later when Penn St. plays Washington in Glendale on Dec. 30th. from 2:00-4:00 p.m. outside by the pool.
$25 scores you a ticket to either game’s festivities and includes all you can eat and 2 beers or non-alcoholic beverages. You can call 602-675-8080 . Match is inside the Found:RE Hotel at 1100 N. Central Ave. Phoenix.
Fired Pie Pizza
Rooting for your alma mater on with friends at home then Fired Pie has the pizza for you. Their catering packages start serving enough for at least 10 people.
Photo courtesy of Fired Pie
For 10-15 guests you get 8 mix-n-match 11” pizzas and a large catering salad for just $89.99.
For 16-20 guests, you can get 12 mix-n-match 11” pizzas and 2 large catering salads for $145.99.
There are Wrap Package options starting at $65.99 – you can get 16 mix-n-match half wraps (salads converted to wraps) and 8 sides with choices from granny smith apples, potato chips or any combination of the two.
Postmates and DoorDash will deliver for parties less than 10 can order Fired Pie through 3rd party delivering options like .
Before, during and after the Cactus Bowl on the 26th, The Park Food Bar & Beer Garden in downtown Phoenix will be offering a bucket of 5 beers from MillerCoors and an appetizer(not sampler) for $27.
