Lou’s x Mike’s Hot Honey Deep Dish pizzas available nationwide

In time for National Pizza Month Lou Malnati’s and Mike’s Hot Honey have made their popular limited availability pizza “Lou’s x Mike’s Hot Honey Deep Dish Pizza” available for the holidays with nationwide shipping from Tastes of Chicago. Loads of weekly online specials are happening through Cyber Monday, December 2nd with the pizza also available at all 80 Lou Malnati’s locations.

Available for shipping in deep dish or thin crust, the pizza became popular earlier this year when the Chicago and NYC iconic brands collaborated on their spicy, sweet and savory pizza. It features mozzarella, sausage, giardiniera and cupped pepperoni topped with a generous drizzle of sweet and spicy Mike’s Hot Honey.

The Tastes of Chicago (TOC) weekly specials are….

Oct 18-24: Semi-Annual Buy 6 Get 7th Pizza Sale – Buy a 6 pack of Lou’s deep-dish pizzas (including Mike’s Hot Honey) and get the 7th pizza free (cheese). Buy 7 pack of Lou’s thin crust pizzas, get 8th free (cheese)

Oct 29-Nov 26: Bonus Bounce back – Spend $125+ and get $25 to spend in January 2025- Gift Mike’s Hot Honey and Get a bonus for yourself! Buy now, ship later: Buy your gifts now, but ship them closer to the celebration

Nov 18-26: Free Pizza Sale – Buy any 2/4/6 pack of Lou’s deep-dish pizzas and get a cheese or sausage pizza free. Buy 2/4/6 pack of Mike’s Hot Honey pizza and get a free pizza

Nov 27- Dec 2: Black Friday Cyber Monday Sale   Up to 25% off TOC top sellers (including Mike’s Hot Honey pizza packs)!

 

Arizona Cardinals and Spinato’s team up for fresh hot pizza

When the Arizona Cardinals start the 2024 football season, fans attending home games at State Farm Stadium will have new choices for delicious local foods. Some of those new foods was announced with a new partnership for the “Official Pizza of the Arizona Cardinals” with Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen. It’s part of the family-owned pizzerias 50th anniversary and also marks the pizzeria’s first location in the west valley.

“We are thrilled to announce Spinato’s as the Official Pizza of the Arizona Cardinals and to welcome the Spinato’s family as our Proud Partner,” said Wade Martin, Arizona Cardinals senior vice president of corporate partnerships. “Bringing in beloved, local food and beverage companies is important to us, and I couldn’t think of a better representation of that than Spinato’s. We are excited for our fans to enjoy delicious, locally owned pizza on gamedays this season.”

Come September fans will be able to order three kinds of pizza, an Italian beef sandwich, Caesar salad, cheesy garlic bread and more at four concession stands throughout the stadium. Spinato’s has also partnered with Phoenix’s Cactus Corn to offer “Mamma’s Signature” pizza flavored popcorn. Featuring spinach spice & sweet tomoto, the new flavor will join two other popcorn flavors offered and will be announced soon.

Collaborating on The Red Zone Pizza

The two-family owned businesses have collaborated on the new The Red Zone pizza available at all 6 pizzerias starting September 8th (Week 1 of the regular season). Made with Spinato’s signature sauce, Canadian bacon, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, mozzarella and spinach spice. “The Canadian bacon and roasted red bell peppers bring a red element to the pizza, while the pepperoncini bring a little spice for our Arizona heat,” says Anthony Spinato, Spinato’s CEO.

The made fresh, never frozen pizza will range from $17.75 for a small pizza, $23.75 for a medium pizza and $29.75 for a large pizza at Spinato’s locations. At State Farm Stadium, the price of an eight-inch “The Red Zone” pizza will be $15.50. Fans can also purchase an eight-inch cheese pizza for $13.50 or an eight-inch pepperoni pizza for $14.50.

“Over the past five decades, we’ve worked hard to deliver what we call ‘the Spinato’s experience,’ to our guests. From the moment you walk in, we want you to feel like part of a big family. We’ve grown to six locations in Tempe, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee, Gilbert and Phoenix. This partnership marks our first entry into the West Valley, and we could not be more excited to do it with such a beloved sports team,” Spinato said.

For more information visit Spinato’s and the team‘s websites.

The Shop Beer Co. hosts inaugural Good Fest on May 13th

This Saturday, May 13th local brewer The Shop Beer Co. and Pivot Cycles will host the Good Fest at the Tempe brewery benefiting the Armer Foundation for Kids. The local non-profit’s mission is to support families whose children are facing life altering diagnoses. Saturday’s Good Fest will honor the late “Armer Kid” Logan Gidley and will feature a limited edition beer, food, live music and a bike raffle. “What The Shop Beer Co. and Pivot Cycles are doing to help us raise awareness and funds to help families like Logan’s is incredible,” said Jennifer Armer, founder of The Armer Foundation for Kids.

The festival goes from 3 – 8 p.m. with attendees enjoying local fare from Bacanora, Bad Jimmy’s and Il Bosco Pizza. The “Good Good” Double Hazy IPA will be released on Saturday, is a limited edition collaboration with The Shop Beer Co. and Missouri’s Boulevard Brewing. Artist J. Pierce designed the label paying tribute to Logan’s favorite things to do, biking, music and gaming. J.Pierce also designed the brewer’s popular and Church Music IPA label and the bike being raffled off by Pivot Cylcles. The custom painted bicycle will mimic the Church Music label and is valued at $3,000.

The Shop Beer Co. and Amer Foundation for Kids

“We personally know many of the families the Armer Foundation has supported over the years and want to do our part in giving back to help even more of our community members whose children are facing life-threatening illnesses, like Logan,” said Mikel Anne Arnce, co-founder of The Shop Beer Co.

Pivot Cycles is challenging riders of all ages to ride 13 hours before the Good Fest and to ride by The Shop Beer Co. on Saturday in Logan’s honor.  “Logan loved hitting the trails and enjoying the sunshine and it really inspired us to not only give back a bike but also continue Logan’s legacy with a #iridewithLogan challenge,” said Rachel When, Athlete Coordinator for Pivot Cycles. You can log your rides at their website and show the Pivot crew you log on Saturday to get some swag.

Tickets for Good Fest are $10 online in advance and $15 at the door. Children get in for free and can play games including cornhole, Jenga and play at a putting green. Tickets can be purchased by going to the Armer Foundation’s website. The brewery is at 922 W. 1st St. Tempe 85281.

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

Kitsune Brewing Co. goes from a dream to a dream job

Tyler Smith went from corporate life to his dream job when he opened Kitsune Brewing Co. in October 2022. The final blessing to make his dream happen came from his wife and business partner Rebecca who told him to do what made him happy. His dream was to push the envelope when making beer and to have local beer drinkers want more. Combine that of his love of Japanese culture and Kitsune “a protector” was born.

“I’ve been home brewing for more than 15 years. A family friend introduced me to it and I fell in love with the process,” says Smith, who’s worked for Nike and PetSmart. Throughout his career home brewing has remained his one constant in his life. “Right before I was about to take another job and move my family, my wife asked me if that would really make me happy or if I wanted to take my home brewing to the next level.”

With the Covid pandemic slowing his plan he used the time to find fellow brewer Marshall Norris of Simple Machine Brewing Company as a mentor and friend. Norris gave Smith space at Simple Machine to bring in two fermentation tanks and after a year and a half Tyler and Rebecca were ready to go at it on their own.

What’s brewing at Kitsune Brewing Co.

Known at first for IPAs, Kitsune Brewing Co. has become now known for its sour beers and pushing the envelope. Tyler wondered “How far we can push it” and released “Dirty Snowflake” a gray beer in appearance. He then wondered “Are people willing to try a gray beer?” and the response was “yes” they were.

There are between 14 and 16 beers rotating on tap with names and images inspired by Japanese culture. Kitsune Brewing Co. has also collaborated with local breweries Tombstone Brewing and Dark Sky Brewing Company. Food trucks on a rotating schedule park outside allow guests to enjoy food with their beers. They also have a BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) policy and allow for food to be delivered.

Future plans include distributing popular beers to local bottle shops and to open a ramen shop next door. “We want to expand so we can get more tanks,” he says of their future growth. “Hopefully, we will be successful enough to need more space.”

Guests can expect activities such as Trivia night every Tuesday at 6:30 and happy hour from 3 – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday. Kitsune Brewing Co. is at 3321 E. Bell Rd., Ste. B-5. Phoenix 85032.

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.

JBF Women of AZ collaborate on creative meals for a limited time

This weekend’s launch of JBF Women of AZ shows off the partnership of 15 talented women chefs as Phoenix is one of 10 cities participating in the national alliance “Let’s Talk” from The James Beard Foundation Women’s Leadership Program. “Let’s Talk” is the brainchild of Chicago’s Rohini Dey, Ph.D., owner of Vermilion and trustee of the JBF whose goal is to bring women restaurateurs together for collaboration and support.

This weekend (sold out) and the weekends of January 22nd & 23rd and 29th & 30th you can order a special 3-course meal from 5 groups of chef’s preparing each course of the meal. Each three- course meal feeds two people and is $55 with meals needing to be ordered online by 10 p.m. the Wednesday of each week for pick-up on Friday or Saturday night.

By collaborating the women are learning from each other, sharing ideas and helping to support locally owned businesses during the pandemic.

The 15 Phoenix area women led restaurants participating in the JBF Women of AZ are……

Maya’s Cajun Kitchen
24 Carrots
Cotton & Copper

The Farish House
The Joy Bus Diner
Songbird Coffee House

FnB
Hana Japanese Eatery
Tracy Dempsey Originals

Fat Ox
The Market by Jennifer’s
Sweet Republic

The Cellar
Nonna Urban Eatery
The Breadfruit & Rum Bar

To see the menus & chefs, place an order and pick-up instructions head to their website.

The Gladly to host clam boil with local dream team collaboration.

The Gladly and chef Bernie Kantak are teaming up with local artisan food & drink purveyors for a clam boil Sunday August 19th. Chula Seafood, Wren House Brewing Co. and Cutino Sauce Co. join the fun for the New England style clam boil.

Mussels, clams and shrimp will be steamed and served with sausage, corn on the cob and more for a family style dining experience. This one-day only event will offer two seating’s at 1 and 3 p.m.

Gladly
garlic white wine clam in black pot on wooden tray in asian restaurant

Tickets for the clam boil are $40 all inclusive with beverage being sold separately.

Scotch dinner at The Gladly

If you can’t make it to the clam boil The Gladly will be hosting Glenfiddich and Balvenie scotch dinner on Saturday August. 25th. Chef Bernie’s innovative dishes will compliment the scotches for this multi-course dinner. The dinner starts at 7:00 p.m. and is $65++ per person. Reservations can be made by calling 602-759-8132.

To attend the Clam Boil and view both menus check out their website https://www.thegladly.com/menus#ClamBoil

The Gladly is at The Anchor Centre 2201 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix 85016.