Desert Botanical Garden to host Devour Culinary Classic

There’s no better way to spend a February weekend in Phoenix than noshing and sipping on locally made foods and beverages while meandering through the beautiful desert fauna. It’s for this reason that the 17th annual Devour Culinary Classic returns to Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden on Saturday and Sunday February 22nd – 23rd with tickets going on sale to the public on Saturday, November 2nd. Tickets went on sale this week for members of Local First Arizona, Desert Botanical Garden and Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance.

The three organizations have again partnered with more than 70 of Arizona’s top food and beverage purveyors in the outdoor setting that will include live music and art. Chefs, sommeliers and other purveyors will serve up creative dishes paired with wines and beers from Arizona and beyond.

The annual event has been recognized by the New York Times as the “Best Southwestern Culinary Festival” and has also garnered both local and national accolades. The goal of Devour Culinary Classic is to bring local and national awareness of Arizona’s diverse and delicious culinary scene.

Early Entry tickets are $225 per day and allow for 10:00 a.m. entry, priority parking and two tickets to a future visit to the Desert Botanical Garden. General Admission tickets are $150 per day with entry to start at 11:30 a.m. The event goes on until 3 p.m. on both days. All ticket holders will receive a reusable commemorative glass & yoke and access to the Maverick Wine Sales area to purchase discounted wines. Previous year’s tickets have sold out in only a few weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets visit Devour’s website.

Foodies don’t care about a little rain at Day 1 of Devour Culinary Classic

Many of Saturday’s events around Phoenix were cancelled but don’t mess with foodies and our food festivals but that’s what the weather gods did on day 1 of Devour Culinary Classic. A rainy morning forced Desert Botanical Garden staff, Local First Arizona and purveyors to scramble to but it didn’t deter those in attendance. Umbrella, tents and raincoats were busted out to minimize the rain and puddles.

Here are a few of the many highlights of day 1. Be sure to check back for sunnier day 2 and for more images and commentary check my Instagram @SandyWass  Facebook page & Twitter @SandyWasserman

Bar Magic serving up Hurricane Cocktail in the VIP Lounge with Mardi Gras theme
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Prep & Pastry Churro Cronut & Blueberry Scone
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Scandinavian Sushi coming to Scottsdale later this year from Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey
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AZ Wilderness PB & J Burger
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A leaky tent didn’t dampen the spirits of L’Auberge de Sedona Chef Morgan serving her delicious dessert
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T. Cooks Arcadia Orange Bombe- white chocolate, Grande Marnier mouss, hazelnut & citrus curd
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Dust Cutter Restaurant’s confit pork belly, masa, chorizo & roasted poblano gremolata
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Lincoln Steakhouse Surf & turf- Lobster Escargot & Beef Tongue Popover
Love seeing all the color exhibits and art at the Desert Botanical Garden

Local chefs celebrate Devour Culinary Classic’s 10th anniversary

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.”

culinary
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.

Ticket sales and packages

General admission tickets go on-sale on Monday Nov. 9th at https://classic.devourphoenix.com/tickets

Tickets for 1 day are $105 and include all service fees. A new two-day VIP ticket package is $205 with entrance allowed 90 minutes early.

More details will become available in coming months on their website.

We all won at Devour Culinary Classic

As the weekend is here and plans are being made for baseball games, food festivals and more I’m still reminiscing about last weekends Devour Culinary Classic . Moving to the Desert Botanical Garden for the first time it looked to me that all was good on Sunday when I got a chance to go.The great weather, spacious & pretty DBG,  great food and people made for a winning combination. There was also a little competitive spirit on both days as 8 judge’s walked through all 10 tasting zones tasting food from many if not all the restaurants participating.

Saturday’s winners

The judges picked these dishes as their winners on Saturday.

Excellence in Presentation 
  • Winner: Cibo
    • Arancini no.1 – Pan Fried rice balls with mozzarella and green peas
    • Arancini no. 2- Pam fried rice balls with mozzarella and lamb
  • Runner Up: Phoenix Public Market
    • Arizona Citrus Salad – goat cheese, pistachios, local dates, sweet shallot honey vinaigrette, micro greens
Excellence in Innovation
  • Winner: True Food Kitchen
    • Grilled Cauliflower Planks – black walnut pesto, truffle tahini, aleppo chili
  • Runner Up: Helio Basin Brewery
    • Venison Sausage
Excellence in Taste 
  • Winner: Gallo Blanco
    • Flapjacks with Plantains Foster
  • Runner Up: Dust Cutter
    • Huevos Rancheros / Sonoran Native Tepary Bean Chili, Ground bison, quail egg and chorizo espuma

      Differnt Pointe of View’s runner-up Muscovy Duck

Sunday’s winners

Good to see Sedona & Flagstaff restaurants Elote Cafe and Shift  catching the attention of the judge’s.

Excellence in Presentation 

  • Winner: Kai
    • Smoked Ocean Trout, Squash Escabeche, Huitlacoche Chumeth, Black Tepary Miso.
  • Runner Up: FnB / The Inbetweens
    • Fresh vegetable salad with sugar snap peas and country ham

Excellence in Innovation

  • Winner: Shift
    • Beef tongue Philly Cheese steak
  • Runner Up: The Dressing Room
    • Tako Yaki Hushpuppy with a Tomato Sriracha Jam

Excellence in Taste 

  • Winner: Elote Cafe
    • Spicy Anasazi beans with local heritage barley and mesquite corn bread
  • Runner Up: Different Point of View
    • Grain Mustard Soy Grilled Muscovy Duck; Sweet Corn Milk Griddle Cakes & Bliss Maple Drizzle , Kumquat Shallot Jam, Duck Cracklings, Basil Oil

Excellence in Distinction: FnB

Runner up: Kai

 

The who, what, where & when for the 2018 Devour Culinary Classic

Details are starting to emerge about one of the highly anticipated food festivals of the southwest as the 2018 Devour Culinary Classic is less than 7 months away.

This 2 day food event takes place on Saturday and Sunday March 3rd & 4th 2018 and moves this year to the Desert Botanical Garden on the Phoenix/Scottsdale border. Skip breakfast as this annual event opens its doors each day at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.

“Just like all the participants in the Devour Culinary Classic, the Garden is proud to fly the ‘locally grown’ flag,” says Desert Botanical Garden Executive Director Ken Schutz. “We look forward to hosting the event in 2018.”

Local First Arizona started Devour Culinary Classic almost 10 years ago and has become a model food event around the country for supporting locally owned restaurants, wineries, brewers and more.

“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 Kimber Lanning, founder of the event and Executive Director of Local First Arizona. “We believe we’ll be even better suited to showcase Arizona’s one-of-a-kind culinary culture with Desert Botanical Garden as our host.”

Devour Culinary Classic chef talent

As of the end of August, over 30 chefs from around Arizona are confirmed to strut their stuff with the list continuing to grow. A few of the names you can expect to see are…..

Bernie Kantak The Gladly & Citizen Public House, Danielle Leoni The Breadfruit & Rum Bar, Kat and Brad Moore Short Leash Hot Dog, Jeff Smedstad Elote Cafe, Tamara Stanger Helio Basin Brewing Co. (Winner of last year’s Devour Excellence Award)

Ticket packages, Week of Experiences and more.

Before the Classic goes off there are two events leading up to the festive weekend. The Devour Classic Bartending Competition shakes things up on Fri. February 25th from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. and the Seven Chefs Singh Along prepare a meal under the stars on Wed. February 28th from 5:30- 8:30 p.m. More details can be found on event links.

Tickets go on sale for members of Local First Arizona localist program, Desert Botanical Garden and Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance to all events of November 1st, 2017 and to the public on November 13th, 2017. Tickets are limited to all events and non-members should consider membership to above groups for pre-sale tickets.

3 ticket packages are available for those that want to experience much of what the event has to offer. Early entry, Cooking demonstrations, access to wine and spirits tents, meet and greet with chefs and more are available. The single day packages are The Tasting Package $105The Connoisseur Package $165 and The VIP Package $205. See ticket link above for individual package perks.

As details continue to become available be sure to check the website for updates.

 

 

 

Beer dinners are all the rage as El Palacio pairs with Mudshark Brewing & Gertrude’s does dinner with Grand Canyon Brewing Co.

Beer pairing dinners are becoming more popular as people see how well beer pairs with food and how they can be a good value as compared to wine pairing dinners. Not to mention how well a cold beer goes down on a hot summer evening. Below are 2 dinners happening next Wednesday, July 17th in the Phoenix area.

Starting at 7 p.m. El Palacio www.epchandler.com in Chandler will be pairing beers from Mudshark Brewing Company out of Lake Havasu AZ. For only $20 you get 5 courses of gourmet dishes along with 5 hand crafted beers. The “off the menu” summer creations are listed below and give a great chance to the consumer how well beer pairs with food.

7 Layer Salsa—a Mexican salsa creation of epic proportions with layer upon layer of goodness including salsa fresco, salsa picante, beans, crème, guacamole, queso and rice paired with Mudshark Brewing Up River Lager.

Summer Salad of heirloom tomatoes and Oaxaca cheese with strawberry habanero dressing. This dish is paired with Scorpion Amber Ale.

Steamed Mahi Mahi Taco paired with Desert Magic IPA.

Mexican Kabob of shrimp, chicken and steak served with a beer infused salsa verde will pair perfectly with Belgian Style White Ale. Finish off this delicious summer spread with dessert!

Raspberry Beer Infused Flan and will be served with Mudshark Brewing Mudsberry Raspberry Wheat.

Reservations are recommended & can be made by calling El Palacio at (480) 802-5770 or RSVP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/elpalaciochandler.

El Palacio is open Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and is located at 2950 E. Germann Road, Chandler, AZ 85249

Grand Canyon Brew logo
On the same evening at 6:30 p.m. Williams AZ’s Grand Canyon Brewing Company www.grandcanyonbrewery.com will be bring their new Flavor Bomb Brews to Gertrude’s, the new restaurant at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. This 4 course dinner is $50 plus tax and gratuity and the pairings are as follows…

Charred Dry Aged Beef Carpaccio paired with GCB Shaggy Bock

Grilled Spicy Quail with Blue Cheese paired with GCB Hop Bomber India Pale Ale

Roasted Swine with Crispy Fingerlings, Heirloom Tomato, Roasted Corn and Salsa Verde which will pair perfectly with GCB Sunset Amber Ale

Dime Store Banana Split paired with GCB Coffee Bean Stout

These Flavor Bomb beers should pair nicely with Gertrude’s farm to table ingredients and seating is limited. For reservations call 480-719-8600

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. Visit www.gertrudesrestaurant.net for more information