Caffe Vita joins the Phoenix coffee scene with 1st Arizona location

Phoenicians can’t get enough coffee and on Saturday July 30th there will be a new place to get your daily cup of go-go juice. Seattle’s Caffe Vita opens its ninth location nationwide and first in Arizona in the former Easley’s Fun Shop at 509 W. McDowell Rd. To celebrate their arrival, all day Saturday their giving away a FREE oat milk lattes.

Paying respect to the former tenant and its history in Phoenix, Caffe Vita is preserving several aspects of Easley’s including their signature bright yellow sign “Our business is fun”. Also renting out space in the building will be brewery Roses by the Stairs and men’s clothier Cave and Post.

“It was important for us to give a nod to the beloved business that once called this space home, and we worked with Carol Easley and family to preserve as much of the building as possible while constructing a space that’s uniquely Caffe Vita,” said Deming Maclise, Owner and CEO of Caffe Vita. “We think Phoenix residents will be pleasantly surprised at how much this space feels like an evolution of the location, rather than a takeover.”

Coffee and more at Caffe Vita

Beans will be roasted in a vintage Probat UG 22 and will be overseen by Director of Coffee Sam Spillman. Spillman is the 2019 United States Barista Champion and brings a wealth of knowledge and kindness to the job.

Guests can sip on signature coffee drinks such as Caffe Del Sol Espresso, single origin coffees and Oatdos. The latter is a cortado made with oat milk. Seasonal drinks including the Cold Brew Shandy and Prickly Pear tonic will be exclusive to the Phoenix location. To keep cool on hot days there will also be a selection of slushy drinks.

La Grande Orange Bake Shop, Yo Donut and Suss Pastries will provide locally made pastries and breakfast specialties. On the menu you’ll find a Prickly Pear Fruit Pocket, gluten free and vegan Passion Fruit donuts and more.

Caffe Vita will be open daily from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information visit their website.

A double header of food festivals coming February 5th & 6th

One ticket is all you need for two up-coming food festivals in downtown Chandler. The double header starts on Saturday February 5th with the Arizona Bao & Dumpling Festival then keep your tickets for Sunday’s Arizona Ice Cream and Donut Festival. Both festivals will be at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park with the Bao and Dumpling starting at 10 a.m. and the Ice Cream and Donut Festival starting at 11 a.m.

Food items can be purchased separately from admission with foods ranging from $5-$14 depending on the dish with many about $8. In addition to the main dishes other Asian foods, desserts and boba will be available. An anime marketplace featuring local artists will be on display.

Tickets for the double header are $14.99 for Early Admission at 11 a.m., $10 for General Admission at 1 p.m., the Night Market starting at 4 p.m. is $10 and Happy Hour admission at 7:30 p.m. is $6.00. Children 7-12 years old are $6 and those under 7 are free. The ticket prices do not include tax and a processing fee with nearby parking is free in lots and garages. To purchase your tickets follow this link and to stay up to date on both festivals follow them on their Facebook page.

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.

Roaring Fork starts all night happy hour

Memorial Day is the un-official start of summer but the official start of the Scottsdale restaurants popular summer promotion. Every Sunday- Thursday until labor Day, September 6th, guests can 10 dishes at $12.50 or less in the bar or saloon. $6 wines by the glass and $7 Roaring Cocktails are also being offered.

National Donut Day at Chin Up Donuts & Coffee

One of America’s favorite pastries is celebrating its day on Friday June 4th. The artisan donut shop has collaborated with Fired Pie and Lolo’s Chicken & Waffles to offer unique donut creations. The Fired Pie donut has a marinara sauce glaze, shredded mozzarella and their signature curling pepperoni – torched to crispy perfection. Lolo’s donut is a maple glazed brioche donut topped with Lolo’s crispy fried chicken and slice of waffle. A Creme Brulee donut has also been created for the occasion.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar to donate Navy Seals this weekend.

Starting today through Memorial Day the burger joint with locations in Scottsdale & Phoenix (and all other locations) will donate a part of sales from all sales to the Seal Legacy Foundation.

Kids eat free at Morning Squeeze in June

All kids 12 and under get a free meal from The Squeeze’s Kids Menu from June 1st-30th. Each meal comes with soda, juice or milk with each meal normally costing about $8.

Koibito Poke launches Signature Bowls

4 locations in Scottsdale, Arcadia and Chandler have added 2 new signature bowls for $13.99. Customers can get the new Koibito Bowl – Guest Choice of Base, Salmon, Hawaiian Tuna, Regular Tuna mixed in Sriracha Aioli topped with Cilantro, Edamame, Cucumbers, Seaweed Salad & Sesame Seeds. Tuna Trio Bowl – Guest Choice of Base, Spicy Tuna, Hawaiian Tuna, Regular Tuna mixed in Sweet Chili Lime Sauce topped with Edamame, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Pineapple, Sesame Seeds & Masago.

Duck Donuts opening 1st Arizona location in Chandler

Donut fans back east and in southern California know about the popularity of Duck Donuts. Arizona will have “Warm, Delicious Made-to-Order” donuts starting Saturday December 21st when the first Arizona franchise opens in Chandler.

The 1,053 square foot store will welcome their first customers at 8 a.m. at Fulton Ranch Towne Center at Arizona & Ocotillo. Customers will watch as their donuts go from dough to warm, delicious donuts then topped however you like. The vanilla cake donuts can be turned into donut sandwiches and donut sundaes to go with their signature coffees.

Franchisee Daniel Bruno says “While living in Charlotte, North Carolina, we vacationed to the Outer Banks while my wife was pregnant with our first child. She was craving sweets and I suggested Duck Donuts. While waiting in line you could smell the aroma of warm donuts and from that moment I was hooked. Once we moved back to Arizona, my wife was pregnant with our second child and craved Duck Donuts again! Once I realized we did not have a nearby location, I quickly started my inquiry into bringing the Duck Donuts brand to Arizona, and now we are officially ready to provide the Chandler community, friends and family our warm, delicious and made-to-order donuts.”

Chandler franchisee Daniel Bruno

Russ DiGilio founded Duck Donuts in 2006 in Duck, North Carolina. He decided to open the first shop when he couldn’t find warm, delicious donuts on the Outer Banks while on a family vacation. There are now 87 locations in 26 states and 3 countries with more on the way. Duck Donuts Chandler will be open 7 days a week at 4040 S. Arizona Ave. Suite 8. Find more about them at their Facebook page or the company website.

Donuts and pizza are in good supply this weekend in downtown Phoenix

It’s going to be a busy weekend in downtown Phoenix for fans of pizza and donuts. Tickets are still available on-line for both festivals at Margaret T. Hance Park. Click on the link for information about Saturday’s Phoenix Pizza Festival and below is what I know about this Sunday’s Downtown Donut Festival.

About 4,000 festival goers are expected on each day and Sunday’s donut festival will have 20 donut vendors give or take. Hurt’s Donuts, Alien Donut’s, The Beignet Babe and The Local Donut are a few of the local donut shops showing off their sweetened fried dough. Arizona Wilderness Brewing will be pouring their beers all weekend along with wines from Acrobat. Donut festival goers can sip on specialty coffee drinks and Mimosas. Lawn games, live music, a kid’s zone and a marketplace with local vendors will be part of the festivals.

Donut samples will be a $1 each and the festival will benefit the Downtown Phoenix Inc. DPI promotes the re-development of downtown Phoenix by supporting events and local businesses.

The donut festival starts 10 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $8 for entry after 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased only on-line at http://www.downtowndonutfest.com/

Maragret T. Hance Park is at 1202 N. 3rd St. Phoenix 85004.

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.

The Downtown Donut Festival is happening and its about time

It was only a matter of time before one of America’s favorite treats, the donut, got its own festival.  The first Downtown Donut Festival is from the folks that bring us the Phoenix Pizza Festival the day before making for a great foodie weekend. The donut festival will be on Sunday November 18th at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix from 11 a.m. -3 p.m.

Downtown Donut Festival

Donuts and more

Over 15 donut makers from around Phoenix will be frying up the dough and to a crowd expected to reach 2,000 people. Donuts will be sold for $1 per along with donut holes, donut samples and other donut creations in a multitude of flavors.

Enjoy the donuts then have fun at a Mimosa Bar, craft beer garden, wine tasting, lawn games and live music. The festival is for the whole family and their will be a craft zone for the kids.

There will also be a vendor marketplace for festival goers can get a head start on the holiday shopping season.

Downtown Donut Festival tickets

Tickets for the festival are available on-line at  https://www.downtowndonutfest.com/ for $8. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Downtown Phoenix Inc. which promotes downtown Phoenix by supporting local business’s and events.