Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

It’s a Shellabration at Chula Seafood on Saturday

The local fish monger & restaurant is shellabrating the 8th anniversary of “Rosie”, the original location opened in 2016 at Roosevelt & Hayden Rd. in Scottsdale. $2 buck shucks (oysters) and happy drink prices all day at all 3 locations. Visitors to Rosie will have other food specials all day long.

Restaurants getting an early start on Halloween

With ghosts & goblins heading out next Thursday night several local restaurants are getting a head start on the spooky & scary.

Hash Kitchen-Brunch After Dark” happens at the Chandler location on Saturday, October 26th from 6 – 10 p.m. Enjoy brunch dishes, eerie cocktails and the B.Y.O Bloody Mary bar along with DJ Iceman spinning the tunes, karaoke, best dressed costume contest, giveaways and prizes every hour. There is a $15 addmission which will be deducted from your final bill at the end of the night. Tickets can be purchased at this EventBrite link.

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey- The Melrose neighborhood restaurant has a special menu from Friday, October 25th-31st. Included on the spooky menu is….

Signature Dish ($21): Harvest Pork Belly – Featuring tender pork belly paired with a velvety kabocha puree, refreshing Asian pear, zesty mignonette, and a sprinkle of cilantro.

Specialty Cocktails ($14): Heatwave – Ignite your senses with a bold blend of Blanco tequila and green chile vodka, spiced up with Hellfire Bitters and a hint of pomegranate. Witch’s Brew – This spellbinding concoction is made of lemongrass ginger shochu and Midori, combined with refreshing aloe and cucumber. Finished with a splash of yuzu and lemon.

Catalyst Crafted Ales- Saturday, October 26th is for the dogs at the Tempe brewery. From 1 – 3 p.m. there will be Howl O’Ween pet costume contest with prizes, beer specials for pet parents and new brunch dishes from S.A.LT. A $10 donation for every entry will be donated to Tempe’s Lost Our Home Pet Rescue.

Wine Girl- The popular Scottsdale wine bar gets into the holiday spirit with themed cocktails.

Monster Mash Shot – Unleash your inner monster with this vibrant shot of strawberry winearita and agave tequila, rimmed with black sugar and topped with shimmering green glitter.

Bloody Mimosa – A chilling twist on a classic! This Bloody Mimosa features house prosecco filled with a fake syringe of grenadine, creating a gory yet glamorous drink perfect for spooky celebrations.

Harvest Fizz – This refreshing mix of bubbly prosecco and crisp apple cider is served in a coupe glass and topped with a sparkling gold glitter ice cube.

Hendry Wine Dinner at Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse

Wednesday, November 6th brings the wines from the Napa Valley producer to Carefree for a four-course dinner. The dinner starts at 6 p.m. and seats are $125++ per person and seats are limited and can be required reservations can be made by calling 602-374-4784.

1st Course: Pan-Seared Scallop with brown butter and smoked cauliflower puree paired with 2022 Hendry Barrel-Aged Chardonnay, Napa Valley

2nd Course: Seared Pork Tenderloin with cheesy grits, green beans and black cherry apple sauce paired with 2020 Hendry Pinot Noir, Napa Valley

3rd Course: Roasted Lamb Chop with creamy risotto, asparagus spears and cherry reduction paired with 2019 Hendry Block 28 Zinfandel, Napa Valley

4th Course: Prime NY Strip Steak with au gratin potatoes, Brussels sprouts and red wine demi-glace paired with 2022 Hendry HRW Cabernet, Napa Valley

Desert Course: Maria’s Chocolate Tort

Kierland Fine Art & Wine Festival this weekend

Kierland Commons welcome wineries from southern Arizona’s Willcox wine Country and more than 150 artists this Saturday & Sunday, October 26th & 27th. The two-day festival starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. and is free to enter. Those 21 and older can purchase wine tasting tickets for $30-$45 in advance and $35-$40 at the door. Proceeds from wine sales go to Horses Help.

Wine & Candy tasting at GenuWine Arizona

With kids trick or treating, adults can head to the downtown Phoenix wine bar to taste 4 wines with 4 candies from 6-8 p.m. on Halloween night. Tickets are $20 and you get 20% off wine purchased from the tasting that night.

 

Holy Cannoli! Maggiore’s to open The Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market

Maggiore’s family restaurants dates back to the late 1970’s in Phoenix. Tomaso led the way with his iconic restaurant Tomaso’s Italian Restaurant at Camelback and 32nd St. and his son Joey has learned how to open successful restaurants. In mid February, Joey & Christina Maggiore and partner Flora Tersigni introduce their newest concept The Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market.

All photos courtesy of Liz Lastra & Evolve Public Relations

The Sicilian Baker joins the groups Hash Kitchen and The Sicilian Butcher, favorites among Phoenix restaurants. The Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market will be located next door to The Sicilian Butcher in Phoenix.

Build-your-own- cannoli -bar

Sign me up for the build-your-own cannoli bar along with fresh pasta, meats and cheeses from the market. Master pastry chef Giovanni La Rosa, a cousin of Maggiore is working with them from Sicily to create specialized desserts and pastries.

The signature cannoli bar will feature 10 flavored creams for customers to choose from. Mix and match and choose your cannoli shell dipped or not we can have fun here. Small to foot long shells will be available.The Sicilan Baker

“This is definitely something one-of-a-kind in the United States,” said Maggiore. “We’re bringing Sicily to the footsteps of Phoenix with what we’re building next to the Tatum and Greenway location.”

The spacious restaurant designed by Cristina features black porcelain tile, sliding barn doors and colorful food cases. Smell and taste fresh cassattas, sfinci (Italian treats) from pastry chefs as you linger between the 2 concepts.

Expanding the Sicilian Baker

The Maggiore’s have their eyes on 2 additional locations for the Sicilian Baker. The will open next door to the Sicilian Butcher in Chandler and have eyes on the west valley.

The new bakeries are planning for a 2019 opening with more to follow throughout Arizona.

The Maggiore’s should open The Sicilian Butcher in Chandler(3151 W. Frye Rd.) in March 2019 with the bakery to follow.

 

Scottsdale restaurants gear up for Russo & Steele auto auction

2019 starts relatively quick here in Scottsdale with many of our valley’s activities kicking off. Before the PGA and MLB take the stage car enthusiasts flock to Scottsdale for 2 weeks in January. Russo & Steele start the auction season off on January 12th at Salt River Fields then Barrett- Jackson returns to north Scottsdale.

Whether you’re on your way to the auction or just bid on your dream car you need to eat and there are plenty of local restaurants on the way.

All photos courtesy of Kassidy McDonald & Evolve Public Relations

Local eateries near Russo & Steele

Within a few miles there are plenty of Scottsdale restaurants to feed all appetites.

Babbo Italian Eatery– 8840 E. Talking Stick Way. Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Fired Pie at Mountain View 9619 N. Hayden Rd. #101
Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Ph. 480.948.0808

Pomo Pizzeria Scottsdale8977 N. Scottsdale Rd.

Fired Pie at Fashion Square Mall. 7014 E. Camelback Rd,
Scottsdale, AZ 85251. Ph 480.874.4203

Hash Kitchen– 8777 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale 85253.

U.S. Egg- North Scottsdale- 7119 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale 85253

Headed to Barrett-Jackson

Some of the same restaurants have location further north and can accommodate those heading to Barrett-Jackson at Westworld.

Grimaldi’s at The Scottsdale Quarter.- 15147 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale. 85254

Twin Peaks– 8787 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. Scottsdale 85260

BLK Live– 7301 E. Butherus Dr. Scottsdale 85260

Fired Pie at Raintree- 14740 N. Northsight Blvd. Scottsdale 85260.

Fired Pie at Zocollo Plaza– 15425 N. Scottsdale Rd. 85254.

 

 

 

 

The Maggiore Group to open a 2nd location of The Sicilian Butcher

One the heels of the successful opening of The Sicilian Butcher, chef Joey Maggiore and wife Cristina of The Maggiore Group have announced a 2nd location in Chandler. The new location is scheduled to open in December and will be at Primegate at Fashion Center. The Maggiore’s were impressed with modern architecture of Primegate that fits with their classic Italian and modern concept.

“In addition to the incredible location, what really drew me to PRIMEGATE over other possibilities was that the architecture and setting was unlike anything else we’d seen. I thought about how positively that would reflect our brand too,” Maggiore said. “This is a rare project where we have the chance to create a banner location that will generate buzz in the community. We will be able to provide a top-notch neighborhood experience for our customers, whether they are lunching out, dining in or taking out, all in a high-end, high exposure destination.”

The Sicilian Butcher decor

The 4,600 square foot restaurant features roll-up doors that leads to a large outdoor patio for dining and lounge area. Water features and art create a lively and energetic atmosphere for guests stopping in for a drink or staying for a meal.

A signature Build-Your-Cannoli Bar

The Sicilian Butcher in Chandler will be the first to feature a build-your-own cannoli bar in the market. The line forms behind me because cannoli is one of my favorite desserts.

Similarly the northeast Phoenix restaurant is known for its fresh made in-house pastas and charcuterie boards along with craft meatballs. The food at The Sicilian Kitchen combines a modern twist with old world traditions. Guests can expect the same when the new restaurant opens in Chandler.

The restaurant will offer to-go meals and a marketplace and will serve classic Italian wines.

The Sicilian Kitchen is the fourth concept of the family owned Maggiore Group with restaurants in Phoenix & San Diego.  The others are Hash Kitchen, Tomaso’s When in Rome and the Phoenix classic Tomaso’s which opened in 1977.

The Sicilian Kitchen at Primegate will be at 3151 W. Frye Rd. Chandler 85226. For more information visit their website.