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.

$6 pitas all day at Pita Jungle on National Pita Day

Tuesday, March 29th at participating locations get a Gyro, Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Shawarma, Falafel, Grilled Chicken Pita and the Philly Chicken or Steak Pita when you dine-in or when you order online. Wraps not included.

Peace, Love & Bubbles every Sunday at The Hot Chick

Nothing like a cooling off from a hot chicken sandwich or warm temperatures than a bottle of cold refreshing champagne. That’s the new plan every Sunday from 12 – 3 p.m. at the Old Town Scottsdale restaurant. Get a bottle of champagne for a $1 with the purchase of an entree.

The KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival is tomorrow

It’s getting hot in Chandler for Saturday’s festival with plenty of BBQ, cold beer and country music superstars taking the stage. Tumbleweed Park now hosts the festival as it outgrew its original location. Tickets are still available online and at the door.

Z’ Tejas introduces Build Your Own Bloody Mary

The Scottsdale and Chandler locations now let guests choose from 7 Bloody Mary’s during breakfast & weekend brunch. Start with the house-made classic or spicy base and choose from Bacon-wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno, Southwest Slider, Candied Jalapeno bacon, Sriracha beer battered shrimp, Chipotle-glazed chicken tender, Diablo egg – spiced up hard-boiled egg or Z’Sausage.

Win a trip to San Diego courtesy of Lenny & Larry

With the weather in Phoenix hitting 90+ degrees this weekend you may want to think about a summer getaway. Cookie maker Lenny & Larry’s are launching their Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookie-fied Bar Sweepstakes at 9:00 a.m. Monday, March 28th. Enter to win until 5:00 p.m. June 6th for the grand prize of a trip for 4 to San Diego. The trip includes air transportation, 2 night hotel stay and an inside look at The San Diego Zoo.

Don’t forget to check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival expands to Tumbleweed Park in March

The popular KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival returns to Chandler with more than 20 BBQ pit masters showing off their smoked meats and more on Saturday, March 26th. The festival has outgrown previous years festivals and the 2022 festival is being held at Tumbleweed Park. The park will accommodate more people, vendors and country music superstars Lee Brice, Parker McCollum, Kameron Marlowe and Jacob Morris.

“We’ve worked so closely with everyone from KNIX to the City of Chandler and we couldn’t be more excited to drive the tens of thousands of family-based country music and BBQ fanatics to this beautiful and centralized location, delivering a true festival experience for all,” said Mike O’Donnell Director of Partnerships at Forty8 Live!.

The family friendly festival will also include a VIP lounge, X-Game skateboarding, BMX bike stunts, a kid’s zone and a March Madness lounge. “We have an incredible line-up of some of the hottest names in country music as well as legendary Barbecue Pit Masters for this annual signature event in Chandler, Arizona,” said David Horen Director of Events at Forty8 Live!.

The festival starts at 12 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. with tickets available online with General Admission $20 and $35 at the door. First responders and military personnel get $15 off at the door with i.d. Kid’s under 12 are free. VIP tickets are $225 and include catered BBQ, private restrooms, shaded seating, access to the front of the stage and more. Kid’s VIP access is $100 and tickets do not include food & drinks.

The KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival is produced by event producers Forty8 Live! in partnership with KNIX Country 102.5 and part of the days proceeds will be donated to Greater Cause Foundation which helps with critical funding for numerous non-profits around Arizona.

Don’t forget to check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

The largest BBQ event west of Texas moves to Tumbleweed Park

Update: Postponed, no new date set!

When the 11th annual KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival opens the gates at 12 noon on Saturday March 28th it will be at new location. The BBQ event has moved to the larger Tumbleweed Park in Chandler with 50,000 people expected to attend.

The festival is attracting pit-masters from around Arizona and the country for what’s been awarded “outstanding event of the year”. Over 12 cocktails and beers will be showcased to wash down your spicy, sweet & tangy smoked meats and more. Local BBQ joints include Bobby Q’s, Can’t Stop Smokin’ BBQ, Farm Boy Foods and Tom’s BBQ.BBQ event

Lee Brice and Craig Morgan will co-headline the event presented by iHeart Media and 102.5 KNIX. Country music fans will enjoy non-stop music from multiple stages throughout the 10 hour event. Country superstars Locash and Caylee Hammack will perform along with local talent Jim Bachman & the Day Drinkers, Blaine Long, Drew Cooper and Jacob Morris. Festival goers can enjoy the “For the Love of BBQ” Lounge, VIP tent, Kid Kick Back Zone or other areas.

“This is an incredible musical line-up,” said Landon Evans, owner of HDE Agency. “We are thrilled to partner with iHeart and KNIX to be able to bring this star-studded festival to Chandler for one of our largest events of the year.”

Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $15 for General Admission up to $150 for VIP. To purchase tickets or get more information for the largest BBQ event west of Texas head to their website. Tumbleweed Park is 745 E. Germann Rd. in Chandler.