Devour at Home, a virtual Devour Culinary Classic coming in February

2021 is almost here but we’re not out of the woods yet from Covid-19 so virtual get togethers are still happening in the new year. Continuing to support local restaurants Local First Arizona announced their annual Devour Culinary Classic is going online with Devour at Home the weekend of February 27-28.

Each day local chefs will prepare and have delivered a special prix-fixe meal to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. There will be a limited amount of meals offered with each meal being $200 and feeds 4 people. Each meal includes wine glasses, warming instructions, chef bios, a 2021 Devour at Home place mat and a commemorative thermal tote.

Chefs participating in Devour at Home include Danielle Leoni of The Breadfruit & Rum Bar, Stephen Jones of The Larder +Delta, Silvana Salcido Esparanza of Barrio Cafe and others. Attendees can show off their plating skills from home to win prizes selected by the chefs and other virtual experiences. The nationally recognized event plans to return in person when CDC guidelines allow.

The participating restaurants will receive 100% of all proceeds from the weekend’s event. You can order your meals starting on February 15th and get more information at https://www.devourphoenix.com/.

 

Arizona Good Food Expo continues to promote locally sourced foods

Arizona Farmer + Chef Connection is now the Arizona Good Food Expo and returns for its 10th year promoting Arizona sourced foods. This years event will be Monday August 26th at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort. The event brings Arizona farmers and food & beverage producers together under one roof to meet face to face with buyers. The event from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. is followed by a reception at the resorts signature restaurant, A Different Pointe of View.

“Changing the name to Arizona Good Food Expo better reflects the mission behind the event, to showcase Arizona’s best local food and build lasting relationships between food producers and wholesale buyers, but is more inclusive of the state’s broad range of food buyers who aren’t necessarily chefs,” says Emily Bell, Good Food Programs Manager at Local First Arizona Foundation.

Speakers at Arizona Good Food Expo

Over 75 vendors will provide samples and information for local restaurants, resorts and retail buyers. James Beard award-winner and “vegetable whisperer” Charleen Badman owner and chef of FnB will deliver the keynote speech. Other speakers include chefs Tamara Stanger of Tempe’s Cotton & Copper, Stephen Jones of the larder + delta and Shanti Ride, owner of Whipstone Farm.

“The Arizona Good Food Expo is the ideal setting to ensure the freshest Arizona-grown foods are being served on your plate – whether you shop at the grocery store, are eating at the school cafeteria, or dining out,” says Kimber Lanning, Founder of Local First Arizona Foundation, “The Expo makes it easier for our great chefs and food buyers to source local ingredients and be leaders in Arizona’s food scene. Sourcing Arizona’s homegrown foods is essential to build a healthier Arizona, and the relationships made at the Expo will leverage our agricultural bounty for the benefit of all.”

Tickets for the event are $25 for all day access and $99 for vendor packages. Vendor packages include 2 all day passes, reserved parking, table space and a listing in post event follow up. The deadline to purchase Vendor Packages is August 22nd. Information and purchasing tickets can be found at their website. The Pointe at Tapatio Cliffs Resort is at 11111 N. 7th St. Phoenix 85020.

 

Chef Stephen Jones Bite Box is full of local eats and treats.

What is chef Stephen Jones jonesin for when he’s not in the kitchen of his Larder + The Delta at Desoto Central Market or collaborating with other local chefs around town? Jones has been asked to pick his local favorites for the Summer 2017 Bite Box program from Bite Magazine. His collection of goodies looks as if he’s planning a picnic with a variety of foods and a candle.

What is a Bite Box?

The popular Bite Box program is a collection of Arizona produced foods and products picked by a locally notable person. 8-10 full size items are picked, packed and ready for pick-up shortly after the deadline to order. For this offering you can order until May 31st with pick up available in mid-June. Customers will be notified with details after their order has been placed.

“Our curators are on the forefront of Arizona’s makers community,” said Michelle Jacoby, publisher and editor-in-chief of Bite Magazine. “The Bite Box is a way for them to share their discoveries of amazing local products with us and our readers.”

What’s in Stephen’s box

Stephen’s Bite Box offers sweet & savory that combined can make for a small meal.

Tracy Dempsey Originals Fernet Branca Caramels

Crow’s Dairy Pepper Feta Cheese

McClendon’s Select Desert Blossom Honey

Radish “Beets Me” Cold Pressed Juice

Noble Bread Super Seed Loaf

Teaspressa Charles Grey Tea

Salted Serenity Sweets Salted Dark Chocolate Espresso Caramels

Burn Candle Company Candle

Past & future Bite Box’s

Aaron Chamberlin of St. Francis and Phoenix Public Market Cafe kicked off the 2017 program with Country Velador of Super Chunk Sweets & Treats and the soon to be opened New Wave Market (scroll down to see last week’s post) is planning her Bite Box for the Fall Edition and the Winter Edition will be the Editor’s Holiday Picks.

Bite Box’s are $65(plus tax) per box or you can get the 3 remaining 2017 Box’s for $185(plus tax) and can be purchased at https://biteboxaz.squarespace.com/