Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

Afternoon Tea for Mother’s Day at STK Steakhouse

Still looking for a restaurant to take mom on Sunday? The cool Scottsdale restaurant hosts a traditional tea starting with a glass of  champagne ($89 & $99) or prosecco ($69) followed by a selection of hot tea and tower of petite sandwiches, scones and desserts. Tea infused cocktails are offered for $21 each.

Over Easy celebrates National Mimosa Day

The breakfast cocktails are $2 off flights next Tuesday, May 16th at all 11 Arizona locations. Guests can choose 4 flavors including orange, peach, guava, mango, strawberry or raspberry during breakfast or lunch.

National Burger Month features at Kona Grill

The month of May and “America’s Favorite Grill” celebrates one of our favorite comfort foods with 3 burger features. A $7.99 lunch and take-out burger, Kona Sliders for $6 at happy hour and a Chophouse Burger are available throughout the month.

The much anticipated Course Restaurant is now open

Personal chef Cory Oppold’s new restaurant is open and taking reservations near Scottsdale Rd. & Shea Blvd. The highly acclaimed chef and Food Network’s “Chopped” winner serves a 5 course tasting menu Tuesday and Wednesday’s for $135 and 10-course menu Thursday-Saturday for $190. Wines paired by sommelier Nick Padua are additional an additional charge. May 28th Oppold will debut his Sunday brunch, Morning Would. His take on brunch favorites will be served in 6-courses from 10 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. for $75.

Spitz Mediterranean opens its first location Arizona

Desert Ridge Marketplace is where you can find healthy and modern Mediterranean street food found around Europe. Wraps, gyros, rice salads & bowls, falafel, hummus and more from this California based concept. Started almost 15 years ago when a couple of college friends who studied and traveled in Europe wanted to bring this type of food home to the U.S. Serving sangria, beer & wine Spitz is participating in DRM’s Sips & Stroll program allowing guests to take their drinks outside the restaurant. The fast casual restaurant is located on the east end near the AMC Theaters.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

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.

Pillsbury Wine Co. & Wild AZ Cuisine pair up for 2 nights

In conjunction with the Willcox Wine Festival, the winery and Chef Brett Vibber host a four-course dinners next Friday and Saturday May 20th & 21st. The dinners will be at Pillsbury’s Willcox vineyard and wines will be available for purchase. Dinner start at 6 p.m. and seats are $65 per person and can be reserved by calling Valerie at 949-466-1054.

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers donates to Barrow Neurological

Celebrating National Burger Month all 12 locations will donate a $1 of each weekly specialty burger sold throughout the month. $1 of each Michelob Ultra 22oz. draft will also be donated to the Ivy Brain Tumor Center and Barrow Neurological Foundation. May 9 – May 15: Santa Fe Burger. Pepper Jack, Pickled Red Onion, Green Chile Relish, Chipotle Aioli. May 16 – 22: Asian Burger. Asian Slaw, Sriracha Mayo, BBQ Sauce. May 23 – 31: Mushroom Burger. Swiss, Mushrooms, Bacon, Teriyaki Sauce. Each week’s burgers are $15 and include a side of house made chips.

Barnett Vineyards wines poured at Hearth ’61 Sunday Supper Club

The May 15th dinner also welcomes Pat Duncan, an organic farming pioneer for a five course dinner from Chef Wiley including the best from Pat’s farm. Sourced from their 40 acres atop Spring Mountain the wines showcase the characteristics of grapes grown in Napa Valley’s higher elevations. Dinner is starts at 6 p.m. and seats for this special dinner are $189++ per person with reservations required.

New Summer menu now available at Z’ Tejas

Until September guests can enjoy new dishes from Executive Chef Diego Bolanos throughout the menu at the Scottsdale and Chandler restaurants. Crab Artichoke Dip, Berry Steak Salad, Caribbean Chicken & Mango Coconut Cheesecake Parfait are a few of the new offerings. New craft cocktails include a Paleta Margarita, Michelada, Mojito and a Margarita Flight.

Sid’s Garage opens Monday, May 15th in north Phoenix

The restaurant known for over the top burgers and boozy shakes opens their first Arizona location at Desert Ridge Marketplace. Check out what to expect at this post from last month.

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.

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.

May the Fourth be with you

Star Wars fan get it and you can too with local food and drink specials next Wednesday May 4th in downtown Mesa. Myke’s Pizza will have a several Star Wars pizza & dessert specials including Dago- Bahn Mi Pizza. Pair Cupworks will offer Chewbaccaccino ($4.25) with chocolate syrup, espresso and milk and other coffee & tea specials. Cider Corps will be pouring their Mango-lorian Cider Slushie in the cantina.

Local restaurants say thanks to teachers and nurses

Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week starts Monday, May 2nd and they can save money at these local restaurants until May 6th.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria get 15% off when they dine-in or take-out at all Phoenix area locations.

Koibito Poke is offering 25% all orders.

Eat Up Drive In in Arcadia gives 15% off for the week.

Derby Day at Match Market & Bar

Every first Saturday in May is the Kentucky Derby and the downtown Phoenix restaurant in the Found:RE Hotel is offering signature cocktails and themed brunch buffet starting at 11 a.m. Oversized hats and Derby Day fashions are encouraged. Tickets are $65++ per person and can be bought on Eventbrite.

Weekly burger specials for National Burger Month at Miracle Mile Deli

All month of May get a 1/3 lb fresh beef burger, fries and pickle for only $11 at the midtown Phoenix deli.

2-7 Try the Uptown Burger with pepper jack cheese, avocado, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and chipotle.

9-14 Taste the Ellis Island Burger is served with your choice of aged cheddar, imported Swiss, classic American, provolone or pepper jack cheese along with green leaf lettuce, tomato and red onion.

16-21 Enjoy the Jack & Patty Melt gets grilled onions, pepper jack cheese and Miracle Mile dressing served on grilled rye bread.

23-28 Its time for the Broadway Burger. This incredible cheeseburger is topped with aged cheddar, crispy bacon, green leaf lettuce, tomato, red onion and Miracle Mile dressing.

Babbo Italian Eatery raised a lot of money for the Seena Magowitz Foundation.

A follow -up to a post from earlier this month as the restaurant raised over $105,000 on April 7th that will be donated to pancreatic cancer awareness and research.

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.

Market Street Kitchen and Liberty Station celebrate National Burger Day all month

Keeler Hospitality Group, the family owned company that owns north Scottsdale’s Liberty Station and Market Street Kitchen love a good burger just as much as I do. So much so that they’ve decided to celebrate National Burger Day for the entire month of May.

Weekly burger specials

Each restaurant will run a weekly special burger for $16 and the ultimate burger deal on the 28th. Below is the weekly line-up of burgers for each restaurant. Both restaurants open daily at 11 a.m. to accommodate your burger craving.

Market Street Kitchen

Chorizo Burger with a chorizo-bacon patty, salsa fresca, cheesy fondue and avocado crema. (May 1-May 6)                                                           Black and Blue Burger with a blackened spiced burger topped with Maytag blue cheese, bacon and Worcestershire-lime aioli. (May 7-May 13)                                                                                                                                   “Breakfast for Lunch” Burger featuring a fried egg, fried bacon, zesty Brie cheese spread, lettuce and tomato (May 14-May 20)              Chili Cheese Burger with house-made chili piled on an opened-faced burger with Tillamook cheddar, sour cream and tobacco onions. (May 21-May 27)

ALL DAY National Burger Day Special — $5 MSK Burger or $9 when served with a glass of house wine or draft beer. (May 28)

Market Street Kitchen is at 20825 N. Pima Rd. (DC Ranch Market Street) Scottsdale 480-278-7044 http://marketstreetkitchen.com/

Liberty Station                                                                                                               

Chili Cheese Burger with house-made chili piled onto an opened-faced burger with Tillamook cheddar, sour cream and tobacco onions. (May 1-May 6)                                                                                                Old Smokey with a smoked burger patty, chipotle aioli, smoked Gouda cheese and crispy bacon. (May 7-May 13)                                              Southwestern Burger featuring fire-roasted green chilies, garlic aioli, pepper jack cheese, and sourdough bread. (May 14-May 20)                                                                                                                                Chorizo Burgerwith a chorizo-bacon patty, salsa fresca, cheesy fondue and avocado crema. (May 21-May 27)

ALL DAY National Burger Day Special — Tavern Burger for just $5, or $9 when served with a glass of house wine or draft beer. (May 28)

Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse is at 34522 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale 480-595-9930  http://libertystationtavern.com/