Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

Arizona’s oldest deli partner’s with the state’s oldest theatre.

On Wednesday May 10th, Phoenix’s Miracle Mile Deli is donating a portion of the day’s meals to the Phoenix Theatre Company’s non-profit “Partners That Heal”. It’s part of the deli’s 74th anniversary celebration and they’re offering a $19.49 Special on the 10th. Enjoy a pastrami, brisket or corned beef sandwich and a draft beer OR piece of pie for just $19.49. They will also giveaway $100 gift cards every hour from 12-7 p.m.

Speaking of gift cards, until June 17th the deli helps celebrate moms, dads, grads & teachers for those who buy $100 gift cards with the chance to win bonus gift cards valued between $20-$100.

Phoenix City Grille hosts Suntory whiskey pairing dinner

Next Friday May 12th, the Uptown Phoenix restaurant hosts a four course dinner paired with Japanese whiskey and bourbon. After your Welcome Cocktail enjoy Seared Sea Scallop, 5 Spice Copperstate Ranch Beef Tenderloin and more from the restaurant’s culinary team. Seats are $175++ person and include a custom engraved bottle of Phoenix City Grille Maker’s Mark Bourbon. To reserve your seat for the dinner that starts at 6 p.m. email Brtittnee Reed or call 602-510-3001.

The Arizona wine community celebrates wine pioneer Bob Lynch

On Saturday May 13th Pillsbury Wine Co. and Page Spring Cellars celebrate the man who had a great impact on the Arizona wine industry prior to his death. The University Club at Monte Vista & 3rd St in Phoenix will host the event from 6-8 p.m. that will include wine paired with tapas and a silent auction with select wines from Bob’s wine cellar. Historian Erik Berg will speak about how Bob helped in having the Arizona wine laws changed in 2006. Tickets are $75 per person and per Bob’s wishes will be donated to the Robert S Lynch Arizona Wine Legacy Fund.

Mesquite Fresh Street Mex partners with Phoenix Rising FC

The locally owned fast casual maker of tacos, burritos, bowls and more is an official partner of Arizona’s only football club for the 2023 season. Mesquite will benefit from the Rising’s promotional activities including posters, video boards, game day signage and more. Fans will benefit by getting free taco cards at home matches and 15% off in store purchases at their new 40th & Washington St. location. Mesquite also provides up to $6,000 worth of meal credits to the team’s players and staff.

Serrano’s May food & drink specials

If you’re still looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo today you can get house margaritas and $4 16oz. drafts of Mexican beer when you dine in any of their 4 locations. All month long the locations in Mesa (2), Chandler and Queen Creek offer three specials. A portion of the proceeds of the specials will be donated to Mission of Mercy Arizona (MOM), a local non-profit that provides free primary healthcare and prescription medications to uninsured Arizonans.

Mangonada: A sweet and spicy mango margarita mixture with Chamoy and Tajin, served in a Tajin-rimmed glass. $6.99

Sonoran Spring Rolls: Serrano’s version of a spring roll filled with a mixture of ground beef, chorizo, corn, black bean salsa and cheese topped with a spicy lime crema. Served with a side salad. $10.99

Dessert Nachos: A layer of house-made buñuelos topped with mixed berries, cheesecake sauces, chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, whipped cream and a sprig of mint. $8.99

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

Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival is back March 21st and 22nd

Downtown Camp Verde is getting ready for people of all ages for the 20th annual Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival co-hosted by the Verde Valley Wine Consortium and the town on Saturday and Sunday March 21st & 22nd. The festival draws people from around Arizona that will feature 15 local wineries along with a variety of pecans. Festival goers can enter a Pecan pie eating contest, enjoy a cold beer in the beer garden, dance to live music, visit local artists and purchase food from local food trucks. It’s one of the festivals coming up that feature Arizona wines.

“What started as a great way to celebrate two local products of the region has turned into an annual tradition that now draws thousands of attendees to our town,” said Michael Marshall, Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Manager. “We now have more wineries than ever, our famous Pecan Pie contest, live music throughout each day and more food and craft vendors – which means we are also expecting our biggest crowds in the festival’s 20-year history.”

 A few of the wineries pouring wine include Burning Tree Cellars, Carlson Creek Vineyards and Page Spring Cellars. The festival is FREE for all ages to attend but those looking to taste wine need to purchase tickets. Early bird tickets are $20 on-line and $25 at the door. Included are a commemorative glass and 6 tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets can be purchased.

Saturday the festival goes from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 75 E. Hollamon St. Camp Verde 86322. For more information visit their website.

 

AZ Barrels Bottles & Brews returns for year two at Salt River Fields

Over 30 of Arizona’s favorite breweries, wineries and distillers return to the concourse at Salt River Fields for the 2nd annual AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews festival. Fans can taste samples of Arizona producers who continue to gain national recognition and pile up awards on Saturday November 23rd from 2-5 p.m. Arizona Craft Brewers Guild is co-hosting this year’s event in its continued efforts to promote Arizona’s craft beer industry.

A few of those pouring their products include…

  • Wren House Brewing Co.
  • Arizona Wilderness Brewing CO.
  • Grand Canyon (beer & spirits)
  • OHSO (beer & spirits)
  • San Tan (beer & spirits)
  • Elgin Distillery (wine & spirits)
  • Superstition Meadery (spirits)
  • Cider Corp (wine)
  • Page Springs Cellars (wine)
  • Wild Tonic Hard Jun Kombucha

Local food trucks will be on hand providing food for purchase and lawn games are on hand to play in between sips and bites.

A limited amount of tickets are on sale at the AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews website. General Admission tickets are $50 and include 12 sample tickets. Need an extra hour (1 p.m. entry) to taste you favorites then pick up a VIP ticket for $65. Designated Driver tickets are $19 and get you a swag bag and entry to win Spring Training tickets.

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is at 7555 N. Pima Rd. Scottsdale

 

 

 

 

6th annual Tilted Earth Music & Wine Festival returns to Verde Valley

To celebrate the Summer Solstice, Page Springs Cellars will host the 6th Annual Tilted Earth Music & Wine Festival. The evening of Friday June 21st will bring a wine dinner & Saturday 22nd will offer guests the music festival. The events will benefit of the Arizona Culinary Institute of Scottsdale and local Verde Valley charities.

Page Springs founder and winemaker at Page Springs Cellars says of the festival “Tilted strives to accomplish these goals by tilling the “soils” on and around the Summer Solstice each year by producing the Tilted Earth Festival. The “seeds” will be sown in this soil by the hands of attending artisans from the fields of craft drink, food, music and fine arts. After planting, the fields will be “watered” by the local community – Arizonans from far-and-wide – and eventually people from all over the country and world. The cultural and economic fruit grown and harvested from this effort will strengthen our people, our families, our community and our economy.

The Henry Schuerman Commemorative Wine Dinner

Five chefs will prepare a five course dinner honoring the father of Verde Valley winemaking, Henry Schuerman. The dinner will be paired with wines from local wineries. The chef’s will draw inspiration from Schuerman’s family vintage cookbook from the late 1800’s. Schuerman’s descendants will be on hand to speak about the families winemaking history.

The dinner will be under the stars on Page Springs outdoor deck and will start at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $105+ and proceeds will benefit student scholarships.

Music at Tilted Earth

Saturday evening brings a line-up of 4 bands, a wine garden, a food truck, games, massage and a silent auction. The doors open up at 5:30 with Ill Ego taking the stage followed by House of Stairs, Joe Novelli & The CloudWalls and Gerado Continos and The Habaneros. Festival goers are invited to bring blankets and chairs but no pets.

Tickets for the rain or shine festival are $65 on-line and $75 at the door. Tickets include a free parking (at DA Ranch) and a shuttle to Page Springs, water and a stemless wine glass. To purchase tickets for one or both events head to the festivals website.

Silent auction items include wine pairing dinner, original artwork, Verde Valley railroad rides and signed bottles of wine.

Page Springs Cellars Tasting Room & Bistro will be open both days but will close at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Page Spring Cellars is at 1500 N Page Springs Rd. Cornville 86325.

 

 

 

Grape Arizona Wine Event comes to Heritage Square January 29th

As we are about to close the book on a memorable 2016, we turn the page to start to look at what 2017 will have to offer the sunny and warm Phoenix area in coming months. As the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction, The Waste Management Phoenix Open & the NCAA Final Four bring out of town guests to our desert, we look for more intimate and local inspired events. After our holiday hangover wears off  we look forward to 7th Annual Grape Arizona Wine Event on Sun. January 29th at downtown Phoenix’s Heritage Square.

This years event has 16 Arizona wineries paired with bites of food from 10 local restaurants all raising money for the Phoenix Rotary Club Charity Youth Programs. A few of the wineries and restaurants include Dektown Cellars, LDV Vineyards, Pillsbury Wine Co., Leoni’s Foccacia, Urban Table, The Herb Box and Vincent’s.

“This is a great opportunity for wine lovers to taste the best of what Arizona wineries have to offer — all in one place, while supporting a great cause,” says Barbara Katz, the event’s co-chairperson.

Money raised will go to the Rotary’s initiatives that support youth leadership and Interact Service Club and Rotary youth Exchange.

The Grape Arizona Wine Event runs from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm with early bird tickets on sale for $55 & include 20 wine tasting tickets, food samples, a silent auction, raffles with thousands of dollar of prizes and purchase wine related merchandise. Tickets are available at http://www.grapearizonawineevent.com/