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.

Over Easy and Hickman Family Farms raising money for United Food bank in April

Starting today and all month long, the 11 locations are matching customer donations dollar for dollar and the farm will donate a dozen eggs for each donation. The two local businesses have a goal of donating $20,000 and 10,000 dozen eggs. Customers will see a prompt when paying their bill asking if they want to make a donation to United Food Bank.

March Madness at Koibito Poke this weekend

College basketball fan or not score $4 off your order when ordering online or on their app. Use promo code FINAL4 this Saturday and Sunday for this Final Four deal.

Rusty’s Beer Fest is this Sunday

Enjoy cold beers on the patio overlooking The Short Course and Camelback Mountain at Mountain Shadows Resort’s bar & grill. All the details and how to get tickets are here.

Raise a glass of rosé at Match Market & Bar

The downtown Phoenix restaurant in the Found:RE Hotel hosts its Monthly Guide to Wine featuring the perfect wine for Spring and Summer. Join the fun tasting and discussion about rosé Wednesday, April 6th from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Admission is $25 and includes light fare with tickets available here.

Leila’s Empanadas celebrates National Empanada day with 2 events

Next Friday, April 8th the locally owned artisan maker of the Latin American hand held food celebrates from 4-6 p.m. at Sam’s Frozen Yogurt located at 3434 W Anthem Way, Suite 140, Anthem, AZ 85086. On Saturday Leila will be serving them up from 10 AM – Noon at Lil Miss Butcher 4705 E Carefree Hwy. Cave Creek, AZ 85331.

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.

Twosday 2/22/22 food specials

The iconic date is being celebrated by 2 local restaurants offering deals. All 19 Streets of New York locations are offering up slices of pizza for $2.22 (normally $4.15 per slice) for dine-in or take-out. Dine-in customers can also take advantage of more savings during Apps Hour from 2:30 – 6 p.m. for deals on Pizza Roll Ups, Meatball Sliders, beer & wine and more.

Koibito Poke celebrates with 2 small bowls for $22 when you’re dining in at their 4 Phoenix area locations.

Off the Vine Wine Festival tomorrow in Oro Valley

If you’re looking for something to do tomorrow make your way down to the historic Steam Pump Ranch to taste some of Arizona’s finest wines. Details are here at my featured post about the event.

Rombauer Vineyards is featured winery at Sunday Supper Club

Hearth ’61’s monthly supper features the Napa Valley’s family owned winery to be paired with Chef Wiley’s 5-course menu. Dinner is Sunday, February 27th and starts at 6 p.m. with reservation required for $189++ per person. To join the club click this link.

Simple Machine Brewing beers paired at dinner at Match Market & Bar

The signature restaurant inside the Found:RE hotel in downtown Phoenix hosts a four course menu paired with locally brewed beers. The dinner is next Tuesday, February 22nd at 7 p.m. Seats are $72 ++ per person and can be reserved here.

AZ Taco Festival cancels April festival

Organizers decided to cancel the two-day festival coming up at Salt River Fields. A new date in the Fall of 2022 is being planned and tickets purchased will be honored once announced. For more information visit their website.

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.

Virtual cooking classes offered from Hotel Valley Ho

Looking for new recipes to impress friends and family look no further than new virtual cooking classes coming from Hotel Valley Ho Executive Chef Russell LaCasce. The R+R Show will feature Russell and his “Sous Chef” hotel General Manager Ronen Aviram preparing dishes with recipes and ideas for cocktails and leftovers viewable one Friday a month.

The free classes debut October 23rd with the VH Chopped Salad. Future virtual cooking classes include Petaluma Chicken on Nov. 20, the Hawaiian Poke Bowl on Dec. 18, The John Berry on Jan. 22, and Charbroiled Ribeye on Feb. 26. All classes are viewable at http://www.hotelvalleyho.com/. Private viewable classes are available for groups and private celebrations.

Also happening at the Scottsdale hotel will be a celebration of the tropics on Tiki Weekend October 30th – November 1st. Dust off your favorite Hawaiian shirt and tropical attire for a luau Friday night. Enjoy live music, a pig roast & tropical cocktails, hula dancers, fire dancers and more under the palm trees of the Palm Court. Tickets are $129 per person include chef prepared food, 3 drinks and a festive lei.

Halloween night put on your best tiki inspired costume for a Tiki-Mask-erade Party. The guest whose costume gets the loudest applause will be the winner. Enjoy cocktails, small bites, DJ music and of course Halloween candy outside in the Main Place Courtyard and hotel’s ballrooms. $99++ per person includes 4 drinks, small bites and candy. Space is limited to all events with social distancing enforced as will mask wearing unless seated. Special room rates are available starting October 27th and will include a welcome cocktail and $50 resort credit. See the website for details and to reserve your room.

 

Koibito Poke heads to the west valley opening at Park West

Peoria’s Park West development has added another local restaurant as Koibito Poke opened its first west valley location. Its Grand Opening celebration is scheduled for Saturday, January 25th. This is the locally owned build-your-own-custom-poke-bowl concept’s sixth location.

“With the quick success of Koi Poke in Phoenix, Scottsdale and the East Valley, we knew Peoria was the next area we wanted to grow into and Park West serves as the ideal location,” says former Arizona Diamondback Pitcher Todd Stottlemyre and Koibito Founder. “We are thrilled that residents across the valley have responded so positively to our concept and we look forward to increasing the brand around the state — and the country.”

Starting Monday, January 20th all poke bowls are 50% off thru the 23th. On Friday, the 24th a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Arizona Friends of Foster Children. During the Grand Opening on the 25th the first 50 guests will receive a free bowl while supplies last.

Koibito Poke founded in 2017 by serving fresh seafood, chicken, rice & vegetable bowls where guest can choose proteins, toppings, sauces and add-ons. The restaurants pour wine, beer and sake to compliment the poke bowls. The company has recently announced plans to franchise locations outside of Arizona. To find a location near you check out their website. Photo by David Blakeman.