Tag: Scottsdale Waterfront

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Quick sips & bites of news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

Tequila Corrido pairing dinner at Hotel Valley Ho

The locally owned tequila is being paired with a special menu by the hotel’s Executive Chef Russel LaCasce on Thursday, October 27th. The four course dinner includes Shrimp & Abalone Ceviche, Duck & Pork Tostadas with pickled escabeche, Bone-In Short Rib “Colorado” with Spanish rice and beans, and Elote Cake with mascarpone citrus and tequila gelée. Seats are $109++. The dinner starts at 6 p.m. and seats can be reserved by calling 480-421-7997.

Third Tuesday wine pairing dinner at Romeo’s Euro Cafe

Next Tuesday, October 18th the downtown Gilbert restaurant hosts its monthly three course dinner. Ahi- Nicoise Salad, Beseme Mucho and Red Velvet Cake are paired with wines from California and Oregon. Seats are $39 and reservations can be made by calling 480-962-4224. The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.

Liberty Station Tavern celebrates 10th anniversary

Originally named Market Street Kitchen before the Keeler family rebranded it to Liberty Station Tavern in 2016, the two celebrate its 10th anniversary Thursday, October 20th. The DC Ranch restaurants invites guests to night of food, drinks and entertainment starting at 6 p.m. Five food stations along with wine, beer & cocktails are $110.10++ with more information on their website and limited seating reservations can be made by calling 480-278-7044.

Pink Out tomorrow at Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants

A reminder of the Pink Out tomorrow at all 4 locations and free mammogram at their downtown Chandler restaurant. Details of how you can participate tomorrow and all month are here at the featured post.

Scottsdale’s Taste of Italy has arrived this weekend

The Italian Association of Arizona hosts its annual food and music festival at the Scottsdale Waterfront tomorrow and Sunday. All the details can be found at last month’s featured post.

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

Scottsdale’s Taste of Italy arrives in October

The Scottsdale Waterfront will host Italian food, culture, opera singers and more when the Italian Association of Arizona hosts Scottsdale’s Taste of Italy on Saturday & Sunday October 15th & 16th. The 2 day festival will also feature two stages with live music including Michéal Castaldo considered the next Andrea Bocelli. Non-food vendors will be set up so you can shop off the calories.

Foodies will want to indulge in Italian cuisine from food trucks including L’Impasto along with pizzas, and Italian desserts cannoli, biscotti, gelato and more. Nothing goes better with Italian food than Italian wines and there will be wine tasting as well.

Tickets for Scottsdale’s Taste of Italy and Music Festival will be sold online for a limited time and can be purchased in advance for $10. Day of tickets are $20 and children under 12 are free. The festival starts at 11 a.m. both days and goes until 9 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

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.

Fall Harvest Dinner at Agritopia with The TLC eXperience

Reserve your seats for a multi-course farm to table dinner under the stars in the orchard on Friday November 5th. Limited seats are available for Chef Tom and his culinary team’s menu with Agritopia grown produce and other locally sourced ingredients. Seats are $150 per person for the 6 p.m. start.

Frog’s Leap wine dinner at Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen

Thursday October 28th the downtown Scottsdale restaurant hosts a 5 course dinner paired with the Napa Valley’s acclaimed wines. Ravioli, risotto, short rib and more for $100++ per person. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the menu and pairings can be found here.

Dominick’s Steakhouse to donate sales of dinners on October 25th

This Monday night the Scottsdale restaurant will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of 200 dinners to the Make-A-Wish Arizona. Make-A-Wish was founded in Phoenix and grants wishes to seriously ill children. For more information and to make a reservation visit their website.

Free pizza or salad for National First Responders Day

Fired Pie is giving all active duty police officers and firefighters a free meal all day on Thursday October 28th. Show your badge at any location so the locally owned chain can say “Thank you”.

Buzzed Bull Creamery hiring fair in Scottsdale.

Arizona’s first Buzzed Bull is looking to hire enthusiastic team members for their new Scottsdale location on Wednesday October 27th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Must be 19 years old, have reliable transportation, be willing to use a hand help POS system and more. Be prepared to interview on site at 7135. E Camelback Rd.

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.

Local restaurants re-opening for takeout and delivery

While many local restaurants switched gears to pick-up, delivery and even selling groceries last month many shut down to assess the situation. Several of those that shut down are re-opening this week for pick-up and delivery. While it’s still unknown about the future of restaurants Gov. Ducey will meet with restaurants and the Arizona Restaurant Association in coming weeks to set a plan for re-opening dining rooms. These local restaurants have re-opened this week for takeout.

Hand Cut Chop House has re-opened with touchless takeout, curbside pick-up and free delivery from Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates & Grubhub. A limited menu of food and drinks are available daily from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Place an order by calling 480-494-2008. 7135 East Camelback Road #154 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in Gilbert is offering a limited menu of a la carte offerings and family meals. Off the menu customers can choose from appetizers, salads, sliders, entrees and dessert. Larger portioned family meals of a Whole Chicken Meal, a All American Burger Meal and Three Cheese Mac & Cheese feed 4 – 8 people. Bottles of wine & liquor, cocktails & cocktail kits and growlers of beer are also available to go. You can order online or by calling (480) 476-8595. Pick up is available as is free delivery from Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub and Postmates. The other locations will open at a later date. 323 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert 85234.

Little Miss BBQ‘s Sunnyslope location is testing drive thru pick up of limited amount of sandwiches and Green Chile Burritos today & Saturday. All orders must be placed online for pick up from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. No walk up and no delivery. 8901 N 7th St Phoenix, AZ 85020.

Comedor Guadalajara south of downtown Phoenix is back open for takeout. They have set up a drive thru in the parking lot. Phone orders are recommended and they ask if the line is busy please try calling back. 1830 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85004. 602-253-8299

MIXT opened in March and quickly shut down has re-opened at Scottsdale Quarter. The fast casual farm to table restaurant offer salads, protein bowls, Kombucha, sandwiches and more. Hours are daily from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. 15125 N Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85254.

Osteria Mia opened this week for takeout in north Phoenix. Pizza, homemade pasta and more Italian delights. 2530 W Happy Valley Rd Phoenix AZ, 85085.  623-434-4604

Pedal Haus Brewery re-opened its Tempe and Chandler brew pubs this week. A full menu along with award winning cocktails and beers are available to go. Food & drink specials are also offered daily. The Tempe location at 730 S. Mill Ave. #102, Tempe 85281 is open Wednesday & Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Chandler location at 95 W Boston St., Chandler is open Wednesday & Thursday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Kawaii Sushi in Glendale is open, their Peoria location is temporarily closed. 6530 W. Happy Valley Road, Suite 112 Glendale, AZ 85310 (623)566-3888

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante will open on May 5th for takeout. 19420 N. 59th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308. 623-777-1868

 

 

 

1/2 off Signature Cuts at Hand Cut Burgers & Chophouse

“Out with the old and in with the new” they say and Hand Cut Burgers & Chophouse is doing just that next week. Tuesday October 1st is not just the start of a new month but the day the restaurant at the Scottsdale Waterfront rolls out its new menu. Most sections of the menu will see new dishes including appetizers, salads, pastas, Signature Cuts (entrees) and dessert. To celebrate the new menu the evening of the 1st give guests the chance to order any of their signature “Cuts” for 1/2 off.

Reservations are highly recommended for dinner that starts at 6 p.m. on this special evening. Select bottles of wine will be 1/2 off during the night as well.

Pesto Pasta. Photo credit Riot Hospitality Group- Aaron Bowman

New dishes

  • Grass Fed Meatballs – Arizona grass fed beef meatballs baked in a red pepper tomato sauce with burrata cheese and served with garlic bread
  • Crab Cakes – Lump crab cakes, fresh herb cucumber salad finished with avocado lime vinaigrette
  • Baby Iceberg Wedge – Baby iceberg, Monforte blue cheese, Campari tomato, pickled shallots, crumbled bacon with a buttermilk basil dressing
  • Vegetable Chopped Salad – Chopped romaine, candied tomato, red pepper, crow’s dairy goat cheese, grilled artichokes and shaved cauliflower in a red wine vinaigrette
  • Beets and Brussels Sprout Salad – Roasted brussels sprouts, golden beets, parmesan cheese, shaved red cabbage, garlic dressing and herb croutons
  • Filet Sandwich – Spice rubbed filet served sliced with melted blue cheese, bacon jam and arugula pesto
  • Bone-in New York Steak –18 ounce Cedar River Farms bone-in, grilled with a side of signature Hand Cut steak sauce
  • Bison Loin – 8 ounce pasture raised bison loin, spice rubbed and served with hibiscus butter sauce
  • Seasonal White Fish – Served sautéed with lemon herb chardonnay sauce
  • Scallops and Mushroom Fettuccine – Roasted wild mushrooms, scallops and egg fettuccine in a white wine mascarpone sauce
  • Crab Mac and Cheese – Lump crab, parmesan cream, cavatappi pasta, chili breadcrumbs and fresh herbs
  • Meatball Mac and Cheese – Cavatappi pasta, red pepper cheese sauce, grass-fed meatballs and crispy basil
  • Fettuccine Genovese– Imported Genovese pesto, parmesan cheese, slow roasted tomato with egg fettuccine
  • Seasonal Cheesecake and Affogato

New cocktails too

Their award-winning cocktail menu will also be adding new cocktails that include two new dessert cocktails. New cocktails include….

  • Barrel Aged Manhattan – Bulleit Bourbon, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth and Angostura Bitters aged in French Oak.  Served up but can be served on the rocks upon request.
  • Scottsdale Sunset – Bombay Sapphire Gin, fresh lemon juice, Simple Syrup, egg white, Angostura Bitters and topped off with a touch of Cabernet.
  • Kir Royale – Poema Cava Brut, blackberry syrup, vanilla Bean, Yucatan Honey Shrub
  • Cold Brew Martini – Fugu Horchata Vodka, Passport Cold Brew Coffee, in house cinnamon syrup and almond milk
  • Key Lime Martini – Smirnoff Vodka, Vanilla Giffard, pineapple syrup, condensed milk, fresh lime juice, finished with a graham cracker rim

Hand Cut Burgers & Chophouse is at 7135 E. Camelback Rd. # 154 Scottsdale 85251. To make a reservation call 480-494-2008.

Maple & Ash to open August 20th at the Scottsdale Waterfront

One of the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2019, Maple & Ash has announced an opening date of Tuesday August 20th. The restaurant will open at the Scottsdale Waterfront and will be the first location after the original in Chicago. Two star Michelin chef Danny Grant and partners opened the first restaurant in 2015, before that worked in Scottsdale.

“This has been an incredible journey, and we can’t wait to open our doors to the Scottsdale community,” said Chef Danny Grant. “It has been a dream of ours to come home to where I began my culinary career and show off the Maple & Ash experience.”

What to expect at Maple & Ash

Maple & Ash uses wood fired cooking and although they don’t use the word “Steakhouse” in the name it’s considered a modern take on a classic steakhouse. Local chef Sean Currid joins chef Grant to execute the menu that includes the famed “Fire Roasted Seafood Tower” and “I Don’t Give a F*K” (IDGAF). The two chefs met when they worked together at Elements Restaurant at Sanctuary Resort & Spa on Camelback.

Guest will enjoy a world class selection of dry aged beef and fresh seafood. The IDGAF is Grant’s take on a chef’s menu and he thinks is the best choice from the menu. No mention of what’s included with the IDGAF so you’ll have to leave it up to chefs Currid and Grant. Currid boasts an impressive resume having worked around town at Michael’s at the Citadel, Zuzu at the Hotel Valley Ho and Mary Elaine’s at The Phoenician.

Sommelier Jason Caballero curates a wine list from around the world that won’t be your traditional steakhouse wine list. Caballero comes to Maple & Ash from Bourbon Steak at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

The centerpiece of the 10,000 plus square foot restaurant will be the 14 foot wood burning hearth. It will be surrounded by the dining room and lounge along with an outdoor patio and private dining rooms.

Maple & Ash will be open daily at 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Sun. – Thurs. and until 11 p.m. on Fri. and Sat. The restaurant is at 7135 E. Camelback Rd #130 Scottsdale 85251. For more information visit their website.

What the cluck! Koi Poke now offers chicken for its bowls

Poke the trendy bowl with raw fish, rice and assorted healthy toppings is getting a makeover. At least at Koi Poke as they’re now offering chicken as a protein instead of fish at their 5 Phoenix area locations. Guests can add grilled white meat chicken in three portion sizes to their white or brown rice or spring mix base, Small (4 oz.) $9, Medium (6 oz.) $11 and Large (8 oz.) $13.

Fresh lobster, Yellowtail, shrimp, Hawaiian tuna and more fish toppings are always available.

After adding your protein you can top it with any or all of the toppings available. A few of the toppings include kale, Brussel sprouts, cucumber, jalapenos, cilantro and more. Looking to “sauce it up” you can add teriyaki or house made Sriracha aioli to your bowl and finally garnish it with crispy onions, garlic or other options.

Koi Poke has locations at……

DC Ranch 18221 N. Pima Rd., #100-105, Scottsdale 85255 480-209-1137

Arcadia 4280 E. Indian School Rd., #108, Phoenix 85018 602-368-2222

The SHOPS Gainey Village 8977 N. Scottsdale Rd., #500, Scottsdale 85253 480-306-8440

The Plant 4041 S. Gilbert Rd., #1, Chandler 85249 480-361-6533

Scottsdale Waterfront 7135 E. Camelback Rd., #175, Scottsdale 85251 480-454-4957

For more information check out their website.

As cold brew coffee grows in popularity Press Coffee offers ready-to-go cans

Cold brew coffee sales grew by 137% in 2017 and can now be found on supermarket shelves, not just in specialty coffee shops. Press Coffee will start selling a canned version of their cold brew starting May 4th at all locations around Phoenix. Perfect timing for summer as the cold drink can be refreshing and energetic in the hots days ahead.

“We’re proud at Press to have helped lead the way in creating a great, locally made cold brew that Arizona can call its own,” said Alex Mason, Press Coffee co-owner. “It’s been exciting to see people discover the drink and want to learn more about it. Now with a canned option, it is even easier for them to enjoy Press Cold Brew wherever they go.”cold brew

Cold brew vs hot brewed coffee

Press lead the way in 2013 when it started offering cold drink on tap around town.

Most people think of cold brew as hot coffee chilled and poured over ice. Not true as cold coffee is prepared in a longer and slower process. Press steeps their brew for 20 hours giving it a sweeter taste and more caffeine.

Press increased their production of kegs anticipating the continued popularity of the drink. They now work on a 15 keg system and expect to make equivalent of 10,000 cups of coffee a week.

The increase in production coincides with Press’s soon to open roasting facility in north Phoenix.

“I don’t think anybody imagined the cold brew market would become what it is today at the pace it has,” said Mason. “This expanded production allows us to provide this great drink to even more of Arizona.”

Tempe at Skywater Apartments: 601 W. Rio Salado Pkwy                                  

Tempe at Nexa Apartments: 1221 E. Apache Blvd.

Scottsdale at Scottsdale Quarter: 15147 N Scottsdale Rd. #102

Scottsdale Waterfront: 7135 E. Camelback Rd.

Chandler Ocotillo: 2577 W. Queen Creek Rd.

Phoenix at The Muse Apartments: 1616 N. Central Ave.

Phoenix Biltmore: 2390 E. Camelback Rd.

Coffee 101 is in session at Press Coffee’s Scottsdale Waterfront location

Ever wonder where your morning cup of coffee came from and how Press Coffee determines what coffee’s to roast then sell, those questions will be answered in Coffee 101. Classes at the Scottsdale Waterfront’s “Speakeasy” classroom start tomorrow. The Scottsdale Quarter and Ocotillo locations have taught the popular class on Saturday mornings.

I recently took the class and learned which roasts I prefer, taste profiles and more.

Coffee experts will teach the “cupping” method of tasting coffee, the roasting process and where coffee originated when you take the 1-hour class.

Coffee 101 starts at 10 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Saturday’s(tomorrow) at the Scottsdale Waterfront and Chandler (Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 15, Jan. 6, Jan. 20) with Scottsdale Quarter classes on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays.

Classes cost $20 and you receive a $10 gift card when class lets out.

Seating is limited and you can save your seat by going to http://presscoffee.com/tastings

The Scottsdale Waterfront is at 7135 E. Camelback Rd. #145 across from Nordstrom’s.