As culinary events and food festivals get postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus a new festival is moving forward as planned. The first ever Rib Fest Showdown debuts April 25th & 26th 2020 in Surprise at Mark Coronado Park. The Throwdown pits Kansas City vs. Texas pitmasters to see who makes the best smokes meats. With the aroma of burning wood in the air festival goers will taste ribs and other smoked meats.
The city of Surprise was chosen as co-host of the event as it’s the Spring Training home of both Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals & Texas Rangers.
“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Surprise to launch this exciting event,” said Landon Evans owner of HDE Agency. “Supporting the economic growth and working together to build a cornerstone event for the city that will come to be recognized as an annual program is both rewarding and awesome.”
LDE Agency is also producing the KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival on March 28th in Chandler and is taking every per-caution to make sure both festivals are safe, clean and happen as planned.
The family friendly festival also features a ‘Battle of the Bands” with local and national performers, a kid’s zone, food eating contests and more.
The Rib Fest Showdown goes from 12 – 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are on sale with 2 for $16, 4 for $30 or 6 for $40. Walk -up tickets the day of will be $10 each. VIP tickets and a Stay & Play overnight packages are available. A portion of the proceeds from the Rib Fest Throwdown will be donated to Mighty Change of Heart, a local non-profit that provides support for foster children.
With a few pre-season NFL games already played Fantasy Football draft parties are being planned in the next few weeks. There’s no better way to draft your winning team than in a festive environment surrounded by big screen TV’s, food and beer.
Here are a few restaurants that are celebrating the start of football season and are ready to host your Fantasy Football draft party so let your league commissioner know where to go.
Thirsty Lion Fantasy Football draft party
The Phoenix area Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill’s are offering Happy Hour menu when you reserve a table for your draft party. $1 off pints of beer, $4.95 well drinks, wine & house margaritas will help you wash down wings, pizza and more delicious food.
Phoenix and Scottsdale’s Twin Peaks restaurants are offer a free room for your draft party along with a draft board to help organize your league.
In addition the commissioner gets a $50 gift card and each player gets a $10 gift card and gets entered into free Twin Peaks for a year.
Twin Peaks is located at 2135 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix and 8787 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. in Scottsdale. http://www.twinpeaksrestaurant.com/
Uptown Alley’s free room rental
Surprise’s bowling alley and laser tag venue, Uptown Alley is offering a free room, AV equipment and a $5 game card when you book your draft party until Sept. 6th with a minimum of 10 people.
The new menu at their Red Embers Bar & Grill will be available with additions that include pulled pork potato skins, pizza rolls and sliders.
While many of us are focused on food, friends and football on Thanksgiving Day many more could care less about the turkey and all the trimmings and are anxiously waiting for Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend for shopping, eating & family fun.
Below is a list of food and retail deals around Phoenix for Black Friday and the weekend that follows.
Fired Pie
Nothing says Thanksgiving like pizza or salad! Get that early Black Friday shopping started out on a full stomach at Fired Pie’s Tanger Outlet location. On Thanksgiving Day Fired Pie at Tanger opens its doors at 6 p.m. and stays open straight through 10 p.m. Friday evening. The fast casual pizza and salad concept makes it easy to pop in and out no matter what your holiday plans are! While there, buy a gift card for $25 and get a $5 bounce back that’s good at any Fired Pie location January through March of 2017. http://www.Firedpie.com
Crepe Club
Photo courtesy of The Crepe Club
If you’re a Black Friday shopper, you can check the coffee off your to-do list. The Crepe Club at the Biltmore Fashion Park will be offering a free cup of coffee with purchase on Friday, November 25. The Crepe Club will have free coffee for guests who purchase an item until 11 am. The restaurant has fresh-baked French pastries, sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches and salads.
The Crepe Club is on the west end of the Biltmore Fashion Park beside William Sonoma at 2502 E. Camelback Rd., #130. www.TheCrepeClub.com
Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill
Photo courtesy of Z’ Tejas
Power up before hitting the stores with a festive, bold brunch at Z’Tejas at Fashion Square Mall. Opening early at 9:00a.m the expanded brunch menu features delicious new dishes including South of the Border Benedicts, Bananas Foster French Toast and Stuffed Breakfast Relleno. Brunch will be served on Black Friday from 9:00am – 12:00pm. For more information visit www.ztejas.com
Uptown Alley:
Looking for a break from shopping, Uptown Alley is hosting some Turkey Day Weekend Specials to make sure the holiday weekend is one the whole family can enjoy!
You can get a game of bowling for four with shoes, 1 large topping pizza, 4 sodas, and $40 in-game play a $100 value all for $59! This is available on Thanksgiving from 4pm- close and then November 25th-27th from 11am-5pm. For more information visit www.uptownalleysurprise.com Uptown Alley is at 13525 N. Litchfield Road, Surprise, AZ 85379
Arizona Animal Welfare League:
The Arizona Animal Welfare League is hosting their “Fall in Love With Animals Camp” on November 25th. The camp is available for kids ages 8-12 and is $60 per child. AAWL is hosting this special one-day camp to help show kids how to give back to animals and the community. Kids will learn how to care for animals and the environment, backyard wildlife and how to enrich the lives of animals every day through crafts, games and animal interactions. The camp is at the education center at 15 N 40th Place, Phoenix, AZ 85034 and is from 9am-3pm. You can sign up for the camp at www.aawl.org/fallcamp2016.
Spa810:
Black Friday is the perfect time to get all your holiday gifts for your friends in need of some relaxation. At spa810 they are selling their Comfort and Joy package a $273 for $109. Enjoy everything from a 50 minute customized facial with a hydrating masque to a 50 minute massage with a sugar foot scrub! Call spa810, Scottsdale-Shea at (480) 588-6809 for more information visit www.spa810.com/scottsdale-she
The Melting Pot
Stop in to The Melting Pot after a long day of shopping for a delicious four-course fondue dinner at a steal of a deal! The Melting Pot Restaurants of Arizona are offering the below four-course meal for $29.95! You must request the specialty menu to get the promotion! For more information visit www.meltingpot.com. The menu will be available all Thanksgiving weekend from Friday November 25th– Sunday November 27th.
Photo courtesy of The Melting Pot
Cheese Fondue
Cheddar • Spinach Artichoke • Featured Cheese Fondue Selection (ask your server)
Salad
Caesar • California • Featured Salad Selection (ask your server)
Entrée
Pacific White Shrimp • Teriyaki-Marinated Sirloin • All-Natural Breast of Chicken • Spinach and Artichoke Ravioli
Chocolate Fondue
Yin Yang • Flaming Turtle • Featured Chocolate Fondue Selection (ask your server)
