Head Brewer to teach Brewing and Sensory class

No better time than the summer to stay inside sipping cold beer and learning how to make beer. That’s what will be happening at Hundred Mile Brewing Company in Tempe this summer at their Brewing and Sensory Class. Head Brewer Paul Alva will teach the class three times starting this Sunday, June 25th and Sunday, July 16th and August 27th. The class will be a fun and interactive way to learn the step by step process of brewing beer. And yes, you will be sampling beer during the class.

Alva learned to make beer at the World Beer Academy studying at the Seibel Institute and Doemens Academy in Germany.

During the class the Alva will teach about the textures, tastes and aromas of different varieties of hops and malts. Throughout this sensory experience different styles of beers will be tasted to identify the unique characteristics of each beer. He will share tips and information to guide beer lovers, home brewers and new beer drinkers looking to make their own beer, increase their beer knowledge and curiosity. The Head Brewer will also be sampling his own hand-crafted beers.

Each session is from 1 – 3 p.m. and $35 per session and includes six beer samples and light appetizers. To register for the class 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.

Northern Arizona brewery tees it up for high school athletes

Golfers from near and far will be heading to northern Arizona for Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery’s annual Putts & Pints Charity Golf Tournament scheduled for Saturday, August 26th. Money raised from the 2023 tournament will benefit the Williams High School Athletic Department and will again take place at Elephant Rocks Golf Course.

“This event is special to me, it’s a great day to get out and enjoy a fun day of golf while raising money to support a fantastic local group who are doing great things for the youth in our community. I hope everyone who loves craft beer and golf will sign up to join us on August 26th,” says John Peasley, Founder of the northern Arizona brewery and distillery.

The tournament is a 4 person scramble and there will be a 50/50 raffle and prizes for tournament participants. Sign in begins at 7 a.m. on the 26th with the shotgun start at 8. Registration is open and is $125 per person or $450 per foursome before July 16th, after the 16th its $500 per foursome. Sponsorship opportunities are available and you can email Liz for more information. For registration and more information see their website.

Hear the brewery’s Alex Phillips on the Pulling Corks and Forks: The Podcast Episode 15.

Sip & Shop returns with celebrity chef dinners at Hotel Valley Ho

Scottsdale’s Hotel Valley Ho brings back its popular Sip & Shop Summer Market Series in June, July & August and adding three celebrity chef dinners in conjunction with each event. The indoor market will be in Sands from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday June 17th, July 15th and August 19th and will feature local chefs and artisan purveyors. Guests will be given a wristband for six tastes of beer, spirits or wine and a 20% off voucher for a meal at Zuzu within 30 days. Live music from J Forte will entertain guests at the free event and guests will be able to purchase food from local chefs and sweets from the hotel’s pastry Chef Maria Arenas.

Sip & Shop celebrity dinners

The celebrity chef dinners will be a collaboration between the hotel’s Executive Chef Russell LaCasce for a 3 course meal paired with wines. The chef’s will also be in action at the market where they will be doing cooking demonstrations.

June 17th– Chef Lindsey Autry comes to Scottsdal to join Chef LaCasce. The three time James Beard Award nominee and finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef has two restaurants in Florida, The Regional in West Palm Beach and Honeybelle at PGA National Resort. The meet & greet reception starts at 6 p.m. and is $199 per person. See Lindsey at the demo station that morning in the market.

July 14th– Celebrity chef, author, philanthropist and host of Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible”, Robert Irvine joins Chef LaCasce Friday night for dinner and then on Saturday at the market at the demo station. Mingle with the chefs at starting at 6 p.m. for $299 per person.

August 18th– Local celebrity chefs Rene “Chito’ Andrade and Beau MacMillan mix it up at Friday night’s dinner and then on Saturday at the market. Meet the chefs for dinner starting at 6 p.m. for $199.

You can reserve your seats for the dinners at the hotel’s website and get your free tickets for Sip & Shop Summer Market at Eventbrite.

Hear Chef LaCasce’s story on Episode 26 of Pulling Corks and Forks: The Podcast.

 

Taco Fest Phx comes to downtown Phoenix this Saturday

Taco aficionado David Tyda is back in the taco festival game with this Saturday’s Taco Fest Phx. The co-founder of the Arizona Taco Festival sold his share of several years ago but that hasn’t stopped him from eating his way through as many tacos as possible and organizing other food festivals in downtown Phoenix.

Tyda and business partner Lisa Duffield block party styled festival will be held over two city blocks near 1st St. & Moreland as the sun goes down from 6 – 11 p.m. Over 10 taco makers and more than twice as many beer, agave and spirits producers will keep the people fed and happy all night.

Taco makers will be making just one kind of taco so you can taste as many tacos as possible from Random AF Taqueria, Lola’s Tacos and Sabor A Mi and more. Firme Mezcal, Codigo 1530 and Avion Tequila will be making margaritas, craft cocktails and offering samples. Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages from Topo Loco Mineral Water, Vita Coco and Alani Premium Purified Water will keep the crowd hydrated. Local DJs Spin, Lizzy, Vinyl Vagos, CRVNT3S and DJ Big Rube will energize the crowd.

A limited amount of tickets for this 21 & over event are $40 and include a wristband for 6 alcoholic beverages. Tacos are to be purchased separate from admission tickets. Discounted Designated Driver tickets for those not drinking alcohol are $15 while supplies last. Tickets for Taco Fest PHX can be purchased at their Eventbrite page. The festival is produced by Phx Fest and presented by Phoenix Magazine and benefits Downtown Phoenix Inc.

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

Festvin 2023, a 4-day wine festival returns to the Wrigley Mansion

Whether you’re an experienced wine drinker or a new to wine next weekend’s Festvin 2023 at the Wrigley Mansion is for you. 4-days of tastings, seminars, cooking demonstrations, dinners, a Grand Tasting and Sunday brunch happen May 18th -21st at the historical landmark in Phoenix’s Biltmore neighborhood. Special guests will be traveling to Phoenix to take part in the event as will wine enthusiasts from near and far.

James Beard award winning chef Christopher Gross and his culinary team including Executive Chef David Brito and sommelier Jason Caballero are pulling out all the stops to this 21 and over event. A portion of Festvin 2023 proceeds will be donated to “Almost There: A Mom and Pup Rescue“.

Festvin 2023 schedule of events

The weekend kicks off with a exclusive dinner on Thursday evening where guests will have the rare opportunity to taste Louis XIII cognac.

May 18 and 19 features FIVE special dinners:
LOUIS XIII Cognac dinner: Taste the Gold at Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion and take a bottle (and many more gifts) home (more than $4,400 value)
Throwback Dinner matching vintages and typical dishes from 1940s-1990s at Geordie’s Chefs Table.
Dom Perignon Dinner at Chefs Table.
Flight Club I where somms Jane Lopes & husband John Ross (of TV’s Uncorked series) face-off as guests vote on each of their pairings and declares one as Champion, Geordie’s dining room.
Grace Under Pressure, a Club Tresors (grower/producer) Champagne dinner, Geordie’s dining room.
May 20
A day of demos, master classes & a Grand Tasting Extravaganza with food, entertainment and adoptable puppies to snuggle.
May 21
Sparkly Sunday Roving Brunch, indoors and out with food, bubbles and entertainment.
Attendees will be able to purchase wines they’ve tasted and tickets to each event are sold separately in advance. To see the daily schedule of events, details of each and to purchase tickets visit their website.
Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

The Shop Beer Co. hosts inaugural Good Fest on May 13th

This Saturday, May 13th local brewer The Shop Beer Co. and Pivot Cycles will host the Good Fest at the Tempe brewery benefiting the Armer Foundation for Kids. The local non-profit’s mission is to support families whose children are facing life altering diagnoses. Saturday’s Good Fest will honor the late “Armer Kid” Logan Gidley and will feature a limited edition beer, food, live music and a bike raffle. “What The Shop Beer Co. and Pivot Cycles are doing to help us raise awareness and funds to help families like Logan’s is incredible,” said Jennifer Armer, founder of The Armer Foundation for Kids.

The festival goes from 3 – 8 p.m. with attendees enjoying local fare from Bacanora, Bad Jimmy’s and Il Bosco Pizza. The “Good Good” Double Hazy IPA will be released on Saturday, is a limited edition collaboration with The Shop Beer Co. and Missouri’s Boulevard Brewing. Artist J. Pierce designed the label paying tribute to Logan’s favorite things to do, biking, music and gaming. J.Pierce also designed the brewer’s popular and Church Music IPA label and the bike being raffled off by Pivot Cylcles. The custom painted bicycle will mimic the Church Music label and is valued at $3,000.

The Shop Beer Co. and Amer Foundation for Kids

“We personally know many of the families the Armer Foundation has supported over the years and want to do our part in giving back to help even more of our community members whose children are facing life-threatening illnesses, like Logan,” said Mikel Anne Arnce, co-founder of The Shop Beer Co.

Pivot Cycles is challenging riders of all ages to ride 13 hours before the Good Fest and to ride by The Shop Beer Co. on Saturday in Logan’s honor.  “Logan loved hitting the trails and enjoying the sunshine and it really inspired us to not only give back a bike but also continue Logan’s legacy with a #iridewithLogan challenge,” said Rachel When, Athlete Coordinator for Pivot Cycles. You can log your rides at their website and show the Pivot crew you log on Saturday to get some swag.

Tickets for Good Fest are $10 online in advance and $15 at the door. Children get in for free and can play games including cornhole, Jenga and play at a putting green. Tickets can be purchased by going to the Armer Foundation’s website. The brewery is at 922 W. 1st St. Tempe 85281.

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

Japanese steakhouse to host Fire & Fairways golf tournament

Scottsdale’s Kasai Japanese Steakhouse is hosting its 2nd annual Fire & Fairways Charity Golf Tournament June 5th at Silverado Golf Club. The tournament will be raising money for Arizonans for Children, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that helps abused, neglected and abandoned children. Golfers will compete for prizes including a 2 year lease on a Cadillac, a golf trip to Pebble Beach, $10,000 cash and more.

“Kasai is eager to help make a difference for Arizona’s foster children,” said Owner Mike Russello. “In 2022, we raised more than $10,000 after costs, and we hope to continue to make a greater impact for our state’s most vulnerable populations.”

The tournament starts at 7:30 a.m. when a helicopter will drop hundreds of golf balls on a putting green with the three closet balls to the hole winning a prize. After the tournament Kasai Japanese Steakhouse will host lunch that will include sushi, teppanyaki, cocktails, raffles and prizes. Guests not playing in the tournament can attend at 12:30 p.m. by purchasing tickets online for $40 or the day of for $50. Guest’s tickets include a buffet lunch, a cocktail and a raffle ticket.

Registration for the tournament is $175 until May 31st. A Slow Roller rate of $225 will be available from June 1st-5th. Sign-in for the tournament will begin at 6:20 a.m. on the 5th. For more information or to register head to their website.

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

Cottonwood to host 6th Annual Verde Valley Wine Festival

The city of Cottonwood is known as “The Heart of Arizona Wine Country” which gives it good reason to continue to host the annual Verde Valley Wine Festival. Wine drinkers, wineries and artists will come from around Arizona to a new site at Riverfront Park on Saturday 20th with the two day wine and culinary festival benefiting three non-profits who have helped put Arizona and the Verde Valley on the international wine map, The Arizona Wine Growers Association, the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, and the Arizona Vignerons Alliance.

The Verde Valley was given the AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation in 2021 by the federal government; the designation is important for the grape growers and wineries in the region as it gives credibility and demonstrates its quality in the world of wine. It’s the third region in Arizona to be given the AVA designation.

The festivities kick off Friday evening at the Old Town Cottonwood Clubhouse for the “First Crush VVWF Gala & Auction. The evening includes premium wines, culinary options from local restaurants, live music and a live auction. Guests can bid on exclusive wine & travel packages and unique items from local artists. Over 20 wineries are expected to pour at the wine festival starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The festival will include wine, food, arts & crafts vendors and live music throughout the day.

Tickets for the Friday night gala are $150 per person and Saturday’s tickets are $35 per person. The gala is open to all ages and the festival is for those 21 & over. For more information and to purchase your tickets visit their website.

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 from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

Rusty’s Beer Fest is back at Mountain Shadows Resort

Still looking for something to do this weekend, the annual beer festival returns to the golf grill at the Paradise Valley resort. This Sunday, April 23rd enjoy up to 20 tastes of cold beer including local beers, a beer paired food buffet and raffles. The Fest goes from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and tickets are $49 at https://www.mountainshadows.com/.

A Taste of Sicily next Friday at Dolce Vita restaurant

Sicilian born owner Fabrizo highlights his home island’s cuisine next Friday, April 28th with a special dinner at his Mesa market and restaurant. The three course dinner goes from 4 – 8 p.m. and includes Insalata Vastasa then Spaghetti with Swordfish and Eggplants OR Pasta Incasciata. For the main course choose from Involtini Messinesi OR Eggplant Swordfish Meatballs. For dessert stroll the cases filled with homemade gelato. Dinner is $60++ and includes wine, without wine the cost is $50. To make reservations, call 480-218-0225.

Kentucky Derby brunch at The Boulders Resort

The “Run for the Roses” is quickly approaching Saturday May 6th and the Carefree resort has a themed brunch planned. On the patio at The Grill Kitchen & Bar from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. guests will enjoy a mouth-watering special menu, cocktails and live entertainment with a golf course and desert views. Seats are $110 per person and reservations can be made by calling 480-488-9020 or visiting http://www.theboulders.com.

Win beer for a year from Macayo’s

Get Cinco de Mayo started early by entering online “Macayo’s Beer for a Year Sweepstakes” until Friday, May 5th. Enter to win a Dos XX and Macayo’s branded cooler and 12 24-packs of Dos XX beer. The winner will be picked and notified on or around May 6th.

A home run of a deal from the Streets of New York

During the entire baseball season, anytime the Diamondbacks play guests can receive $5 off their order of $25 or more when they use promo code DBACKSPEC. The deal is available at its 16 locations throughout Arizona.

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

Tropical cocktails & island life coming up at 2023 Arizona Tiki Oasis

The trade winds of the south Pacific breeze into Scottsdale for 4 days at the laid back Arizona Tiki Festival April 27th – 30th. The annual event return’s to the Hotel Valley Ho where attendees can chill out with tropical cocktails poolside, wander from suite to suite checking out the tiki marketplace and learn about Polynesian culture with a schedule of seminars. The weekend is free and open to the public with purchased tickets needed for specific events and seminars.

The weekend starts Thursday evening with a traditional luau and pig roast by Executive Chef Russell LaCasce and his culinary team. Three guest bartenders will join the fun and setting the mood creating tropical cocktails just for the evening. Seats are limited and are $139 per person. A opening night Mix n Mingle and pop up art show also help get things going.

Throughout the weekend enjoy live music of bands flown in from across the country including Lushy, Project: Pimento, Aloha 86 and Phoenix’s Moonlight Magic. Over 10 DJs will set the beat at the mid-century modern hotel in downtown Scottsdale. Tiki and mid-century seminars include topics such as architecture, fashion, Walt Disney, tropical cocktails and more. Seminars cost from Free – $50.

Tickets include the Evening Resort Pass for $139 in advance and $149 at the door. Include are Thursday’s Mix n Mingle, Suite Soirees, tasting of spirits and more. The Deluxe Evening Resort Pass is $299 in advance only and for those 21 and over. All the perks of above and a limited edition mug and exclusive entry to cocktail parties are included. More information and tickets can be purchased at the Tiki Oasis website.

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