Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

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

The Giant Sonoran available until March 31st.

Just in time for baseball season, Old Town Scottsdale’s Cien Agaves steps up to the plate with a foot long Sonoran dog. The bacon wrapped all beef hot dog is topped with refried beans, pico de gallo, Mexican crema, avocado salsa and queso fresco. It is served with roasted chiles on the side.

Vino Stache & Tracy Dempsey Originals host Wine & Dessert Social

The Arizona winery along Dempsey’s ODV wines pair wines and desserts next Saturday, March 18th from 1:30 – 3p.m. Meet with Vino Stache Winery’s owner Brooke Lowry as you make your personalized wine charm for your glass. The social takes place at Tracey’s shop in Tempe with tickets in limited supply going for $30 each. Email tracy@tracydempseyoriginals.com to reserve your seat.

March specials at Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants

All 4 locations celebrate the start of Spring and more with three food and drink specials.

March Madness: This refreshing cocktail combines Midori liquor and sweet and sour with a splash of seltzer. We garnish it with a cherry and lime wedge. $9.99

Drunken Barbacoa Flautas: Barbacoa flautas served in our tomatillo sauce. Topped with shredded lettuce, queso fresco, cilantro and crema. Served with one side. $17.99

Luck of the Irish: Layers of chocolate cake with mint simple syrup and colorful vanilla pudding are topped with mint sandwich cookies, whipped cream, cookie crumble and a chocolate gold coin for good luck. $7.99

Spinato’s Pizzeria introduces a new Spring menu

The locally owned pizzeria with locations in Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Ahwatukee has its new seasonal menu available through early May. The “Honey Hot Pie” pizza is topped with salami, Mike’s Hot Honey, feta cheese, light sauce and crushed red pepper flakes. 6 new cocktails are on the menu including a Rum Negroni, Mojito Italiano and Limonata. The bar menu also includes new wines from Italy and Arizona along with new locally made beers and spirits.

Chesapeake Bay Seafood closes to focus on catering

It’s never fun writing about the closing of a restaurant especially one I featured a few months ago. Unfortunately James and Yolanda Brown had to consolidate its operations to catering closing their ghost kitchen in the Tempe Food Court and the brick and mortar location in Phoenix. Yolanda’s recent health concerns and staffing issues had James spreading himself to thin tending to the restaurants and Yolanda’s needs. He’s in the process of updating the website to accommodate their loyal following with a new catering menu.

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

AZ Women in Food Collaborative Dinner is next week

Three of Arizona’s top female chefs and restaurant owners share the kitchen next week for the AZ Women in Food Collaborative Dinner inspired by the James Beard Foundation Women’s Leadership Program. Jennifer Caraway of The Joy Bus Diner, Jennifer Russo of The Market & Bar by Jennifer’s Catering and Tracy Dempsey of Tracy Dempsey Originals will prepare the 5-course dinner next Thursday January 13th hosted by The Market & Bar by Jennifer’s Catering in Phoenix.

AZ Women in Food was created in 2020 to support women led restaurants and food businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. The first AZ Women in Food dinner was in January 2021 and featured 15 the Phoenix’s women chefs and restaurant owners collaborating for dinners over several weekends. Other events later followed in 2021 and more are planned in 2022. AZ Women in Food40 seats are available for the in-person experience along with take-out dinners being prepared for pick-up. The in-person dinner starts at 6 p.m. with take-out dinners available for pick up between 5:30-5:30 p.m. at The Market + Bar.  Each dinner is $85 per person plus tax & gratuity with a wine pairings available for those dining in person for an additional charge. For more information and to reserve your seat or place your order head to Tock. The Market + Bar is at 3603 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix 85018.

 

The Cheese Board offers artisan cheeses selected by Tracy Dempsey.

Tracy Dempsey Originals and ODV Wines now offers subscription based artisan cheeses from their newest concept, The Cheese Board. Every other month members will receive 4-5 cheeses from artisan cheesemakers around the world along with crackers, spreadables and more for only $50.

ODV Wines is expanding its selections for its members which can complement the tasty cheeses. For $50 every other month members get a bottle of red, white & a bottle of something else along with tasting notes and a special treat.

To subscribe and get more information about The Cheese Board and ODV Wines visit their website.

%d bloggers like this: