Foodie news roundup for the week of Feb. 15.
UPDATE: Sold Out. Desert Botanical Garden’s Corks & Cactus returns in 2016 with a two-day festival on Saturday, Feb. 20 or Sunday, Feb. 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. Corks & Cactus is the Garden’s premier wine event where guests can sample a variety of wines from different regions of the world and to talk with representatives from the different wineries. Guests can sample from 40 different wines each day while enjoying the beauty of the Garden. All wines featured will be available for sale at the event and all proceeds benefit the Garden’s education, conservation, research and horticulture programs. Wine can be purchased by the bottle or case. Each day will feature different musical entertainment; Saturday features The Dmitri Matheny Group and Sunday features Mr. Trio. Members: $35; General Public: $40 (order tickets here). 21 and older event.
Zappone’s Italian Bistro in Gilbert hosts a Ruffino four-course wine dinner Feb. 24. The $55 fest is all inclusive and starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Upward Projects is rolling out the Brews on the Block craft beer and live music party on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. Happening across all four of Upwards’ Central Phoenix locations (Federal Pizza, Joyride Taco House, Postino Central and Windsor), Brews on the Block will feature four pours of limited-access Oskar Blues Brewery beers and live music from Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold.
Macayo’s Mexican Grill & Cantina (11107 N. Scottsdale Rd. location) will celebrating Arizona Cocktail Week with their 1st Annual Top Shelf Tequila & Margarita tasting benefit for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 3 to 8 p.m. Join for this exciting new tequila and margarita experience for $40 a person. Macayo’s will be donating 50 percent of proceeds from this first annual tequila and margarita tasting to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Chapter in Arizona in order to combat cancer and save lives.
Blue Coyote Cantina at Talking Stick Resort is now offering an assortment of $2 tacos on Tuesdays from 4 to 10 p.m. Guests can stop by for their choice of tacos: carne asada, chicken tinga, carnitas, barbacoa, Yucatan shrimp, al pastor and veggie.
Ncounter in Tempe had launched a new brunch menu. Highlights include: gluten-free red velvet waffles (pictured), made-from-scratch chilaquiles and on-tap Nitro Coffee, plus more.
Miracle Mile Deli is celebrating National Kraut and Frankfurter Week Feb. 22 through Feb. 28. Stop by Miracle Mile Deli in Phoenix any day that week to get a hot dog topped with kraut, a side of fries and a small soft drink for $5.
National Chili Day is Thursday, Feb. 25, and TEXAZ Grill celebrates with all-you-can-eat chili for $7.50 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
National Pancake Week is Feb. 21 through Feb. 27 and to celebrate Corner Bakery Cafe will give three lucky people free pancakes for an entire year. There’s no purchase necessary to win, you just have to fill out an eCafe form at one of Corner Bakery’s three locations. The eCafe is a newsletter sent out only twice a month. At the end of the Pancake Week, Corner Bakery will select one lucky winner from each of the three Valley locations.
The 3rd annual Taste in Tempe is expanding after two sold-out years to a new location. The new location, Neil G. Giuliano Park at Hayden Ferry Lakeside, below the Mill Avenue bridge, delivers the opportunity to explore a diverse culinary scene with more than 30 independent restaurants and exclusive craft breweries in one scenic setting on Sunday, Feb. 21, 1 to 4 p.m. Guest can enjoy more space to explore, shady areas to munch on samples, cooking demonstrations and more. Food participants include Cartel Coffee, Crepe Bar, Pig & Pickle and many more.
Rusconi’s American Kitchen hosts a Laeticia Wine Dinner, featuring the Artwork of Dyana Hesson and book signing, at 6 p.m. on Feb. 22. The dinner includes five courses paired with Laeticia’s wines. Hesson’s art will be prominently featured during the dinner and attendees will have a chance to meet her and purchase her book, “Radiance: The Paintings of Dyana Hesson.” $70 per person plus tax and gratuity.
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