Foodie news roundup for the week of April 24.
Breckenridge Brewery has announced the launch of Barrel Aged Imperial Cherry Stout (pictured), the second release in its Brewery Lane series. The new brew has been aged in 50 percent whiskey barrels and 50 percent port wine barrels and features sweet-sour Montmorency tart cherries. A perfect offering to enjoy on summer evenings and paired with the season’s barbecue dishes, the stout has the tartness of cherries with hints of wine, whiskey, and oak. This is a small-batch release available in limited markets and will be served at Angels Trumpet Ale House and Tops Liquor.
Joe’s Real BBQ is planning on giving away over 5,000 free meals during their annual Customer Appreciation Day Wednesday, May 3 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) Free meal includes: Choice of a pulled pork or chicken breast sandwich, fresh homemade coleslaw, BBQ pit beans, and a drink. There will be children’s sized sandwiches available for the little ones. Rules: Only one meal per person, must be present to receive the free meal, no take out and no other menu items will be offered. If you wish to help Open Arms Care Center, please bring cans of food (fruit in particular) or boxes of cereal.
Sprinkles Cupcakes unveils the limited-time Exhibitionism—The Rolling Stones cupcake. These cupcakes that are topped with the band’s iconic tongue-and-lips logo, which was designed by artist John Pasche, will be rocking out from now until May 18. Sprinkles is celebrating The Rolling Stones exhibit at Chicago’s Navy Pier with these nationwide rock n’ roll cupcakes.
Just in time for National Barbecue Month this May, Naked Q is officially open in Scottsdale (10240 N. 90th Street in Scottsdale). At Naked Q, guests can dress their food the way that they want it as the meats are served naked (without sauce).
Yard House is giving away dinner for a year, valued at a $100 gift card every month for 12 months, to two lucky grand prize winners. Simply text KEGS to 37238 (DRAFT) to enter. In addition, eight guests will be selected at random each week to receive a $50 gift card from now through May 14 when the contest ends. For official sweepstakes rules and restrictions, visit yardhouse.com/draft.
Le Macaron, located at Scottsdale Quarter, now serves ice cream macarons. These tasty desserts come in five flavors: Vanilla, Strawberry, Mango, Coffee and Green Tea. Priced at $3.75.
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, reserve your spot for Craft of the Cocktail at Mountain Shadows’ Hearth ’61 patio. The resort’s bartender will guide you through a tasting analysis, history tutorial and mixology lesson where you’ll savor two seasonal cocktails. The focus on the April 30 event is Tiki cocktails; $40 per person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 480.624.5458.
From Monday, May 1 to Friday, May 5, Sauce is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week with 15 percent off for for teachers who dine-in at any of their locations (excluding Sky Harbor). A teacher just needs to mention the offer and show their school ID to enjoy the discount.In honor of today’s 2017 NFL Draft, stop by any Thirsty Lion location in Tempe, Scottsdale or Gilbert today and enjoy $1 off all draught pints during the draft. Thirsty Lion will also be serving its happy hour menu from 3 to 6 p.m. with $4.50 well drinks, margaritas and house wine and a delicious $5 and $6 food menu that includes bacon cheddar potato pancakes, burger sliders and pizza.
Brat Haus has launched its happy hour menu (3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday) and “Stein Sundays.” Happy hour food and drink specials include $1 off all draught beers, $5 glasses of wine, $7 haus cocktails, $4 fried pickles, $6 brat burgers, $15 giant pretzels, and a free brat for dogs. Reverse Happy Hour on Friday and Saturdays from 9 to 11 p.m. includes $2 off all draft beers, $5 glasses of wine, and $5 well drinks. On the dog-friendly backyard patio, enjoy corn hole, ping-pong and other activities for everyone to enjoy. On Stein Sundays, enjoy a Sunday Funday with brats and beer, bottomless steins (select beers) and mimosas for $20 from 12 to 3 p.m.
Shake Shack stores across the country, including the three locations in Arizona, are “shaking it forward” with their company-wide Great American Shake Sale. From May 1 through the 31st, guests who donate $2 or more to No Kid Hungry will receive a free shake on their next visit.
Reserve your spot for the Elote Tequila Tasting Event at Elote Café in Sedona. Elote Café, usually closed Sundays, is making an exception for this special event on Sunday, May 7. Starting promptly at 2 p.m., James Beard Award-nominated Chef Jeff Smedstad, with the help of Herradura and Patron, will present a tequila master’s class. Attendees will enjoy seven courses of small plates crafted specially for the event. Some plates will include tequila as an ingredient while others will be paired with a variety of artisanal tequilas. Chef Smedstad and tequila experts will guide guests through the basics of tequila and complementary cuisine and briefly explore the different refinement processes of tequila in a mini multimedia lecture series. Only one seating and reservations are required. Reservations are available now and space is very limited. All proceeds from the Elote Tequila Tasting Event will go to the Sedona Rotary Club, benefiting the Verde Valley Imagination Library.
Visit Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa between May 1 to May 5 during regular posted business hours only (5 to 9 p.m.) and get a voucher for a free pizza. Any size pizza, no limit on toppings. Value up to $25. Must be an employed Arizona K-12 teacher and show valid school ID.
Tucson’s Barrio Brewing Company is expanding to the Valley with a brand new location at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport on April 29. Arizona’s oldest brewery’s brand new space will host 125 seats, with 12 beers on tap; six seasonal flavors matched with six countertop regulars. The first Valley location is expected to feature many of Barrio’s mainstay offerings, such as the canonized Diane Burger and their iconic Barrio Blonde brew, as well as a number of additions, including an all-new breakfast menu. Community dining tables, televisions, shuffleboard, and of course, crisp, cold craft brews make Barrio Brewing company a true neighborhood nest, and beginning on April 29, Mesa’s newest culinary takeoff.
The Beer for Brains Foundation’s EPICURIAD Spring 2017 Food, Craft Beer & Wine Pairings event has a new twist for this year’s event on April 29. Street food chefs get out of their trucks and into the kitchen to create a new dish for a gourmet pairing competition. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with an exciting VIP face-off event between two award-winning street food celebrity chefs where a flip of the coin will determine whether they cook with beer or wine and they will have 35 minutes to create a delicious entrée using the spirits and ingredients provided. The main event follows with a large sampling of gourmet food, craft beer and wine from 12 chefs, breweries and vineyards in an intimate setting. Event attendees will vote on the category of “Best Pairing,” based on whether craft beer or wine is the attendee-preferred pairing with each dish, and “Best Entrée,” based on taste and presentation. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded to the top three winning chefs who will compete against the restaurant chefs in the EPICURIAD Fall 2017 event. $49 per person; $75 per VIP ticket. Tickets are purchased here: http://www.thebeerforbrainsfoundation.org
The second annual Plated & Staged… A Herberger Theater Experience fundraiser is Sunday, April 30. Guests will dine at top Valley restaurants to benefit the Herberger Theater’s Youth Outreach Programs – Arizona Young Artists’ Competition, Multicultural Theater Camp and Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts. The evening will begin at the Herberger Theater, in Downtown Phoenix (but guests won’t know where they are dining until they arrive), at 5 p.m. for a cocktail reception, silent auction and entertainment. Dinner follows at 7:30 p.m. Guests find out which fine dining restaurant they will experience just before departure at 7 p.m. Participating restaurants will host a table of eight with a specially prepared three-course meal and wine. For tickets or information, contact Laurene Austin at 602.254.7399, Ext. 105 or visit HerbergerTheater.org/plated-staged-a-herberger-theater-experience/.
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