Later this week, the town of Cave Creek and the Cave Creek Merchants Chamber of Commerce are hosting a fun, affordable culinary festival. Taste of Cave Creek event from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 24 at Stagecoach Village (7100 E. Cave Creek Road, in Cave Creek). The event will feature flavorful taste samplings from 22 of the area’s most popular restaurants, including Alberto’s, The Bad Donkey, Barro’s Pizza, Big Earl’s Greasy Eats, Binkley’s, Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue, The Buffalo Chip, Carefree Station, Cartwright’s, Cave Creek Coffee Company, Dairy Queen, El Encanto, Firecreek Coffee, Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, The Hideaway, The Horny Toad, Indian Village, Le Sans Souci, Los Mesquites Taqueria, Marzano’s, Silver Spur Saloon at Frontier Town, and Tonto Bar & Grill.
Here are some Taste of Cave Creek highlights:
Cooking Demonstrations
In addition to tasting savory samples, guests can view cooking demonstrations by two local chefs: Chef Aaron Geister of the award-winning fine dining establishments Tonto Bar & Grill and Cartwright’s will demonstrate how to cook Ahi Nachos with Crab and a Mango-Jicama Salsa at 8 p.m. at the west end of Stagecoach Village.
Chef Mad Coyote Joe will conduct two cooking demonstrations, “Tequila Chilies and Mad Coyote Joe,” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and again from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the west end of Stagecoach Village. A Cave Creek resident who has achieved national fame, both as a Southwestern cookbook author and television personality, Mad Coyote Joe will answer all of your questions on grilling, barbecue chilies, tequila and just about anything that has to do with foods of the Southwest.
NEW Fashion Show
One highlight of the evening is a special fashion show coordinated by Anna Stewart and Rebecca Harding, owners of Instant Karma Boutique. Located inside Cave Creek Coffee Company, Instant Karma Boutique features eco-chic products and designs, including dresses, skirts, blouses, handbags, and jewelry. Stewart and Harding will debut the arrival of signature merchandise from famed national designers including Prophetik, Synergy Organics, Suburban Riot, Kelly B, Raw Earth and more. Also included in the fashion show: Cave Creek Cowboy Company, Pink Cadillac Boutique, and Glory Bee’s. The fashion show begins at 8 p.m. at Stagecoach Village’s center gazebo. Several members of Cactus Shadows High School’s marching band will perform during the show.
Guests to the “Taste of Cave Creek” can also view original pieces of art and photography that were submitted to the 4th Annual Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival (CCFAF), a statewide competition that recognized talented artists in seven creative categories this past July. In addition, CCFAF will announce the winners in their summer-long “Coyote Card” promotion. Original pieces of art will also be on exhibit from local art galleries and members of the non-profit Sonoran Arts League.
Several local non-profits will also participate in the “Taste of Cave Creek” event. In addition, Cave Creek Wild West Days featured artist Lance Headlee will be at the event to sign limited edition prints of his piece, entitled “Let’s Ride.” Sponsored by the Cave Creek Merchants Chamber of Commerce, Cave Creek Wild West Days takes place Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8 throughout the entire Town of Cave Creek. Unsigned prints cost $20; signed prints cost $30.
And the best news yet: A portion of proceeds from the Taste of Cave Creek will benefit the nonprofit Cave Creek Merchants Chamber of Commerce. In addition, one of the event’s main liquor sponsors, Alliance Beverage, has arranged for a portion of proceeds from wine samples to benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Admission to the Taste of Cave Creek is $10. Food and drink tickets cost $1 and food taste samples range from $1 to $2. Food tickets will be sold separately and there will be several cash bars. Parking is free and free shuttle service is available from the Cave Creek Post Office parking lot. Tickets are also available at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, Silver Spur Saloon, Cave Creek Coffee Company and Cave Creek Cowboy Company. 480.437.1110, http://cavecreekchamber.org/.
Taste of Cave Creek on Sept. 24
Sounds like a nice casual event, and so cheap!!
The great thing about the Valley, it’s a huge city but has great smaller communities as well!
This seems like a really affordable and tasty event. I like that the website says what each restaurant will be featuring. That makes planing out the space in my stomach much easier.