Foodie news roundup for the week of April 6.
April is National Grilled Cheese Month, and Sauce Pizza & Wine is hosting a build-your-own grilled cheese promotion to celebrate. Guests will have the chance to submit their original grilled cheese recipe either in-store or on Facebook. Sauce will feature the winning recipe in-store for the month of May and donate $1 from each grilled cheese sold to a charity of the winner’s choice. Winner will be chosen by the Executive Chef based on taste, flavor, cost and creativity. Entries must be received on-line or in-store by midnight PDT April 18. The winner will be notified via email or Facebook message.
National Grilled Cheese Day is April 12, and Perfect Pear Bistro in Tempe and Ahwatukee is celebrating with a buy one, get one free grilled cheese spectacular.
On Tuesday, April 14, Southern Rail and Changing Hands Bookstore will welcome James Beard Award-winning Chef Dan Barber for a dinner and book talk in celebration of his first book, The Third Plate. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with Chef Justin Beckett’s exclusively-Arizona, three-course dinner inspired by The Third Plate ($79 per person plus tax, includes one signed paperback copy of The Third Plate) before guests head next door to Changing Hands for a meet and greet and book talk with Dan Barber. Reservations are only available by visiting http://danbarber.bpt.me. Guests wishing to only attend the meet and greet and book talk with Dan Barber at Changing Hands may do so for $18 (includes signed paperback copy of The Third Plate).
The Cartel Brewery has expanded its space at Ash and University in Tempe with a seven-barrel system and a tasting room that is a quiet escape from the coffee shop scene. The tasting room opens Thursday, April 9 from 5 to 9 p.m. with the tapping of Cartel’s new 480 Session Ale. On Saturday, April 11, it hosts its first Backdoor Brunch with the United Steaks of Cheese Food Truck. This food truck from Chef Adam Allison will roll up to the Brewery’s backdoor. Guests can order brunch, then enjoy with coffee or beer inside the brewery (they’ll have big community tables set up inside).
Ten years ago, the world’s first cupcake bakery opened in Beverly Hills: Sprinkles Cupcakes. To celebrate this special anniversary, Sprinkles is offering every customer a free cupcake on Monday, April 13. Valley residents can pick up their free Sprinkles Cupcake from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Crudo’s ongoing Blank Space dinner series is a can’t-miss culinary throwdown. For $75, plus tax and tip, per person, guests will receive a time, date and the name of the celebrity guest chef–and that’s about it. Josh Hebert of Scottsdale’s POSH Restaurant joins Crudo’s chef Cullen Campbell on April 13. Make sure to call 602.358.8666 to save your seat and pay in advance.
On Wednesday, April 15, the English Rose Tea Room in Carefree will host a special presentation with Baroness Knight of Collingtree for a special Take Tea on Tax Day. The event begins at 3 p.m., admission is $30 and includes tea, scones, and authentic British fare.
Spring has officially arrived, and Hopdoddy is celebrating with two specials featuring flavors of the season. This week’s shake special, the Almond Joy (available through April 16), combines house made ice cream with chocolate syrup, coconut cream, almond butter and is topped off with a generous mound of whipped cream, toasted coconut flakes and chocolate drizzle. All month long, Hopdoddy guests can enjoy the popular What’s Up Doc? cocktail (pictured, available through April 30), which mixes carrot and orange juices spiked with organic vodka, ginger syrup and a hint of lime.
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