Foodie news roundup for the week of Sept. 7.
On Sunday, Sept. 13, come to Luci’s Healthy Marketplace in Phoenix for their Meatless Mondays Cooking Class. This is the second in a series of five classes by blogger, recipe developer and dining enthusiast, Joanie Simon of Joanie Simon Media. This interactive class will walk you through a full meal, from main course to dessert. The class begins at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m. and is $39.99 a person. Make your reservations by visiting www.lucishealthymarketplace.com/cooking-classes.
Sanfratello’s has partnered with the Kids In Need Foundation’s “Treasures 4 Teachers” program to help gather school supplies for those in need. The school drive will take place through Sept. 25. Those who wish to donate can drop off new school supplies in the collection bins at Sanfratello’s located at 857 E. Warner Rd, Gilbert. Upon donating, guests are eligible to receive a free voucher for an order of cheese sticks or pizza fritz with any purchase.
When Zinburger learned that while at Phoenix Children’s Hospital fighting brain cancer for a second time, now 7-year-old Chase Lock only had cravings for its Butterfinger milkshake, they decided to partner with the boy’s family charity, Lock in Hope. Now through the end of September, Chase’s Butterfinger shake will be sold for $5 and the wine and burger bar is donating 100 percent of the proceeds to the organization. Lock in Hope provides Lock Boxes of Love to siblings of pediatric cancer patients. The boxes are care packages that are tailored to the age and gender of each child and are filled with items such as books, blankets and stuffed animals.
Presented by the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, the second annual Scottsdale Spice Culinary Event is set for Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Venue Scottsdale from 6 to 10 p.m. Valley chefs are ready to bring on the heat in an epic battle of spicy proportions for a chance to win a Golden Ticket to participate in the World Chef Challenge. Sapphire Sky will perform their electrifying live music. General admission is $45 for Scottsdale chamber members and $55 for non-members. Admission includes unlimited food samplings from participating restaurants, while supplies last; and seven drink tickets good for wine, craft beer and spirits. This is a 21 and over only event.
Join Arizona Culinary Institute for its Wine Flight School on Thursday, Sept. 17 featuring succulent, tasting size portions of food created by Chef Christopher Wolf and paired with four excellent wines from Spain and Portugal. Wine tasting and education, awesome food and lots of fun is available for $55. Register online at: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ebgjdt0lcb2036be&oseq=&c=&ch.
MAD Greens is excited to announce the grand opening of its latest Valley locations at Hilton Village on Sept. 15 and in Central Phoenix on Sept. 29. And to celebrate, MAD Greens will be hosting Free Salad Day at the opening of each restaurant, which means that all guests receive a free beverage and full-sized salad. Both grand openings will double as a fundraiser for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which will have representatives on-site collecting donations and informing guests about its Hope Fund. One hundred percent of all funds raised during Free Salad Day will be donated directly to PCH.
Celebrate the promise of cooler nights with live entertainment and a family-style buffet featuring Hawaiian favorites (think tuna poke, tropical fruits, lomi-lomi salmon and more) at Gertrude’s luau on the patio Sept. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. $40 per person, not inclusive of tax and gratuity. Call 480.946.8600 for reservations.
It’s time to pop the top because Four Peaks Brewing Co. has announced its popular seasonal favorite–Pumpkin Porter–will soon be available at its pubs and on store shelves this month.Pumpkin Porter will be released Sept. 9 at all Four Peaks brewpubs. Hensley Beverage Company will begin distributing Pumpkin Porter statewide Sept. 14.
On Sept. 17, Zuzu at Hotel Valley Ho hosts its Brew Master Dinner featuring SanTan Brewing. Savor a three-course menu paired with local craft beer from SanTan Brewing Company. In addition to crafting their core beers year round, brew master Anthony Canecchia keeps things exciting by releasing seasonal brews, small-batch specialty beers and a weekly cask-conditioned ale. For this dinner, ZuZu is welcoming the SanTan crew and four of their delicious beers. $42 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required by calling 480.421.7997.
Local photographer Jenelle Bonifield’s images of Arizona vineyard grapes (pictured) in the first morning light will be featured in her upcoming exhibit entitled “Through the Grapevine.” The opening night reception for this photography exhibit will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the LDV Wine Gallery in Scottsdale. The reception includes wine by the glass specials, live music and light hors d’ oeuvres. RSVPs are accepted by calling 480.664.4822. This exhibit will be showcased at LDV Wine Gallery through November.
La Grande Orange Grocery presents “Napa & Beyond” on Tuesday Sept. 15. Led by LGO wine curator, Kimber Stonehouse, this complimentary wine event will feature tastings from Madrigal Family Winery of Napa Valley, Sbragia Family Vineyards of Dry Creek Valley, and DeLille Cellars from Woodinville Washington. It will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in LGO’s Tasting Room. In addition to highlighting great wines from each winery, the winemakers will be on hand for meet and greets. There will be a discount on featured bottles of wine that night. No RSVP is required for this event.
With a goal to raise enough money and nonperishable food donations to feed 300,000 Arizonans in need, CityScape Phoenix and St. Mary’s Food Bank are asking for your help in fighting hunger from within the Downtown Phoenix community. On Sept. 17 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., you can donate nonperishable and canned food items or money to the drive-up drop-off zone on Central Avenue located in left turn lane on Jefferson Avenue. A fleet of volunteers will be helping unload the donations straight from the vehicles so you don’t even have to leave your car.
Southern Rail is continuing its series of successful wine events with a one-of-a-kind dinner experience featuring four of America’s premier wineries on Wednesday, Sept. 16. For $99 per person, guests can dine with Delille Cellars’ Co-Founder Jay Soloff, Doyenne Executive Catherine Hay, Madrigal Family Winery’s Vintner Chris Madrigal and Sbragia Family Vineyards’ Managing Partner Rob Rupe. As the courses change, each of the evenings special guest will move to another of the event’s four tables to share their experiences in the wine industry. Reception starts at 6 p.m. $99 per person plus tax and gratuity. To make a reservation, call 602.200.0085.
On Monday, Sept. 14, Corner Bakery Café will host their grand opening at 222 South Mill Avenue, Suite 111 near the intersection of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway, across from the Hayden Flour Mill. The first 100 guests through the doors at 7 a.m. will receive a commemorative Corner Bakery Cafe travel mug with free daily refills of hand-roasted coffee for one year.
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day Sept. 16 at SumoMaya. This festive celebration will feature a DJ spinning tunes all night long, a refreshing cucumber and lime margarita crafted specifically for this celebration for $5 and all-day social hour at the bar.
Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill is holding its first annual Phoenix Fire Fighters Burgers, Beers & Brawn Servathon, in remembrance and commemoration of those involved in 9/11 with proceeds to benefit one of their favorite charities, the Arizona Search Dogs. Reservations are required for this very special dinner taking place from 6 to 9 p.m. in order to reserve a Phoenix Fire Fighters as your server that evening. Twenty percent of the proceeds from sales for the entire day will go to Arizona Search Dogs as well as all the tips the Fire Fighters collect serving tables that evening.
In honor of National Grandparent’s Day (Sunday, Sept. 13), treat your grandparents to a special recipe of Chicken & Dumplings for just $8. Make sure they save room for dessert as TEXAZ Grill is offering free old-fashioned, homemade rice pudding for grandparents.
This Sunday, the Pig’s Head Dinner is making its big debut at Bink’s Kitchen + Bar Scottsdale. This family-style, all-you-can-eat dining event features slow-cooked pig’s head along with 20 side dishes for $28. For reservations, call 480.664.9234.
For more fab foodie news, become a fan on Facebook, a follower on Twitter @AZFoothillsFood and check us out on Instagram.
Taste Tidbits
