Foodie news roundup for the week of April 25.
Saturday marks the third-annual Chandler Craft Spirits Festival, a community-wide celebration of local and boutique distillers, hand-crafted cocktails and the creative minds behind them both. Slated for 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Downtown Ocotillo in Chandler, the festival offers an opportunity to mix and mingle with industry insiders and specialty cocktail sampling from an endless array of local and boutique distillers, among them Deep Eddy, AZ Distilling Co., Rising Sol, Chicago Distilling Company and many, many more. This year’s Chandler Craft Spirits Festival promises more than 150 specialty hand-crafted cocktails from savory to sweet (and several craft beer and wine options, too) and more spirits-sampling than ever before. General Admission tickets are $40, and VIP passes are available for $60. Designated Driver passes (no alcohol can be consumed with this entry option) are available for $10. Click here for tickets.
Infusion Coffee & Tea in Tempe has rolled out a brand new breakfast and lunch menu featuring small bites and salads, paninis, waffles, crepes and breakfast. Standouts include the Bourbon Barrel Burundi French Toast made with homemade bourbon syrup and dredged in the house made Bourbon Barrel Burundi Coffee, this a super unique dish you won’t find anywhere else in the Valley.
Pei Wei is giving guests a new way to boost nutrition and flavor in their customizable meals with the introduction of quinoa on the menu via the new Korean Spicy with Quinoa. (Guests can also pair quinoa with any of Pei Wei’s Wok Classic entrees for an additional 99 cents.) It is the first Asian-inspired fast casual restaurant to offer quinoa, which will be available at Pei Wei’s more than 200 restaurants through July 4.
Let The Melting Pot get you through the week with their Wednesday Wine-Down. Bottles of house wine will be $10 or you can receive $10 off any bottle of wine. The Melting Pot’s Signature Sip and Dip Happy Hour cocktails will also be available for $5.95.
Premiering to the public on Tuesday, May 3, Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour debuts its all-new Book o’ Cocktails drink menu. Hand-written by Bitter & Twisted’s Principal Barmen & Proprietor, Ross Simon, the illustrated 24-page tome also boasts a retro arcade vibe thanks to 8-bit-inspired, video game artwork by illustrator, Matt Andrews. The 2016 B&T Book o’ Cocktails is brimming with all-new menu sections and 21 innovative new cocktail creations, including an entire page devoted to the Negroni cocktail.
LON’s at the Hermosa Inn recently unveiled a new seasonal menu with a focus on sustainability to create pork dishes in 10-plus ways by using an entire pig each week. Other dishes include roasted pork belly with polenta pancakes, seared foie gras and Tristan lobster tail.
U.S. Egg just launched the biggest gluten-free menu in Arizona. On their breakfast menu, you’ll find three different types of eggs Benedict, a breakfast sandwich, waffles and French toast. For lunch, people can enjoy burgers, sandwiches and salads.
Starting May 2, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria will be offering their new summer cheesecakes. The strawberry cheesecake will be dished up with fresh strawberries and whipped cream and the blueberry cobbler cheesecake is a vanilla-and-fresh-blueberry delight, served with a crunchy granola topping and whipped cream. These tangy, yet sweet, cheesecakes will be available through the end of July.
May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and Papa Murphy’s Pizza (pictured) is raising awareness and money for local foster care nonprofit, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation. For every family size, signature pepperoni pizza sold from May 1-31, Papa Murphy’s will donate $1 to this nonprofit. Plus, on Monday, May 2, Papa Murphy’s will kickstart Teacher Appreciation Week with a very special offer. Teachers can take 50 percent off a pizza with a teacher ID. From open to close on Monday, May 2 only—get half-off any pizza, any size at regular price—excludes mini-murph, sides and desserts at all participating Valley locations.
Thirsty Lion announces its SanTan Village grand opening on Tuesday, May 3. The new gastropub will feature a 32-seat bar, an outdoor patio with fire pits and flat-screen TVs ideal for an afternoon or evening filled with fun, food and cocktails.
Thank a teacher this May 3, National Teacher Appreciation Day with the Sprinkles Cupcakes‘ Teacher Box, featuring red velvet, vanilla, black & white and dark chocolate cupcakes. This delicious box is available May 3 and can be ordered online or at Sprinkles Cupcakes.
Award-winning EVO is celebrating its three-year anniversary of being a staple in the Old Town Scottsdale district. From 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on May 1, guests can enjoy one of EVO’s delicious dishes from their Brunch After Dark menu along with a celebratory Champagne toast at 7:30 p.m. from owner and founder, Nick Neuman.
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