Foodie news roundup for the week of Nov. 28.
Tonight, Dec. 1, Hopdoddy Burger Bar will host a one-night, pint night event at their Scottsdale location. Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., guests can grab a pint of Freak’N Brewing Company’s Faced IPA and Sweet Thang beers on tap. Throughout the evening, Hopdoddy will be giving out plenty of Hopdoddy swag and Freak’N gifts to take home. Additionally, Hopdoddy will continue the “Twice the Craft” beer and burger special where guests can pair any of the restaurant’s mainstay burgers with any local draft beer for $10.
Join El Palacio in Chandler on Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. for a holiday tamale class. The class is $15 and includes the tamale-making lesson, recipes, lunch and a drink.
Hotel Valley Ho hosts the Rooftop Whiskey + Cigar Dinner happening on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the scenic Sky Line Rooftop (pictured). Enjoy several full-sized cigars from Cigar King, craft cocktails made with award-winning High West Whiskey of Utah, wines by The Prisoner and beer. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with passed hors d’oeuvres. The three-course dinner is served at 7:15 p.m. The event is $99 per person, plus tax and gratuity, including cigars. Call 480.421.7997 to make your reservation.
On Dec. 8, Kneaders will host its annual Evening With Santa from 5 to 7 p.m., the only night of the year when diners can enjoy Kneaders famous Chunky Cinnamon French Toast for dinner. One hundred percent of French toast sales from all Valley locations this special evening will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Mercy Gilbert Specialty Care Center.
On Dec. 6, J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician will welcome the historic Château des Jacques winery, recognized as the most prestigious estate in Beaujolais France, for a five-course dinner by Chef Jacques Qualin, which highlights the exquisite flavor profiles of each vintage. Matthew Semancik, the Kobrand French Specialist for the Western United States, will be on hand to explain how Château des Jacques has revolutionized the winemaking of Beaujolais. The event is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required.
From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Mesa Riverview Park, The Taste of Arizona Festival will bring together people from all over the Valley to enjoy food vendors, local businesses and great music. This family-friendly event will feature live music, a free kid-zone, a beer and wine garden, celebrity chef demonstrations and meet and greets with Olympic medalists. Tickets are $5 before the event; $6 at the door; 11 and younger are free. VIP tickets are $45 each.
Join LDV Winery owners and cooks Curt Dunham and Peggy Fiandaca for an intimate evening of great food (like crab-stuffed shrimp and black-and-white-sesame-encrusted Ahi tuna) paired with award-winning LDV Winery wines on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. $95 per person, in advance. Register via email to Peggy@LDVWinery.com or call 480.664.4822.
Located off the Santan 202 and Gilbert Road, My Pie Gilbert is the third Arizona installment of the local fine-casual pizza franchise, offering authentic New York flavor. A grand opening event is planned for Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to close. Customers that attends will enjoy free garlic knots, live entertainment, kid’s activities and amazing giveaways throughout the day. A portion of the proceeds from the Grand Opening sales will benefit A Broader Approach, a Gilbert, AZ based organization committed to helping parents research and utilize biomedical treatment options for their child with autism.
Coup des Tartes hosts a Princess Holiday Tea on designated Sundays beginning Dec. 4. Participants can enjoy holiday music, hot tea, cocoa, yummy treats and a visit from a very special princess. Each tea will be limited to 40 people to ensure that everyone gets face time with Ariel. Each child will also receive a special gift. The tickets are $55 per adult and $35 per child, and advanced purchase is required. Event dates and times: Dec. 4 at 1 p.m.; Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. To reserve your spot, call 602.212.1082.
Central Kitchen launches a seasonal Phoenix Ale Brewery beer, called Phoestivus, this Friday, Dec. 2. Phoestivus, which is a brown ale with cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, will only be on tap for two weeks. To celebrate, Central Kitchen is hosting a weekend-long ugly sweater contest. People who wear an ugly sweater into the restaurant, snap a photo and tag @centralkitchenaz on Instagram or Facebook will be entered in the contest. Monday, the entries will be compiled into an album on Central Kitchen’s Facebook page, and the photo with the most likes by the end of the day will be the victor of a $25 gift card, T-shirt and an empty growler. Guests also can get a $2 Phoenix Ale Brewery beer for themselves when they participate in Central Kitchen’s Buy a Buddy a Brew program. The way the program works is you pay for a beer for a buddy you think will enjoy it, you provide your buddy’s name and email or phone number so they can be notified they have a beer waiting for them, and their name gets added to the list (seen on-screen in the restaurant and on the website). Then when your buddy comes in and asks if they’re on the list, their beer will be delivered to their table.
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