Foodie news roundup for the week of August 5.
Nico Heirloom Kitchen in Gilbert rolled out a new menu this week. Even the signature octopus got a makeover! New dishes include filet tips with poblano crema, pickled onion, gorgonzola and roasted tomato; mussels with Schreiner chorizo, blisterd tomato, white wine and Noble bread; rainbow trout with charred tomato, artichoke, red potato and spinach; porchetta with house-made sausage, tomato barley and arugula; and more.
Meat lovers are invited to celebrate National Filet Mignon Day on Tuesday, August 13, with Morton’s The Steakhouse. From opening until 10 p.m., Morton’s will be serving its petit filet sandwiches for $1 in the bar area.
Dorian in Scottsdale is celebrating National Filet Mignon Day and National Prosecco Day, both on August 13, with half off select bottles of prosecco and 25 percent off the filet (normally priced $32).
Mix Up Bar at Royal Palms Resort and Spa is honing in on sweet summery flavors with its latest cocktail menu (pictured). The newest lineup of garden-to-glass cocktails are made with refreshing ingredients including peaches, kiwi, watermelon and aloe liqueur in cocktails like Smoke on the Watermelon with mezcal, Fresh Prince with Ketel One, Silver Rose with gin, Kiwi-Colada and more.
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho showcases the winning recipe of its first-ever Battle Freak Shake all month long. After three rounds of competition at the Chefs + Farmers Market Series, Scottsdale’s Dawn Stephens took home the grand prize package. The Vanilla Pecan Pie “Show Stopper” Shake is a vanilla milkshake with brown sugar, a slice of pecan pie, vanilla, candied pecans, pâte brisée crust and whipped cream.
On Saturday, August 10, starting at 10 a.m., Cider Corps in Mesa will release the C-Bees Cucumber Honey Cider in limited-edition 12-oz. bottles available for purchase by the four-pack for $13.50. The Mesa cidery will only have 500 four-packs available. Everyone who purchases the bottles will get a commemorative sticker. The cidery will also have C-Bees T-shirts available for $25.
On Wednesday, August 14, from open to close, teachers will receive a free entrée with any purchase by simply showing their school ID or other proof of profession at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in Gilbert. (This deal is only valid at Whiskey Row in Gilbert.) They will also be getting a sneak peek at the restaurant’s new menu launching on Thursday, August 15.
Scottsdale Fashion Square announces that SunLife Organics, a healthful juice and smoothie concept, will open its first store outside of California at the shopping center in early fall.
Did you know August is National Romance Awareness Month? Celebrate your sweetheart with the Romance Awareness Month Couples Menu at Mora Italian. The menu will be offered during the month of August and include two courses, plus dessert, served family-style for $35 per person and additional wine pairings will be offered for $15. Guests can choose from first courses like the Little Gem Lettuces, with caesar-style dressing, egg and bottarga; Arugula & Goat Cheese, with maple vinaigrette, walnut, fennel and pomegranate seeds; or the Radicchio & Endive, with blood orange, pignoli, parmesan and black olives. Second courses include a selection of either Pasta Al Pomodoro, the chef’s signature dish; or Torchio, with pork and porcini ragu. Couples will be served a Salted Caramel Budino for dessert, with glanduja crumble, sea salt and fresh whipped cream.
This summer, LDV Winery hosts a casual country barbecue at its beautiful vineyard tucked into the Chiricahua Mountain Foothills. On Saturday, August 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., guests can enjoy wine, great food, a winemaker-led tour beginning at 2 p.m., games and photo opportunities in Southeastern Arizona’s own wine country. Cost is $25 per person or $20 per person for LDV Winery Sky Islander Club Members, which includes lunch and a glass of wine. Additional wine is available for purchase. Registration is required and can be done online at www.eventbrite.com.
Zinburger has partnered with Million Dollar Teacher Project, a nonprofit organization with a mission to support teachers and provide all students with excellent instruction every day, to help raise money for teachers and schools in Arizona. Zinburger will be hosting benefit nights (August 12 at Biltmore Fashion Park and August 19 at Gilbert Heritage Marketplace) during which 20 percent of food sales from 5 to 9 p.m. will be donated to Million Dollar Teacher Project.
