Leave the tricks to the kids; these treats are all yours
Another busy weekend is ahead of us, and just in time. I don’t know about you, but I have been getting rocked by my day job and I cannot wait until this weekend to just breathe and have a little fun. So after you get your little’s to bed after all the fun of trick-or-treating and are looking to find your own fun, here are some great event happening this weekend.
Get out there and enjoy yourself; you deserve it!
Friday, October 31st
Kazimierz World Wine Bar is hosting a four-course Chartreuse cocktail dinner on All Hallows Eve. 4 courses paired with 4 cocktails for only $40 per person on Friday, October 31 at 6:30 pm. Seating is limited (unlike your imagination after four Chartreuse cocktails). Live music performed by Ashley Norton of Nashville will follow at 9 pm. Reservations are required; call Kazimierz at (480) 946-3004.
Saturday, November 1st
In honor of Veterans Day, Café Esperanza, the coffee whose profits benefit local charities, is launching a promotion to support our military veterans: for every bag of Café Esperanza coffee purchased in November 2014, they will donate $1 (up to $1,000) to the Madison Street Veterans Association, a peer-run group of homeless and formerly homeless veterans offering personal, individualized service, basic resources, community and advocacy for all veterans.
Café Esperanza is a proprietary blend of 100% Arabica bean coffee from Central and South America, locally roasted, packaged and distributed in Phoenix. All proceeds benefit Catholic Charities Community Services, Inc., one of Arizona’s oldest and largest nonprofit organizations and it’s collaborating agencies. Your purchase is providing shelter for the homeless and abused, protection and nurturing for children and families, assistance to refugees and veterans, aid to those in crisis and help to the impoverished.
On Saturday, November 1, the Scottsdale Airport will transform from bustling transportation hub to the hottest party the North Valley has ever seen as it hosts the 3nd Weekend Jetaway Culinary Casino Classic, presented by AXA Advisors Southwest and Aero Jet Services.
Weekend Jetaway will raise funds for Elevate Phoenix via an evening of gourmet food and drink, music, dancing, “elevated” surprise entertainers and a dice-style game that will culminate with four lucky guests winning a luxurious two-night, three-day round-trip vacation on their very private jet. Live and silent auction, a celebrity DJ, dancing and even circus performers will round out the entertainment.
PGA star and North Valley resident Tom Lehman, a founding board member of Elevate Phoenix, will serve as the event’s honorary host. Lehman is the onlygolfer in history to have been awarded the Player of the Year honor on all three PGA Tours: the PGA Tour, the Web.com Tour and the Champions Tour. Currently playing on the PGA Senior Tour, Lehman won the Open Championship, one of the PGA’s major titles, in 1996. In addition to hosting the affair, he will also be bringing a prize just as enticing as the private jet vacation itself – the chance to bid on the opportunity to be his guest at the 2015 British Open!
Now, while only a select few guests will win the jet and British open packages, respectively, thanks to a lux silent auction including vacation homes, private dining experiences, spa packages, fine jewelry and more, many party-goers will leave winners. And, given the eye-popping culinary aspect of the event, all party-goers will leave full. Here is a sneak peek:
Alliance Beverage| The wildly popular Deep Eddy Vodka – in a variety of flavors – will be among the signature spirits of the evening.
Sassi Scottsdale| Chef Christopher Nicosia will be serving butternut squash panna cotta with duck conserva and pomegranate as well as the Sassi cannoli
Talavera at the Four Seasons Scottsdale Troon North| Chef Mel Mecinas will be serving seared venison loin, mole sauce, stone fruit chutney and chocolate Grand Mariner mousse with candied kumquats.
Proof at the Four Seasons Scottsdale Troon North| Chef Jesse Hansen will be serving slow braised boneless short ribs, marble potatoes, sweet onion marmalade and cranberry pucker float.
The Yacht Club| Chef Aaron May will be serving oysters two ways.
Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market| Chef Lisa Anderson will be serving pulled pork sliders and bourbon pecan tarts.
The Melting Pot| Director Marie Miller Rodriguez will be serving chocolate covered strawberries.
SOL Cocina| Chef Deborah Schneider will be serving Baja corn chowder with crab.
The Mission| Chef Matt Carter will be serving Sichuan pepper cured pork cheek, smoked and pickled cauliflower and figs.
Cookies from Home will also be on-hand with their crowd-pleasing cookies in your favorite flavors.
Gentlemen, put down your razors. Movember is almost here and it’s time to raise awareness and funds for the Movember Foundation, one meal and mustache at a time.
The Movember Foundation supports world-class men’s health programs combating prostate and testicular cancer initiatives. Both Culinary Dropout locations in the Valley invite you to join their efforts in this worldwide charity movement by refraining from a trip to the barbershop until December. Think you got what it takes to grow a manly Magnum? Let it all grow out and support a good cause by dropping into Culinary Dropout during the month of November.
On your way in, visit the backdrop of beautiful mustaches and have your photo taken. If you’re unable to grow your own mustache, a faux Clark Gable or Ron Burgundy will be provided for you. Photos will be uploaded to the “Movember Movement 2014” album daily. One dollar for every photo posted will be donated to the Movember Foundation. Tag yourself in a photo and an additional dollar will be donated. Don’t forget to use #CDOMovember when posting about the movement to social media. Last Movember, with your help, Culinary Dropout donated approximately $2,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Harvest Wine Festival at The Wigwam
On Saturday, Nov. 1, The Wigwam‘s Harvest Wine Festival is taking place from 6- 9 p.m. For $30, guests can enjoy 15 tastings and a commemorative glass along with music from John Kaizer & Friends making it a night to remember. With over 70 wines from Sonoma, Napa, Paso Robles, Central Coast and the Pacific Northwest, guests are sure to find one that’s perfect for their palette. Food and beverage sold separately with wine cases available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Arizona Assistance in Healthcare, offering cancer patients assistance with non-medical expenses.
Uptown Farmer’s Market Opening
On November 1st, you can enjoy the opening of the Uptown Farmers Market, on the southeast corner of Central and Bethany Home Road at the North Phoenix Baptist Church! This is a food-based farmers market and gathering place dedicated to inspiring and educating home cooks through Arizona local produce, handmade foods and handcrafted goods.
This market will showcase all of our farmer friends and the best artisans in Arizona; there is ample space to park and grass for our children to play; there will be an abundance and variety of fresh foods; there is indoor space to escape the heat during the summer months; and there is plenty of room for educational, family-friendly events. This was all made possible because of the North Phoenix Baptist Church. They have been instrumental in making this market viable and we are indebted to them. Plus, they live & love local (have you seen their community compost and school gardens, or enjoyed a cup of Cartel coffee in their coffee shop?). Really great group of folks there.
All your favorite food vendors will be here, too: Taste of Paradise, McClendon’s Select, John’s Amish Country, Chile Acres Farm, Horny Toad Farms, Arizona Microgreens, Noble Bread, Superstition Farm Dairy, Udder Delights , Mediterra Bakehouse, Great Harvest Bread Co, Cake Pops by Sal, Holistic Earth Remedies, Jan’s Baked Goods, Absolutely Delightful Honey, Chef Sergio’s catering kitchen, Sierra Bonita Catering, Classico Italiano, DeCio Pasta, Don’s Cutting Edge and SO MANY MORE!
Sunday, November 2nd
GA 12-3 pm; VIP 11 am access
Eight’s Great GrillFest returns to Vistancia, in Peoria, delivering a rare culinary adventure into test kitchen perspectives on grilling, global wine trends, and cooking action with award-winning chefs and independent restaurateurs.
If you’re a fan of America’s Test Kitchen, you are in luck as Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster will be on hand throughout the day. Some of their appearances will be:
Celebrity Chef Tasting| In addition, Vistancia’s V’s Taproom will prepare and host a special tasting of the favorite recipes of special guests: host of Eight’s Check, Please! Arizona & 2-time Emmy Award winner Robert McGrath; Savor the Southwest’s Barbara Fenzl; global wine expert Anthony Dias Blue; and PBS’ America’s Test Kitchen stars Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison.
VIP Panel| 11:20am: Panel Discussion, featuring candid commentary from Eight’s GreatGrillFest host Barbara Fenzl as well as participants Chef Robert McGrath, PBS’ America’s Test Kitchen stars Julia Collin Davison & Bridget Lancaster, and global wine authority Anthony Dias Blue.
There will also be several presentations throughout the day at the two featured stages.
General Admission tickets are available for $40 and VIP tickets can be purchased for $50.
For more information, visit the event website.
About the Author - Taryn Jeffries
Editor and Chief Eating Officer of PhoenixBites, 2017 Food Writer of the Year (Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame) Taryn grew up in a small town in Illinois with a doting Grandmother who taught her the way around a kitchen and that food is representative of love. Her current quest is to find the love in local dishes and the chefs behind them. In addition to running all things PhoenixBites, Taryn is also a freelance writer, sharing her insight on the best dishes and where to get them each and every month.
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