Arizona Restaurant Week
The twice-a-year Arizona Restaurant Week returns for its fall edition. Through Sunday, Sept. 25, participating restaurants are offering special three-course menus for either $33 or $44 per person. It’s a great opportunity to check out places like House of Tricks, Nico Heirloom Kitchen, or Bernard’s at Ocotillo Golf Resort at wallet-friendly prices. You’ll find the full list of restaurants and their special menus here.
Rock the Guac
Who makes the best guac in the Valley? That’s what they’ll find out when top chefs like Bernie Kantak, Matt Carter, Aaron May, Doug Robson, and Anthony Serrano compete in Rock the Guac, a new event from the folks behind next month’s Arizona Taco Festival. It runs 6-9 p.m. today at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale. Your $40 online-only ticket includes unlimited samples and two drinks.
Tacos & Randalls
Tempe’s newest brewery, The Shop Beer Co. (formerly Cartel Brewery), will be pairing tacos and Randalled beers at 5 p.m. today. enjoy a grilled rockfish taco with Desert Pale Ale infused with pineapple and habaneros, or a banana leaf pork taco with (480) Pale Ale flavored with citrus peel, coriander seed, and tequila-soaked oak chips.
My Wine Cellar patio
Have you noticed how summer’s scorching temperatures finally are starting to cool off in the mornings and evenings? My Wine Cellar in Ahwatukee is celebrating the re-opening of its popular patio (with gorgeous views of South Mountain) by extending happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Stop by for a $5 glass of wine or $2 off a large craft beer.
Knee Deep tap takeover
Whole Foods Chandler’s The Watering Hole will host a tap takeover for Knee Deep Brewing from 6-8 p.m. Friday. The highlight will be a keg of the Auburn, Calif., brewery’s Hop-De-Ranged quadruple IPA. They will be tapping nine beers total, including five from the draft-only Aviator Series and the new Big Sipper double IPA.
Oktoberfest celebrations
Oktoberfest season begins this weekend with a pair of events. SunUp Brewing in Phoenix will be offering a four-course Oktoberfest dinner at 6 p.m. tonight. Cost is $35 per person and you can buy tickets here. Starting at noon Saturday, Two Brothers Tap House & Brewery in Scottsdale will be celebrating all day with two special beers, authentic German food, and games.
Rockin’ Taco Street Fest
The biggest event of the weekend likely will be El Palacio Mexican Restaurant‘s fifth annual Rockin’ Taco Street Fest, which has grown too large for the restaurant’s parking lot and moves to downtown Chandler. From noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, there’ll be creative tacos, Lucha Libre wrestling, chihuahua races, ballet folklorico dancing, and more. Tickets are $8 online or $10 at the gate. Children 12 years old and under will be admitted free with a paid adult.
Hoppageddon
Papago Brewing in Scottsdale will hold its annual Hopageddon – a celebration of IPAs – from noon to close Saturday. Every tap will be dedicated to IPAs, including SanTan Kilohop, Bell’s Oracle, Port Hop Concept Mosaic and Eureka, Four Peaks Barrel Aged Raj, Lumberyard Bright Angle Single Hop, Founders Sleeper Cell, Sierra Nevada Tropic IPA Cask, and Knee Deep Hop-De-Ranged Quad IPA.
Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day
Why celebrate St. Patrick’s Day just once a year? Harvey American Public House in Gilbert will have Irish food and drink specials from 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday. They’ll also be tapping some specialty kegs from Arizona and out-of-state breweries, and giving away brewery swag. Chuck E. Baby & The AllStars will take the stage at 8:30.
