🧀 Graze Craze, a Florida-based chain of stores specializing in grazing boards and boxes, has opened its second Valley location on the southwest corner of Avenue of the Fountains and Saguaro Boulevard in Fountain Hills.
What’s on the menu?
A variety of platters and boxes featuring meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, crackers, baked goods, and sweets serving one to 20 people.
Did you know?
Beside its original Valley location at Guadalupe and McClintock in Tempe, Graze Craze soon will open at Thunderbird and 32nd Street in Phoenix and 16th Street and Campbell, also in Phoenix.
If you go
📌 Graze Craze, 16845 E. Avenue of the Fountains #D109, Fountain Hills, 480-805-8651. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays.
🥧 Fabrice Buschtetz, the French owner and chef of family-run Cuisine & Wine Bistro in south Chandler, has launched an online gourmet bakery called Quiches & Pies.
The menu features 10 different quiches, from bacon and caramelized onions to mushroom and duck confit.
There also are 18 different pies, including Belgian chocolate truffle, blueberry almond cream, and Parisian caramel flan.
Orders can be delivered or picked up at Cuisine & Wine Bistro during business hours.
🥧 Piefection celebrates the grand opening of its fourth location on the northeast corner of Queen Creek and Ellsworth in Queen Creek from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
The locally owned pie shop debuted in northeast Mesa in 2012 and later added locations in central Scottsdale and Chandler.
Besides more than 40 varieties of sweet pies, Piefection makes savory pot pies and quiches.
Saturday’s festivities will include free pie samples, a pie-in-the-face contest, games, raffles, prize giveaways, food trucks, and a DJ.
The first 500 people who buy a 9-inch pie will receive a free half-dozen doughnuts.
🥖 Tucson-based Barrio Bread officially opens its much-anticipated Gilbert location today at Hayden Flour Mills’ new kitchen on the northeast corner of Arizona and Guadalupe.
Barrio owner Don Guerra, who was named the country’s outstanding baker at last year’s James Beard Awards, plans to bake approximately 250 loaves every Tuesday for pickup between 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The varieties for this week:
Sonoran Baguette
Sonoran Epi
Chiltepin Cheddar Fougasse
Desert Date and Walnut
Einkorn Miche
Hayden Flour Mills Farm House Oat Loaf
Heritage (loaf and miche)
Pan Rustico
Queen Creek Olive Polenta
Red Fife with Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds
Sonoran Sourdough
Tibetan Purple Barley
Bagels (Plain, Sesame, or Everything)
Prices range from $8-$14.50 per loaf. Bagels are $10.50-$12.50 per half-dozen.
Breads go on sale online every Wednesday (4 p.m. last Wednesday but that may change) and must be ordered by noon Saturday for Tuesday pickup.
Any remaining loaves will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. All of this week’s breads are sold out.
🍪 The first 100 customers will receive a special gift when California-based Cookie Co. opens its second Arizona store at 10 a.m. Saturday at the new Verde at Cooley Station development on the southwest corner of Recker and Williams Field in Gilbert.
The food: Cookie Co. offers six flavors of cookies ($4.25 apiece) per week, one of which is always its signature chocolate chip cookies (pictured).
The drinks: ‘‘Twisted Sodas’’ (traditional sodas enhanced with flavored syrups).
The hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. this Saturday. Then 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Other location: Cookie Co.’s first Arizona store opened earlier this year on the southeast corner of McClintock and Guadalupe in south Tempe.
🥤 Utah-based chain Swig, home of the ‘‘Dirty Soda,’’ has opened fifth Valley location in the former Papa Murphy’s strip-mall space on the northeast corner of McQueen and Ray in Chandler.
The drinks: Drink offerings include dozens of sodas (‘‘Dirty Sodas’’), energy drinks (‘‘Revivers’’), and sparkling waters (‘‘Refreshers’’) mixed with various flavors, fruits, and creams.
The food: Campfire Crispies (Rice Krispies bars with chocolate chips and marshmallows), cookies, and pretzel bits.
🛒 Sprouts Farmers Market will open its newest Valley store at 7 a.m. Friday on the northwest corner of Gantzel and Combs in Queen Creek.
Grand opening: Friday through Sunday, a “pop-up party” out front will give guests the chance to taste seasonal produce from “fruit school,” play games, get their face painted, watch artists carve large produce, and more.
The first 200 shoppers Friday and Saturday will receive a free ‘‘Goodness it’s Free’’ reusable goodie bag filled with special products and samples.
Inside the store, shoppers can taste new products while they shop from innovative brands at the Vendor Village. A special “guess the weight” contest of an oversized piece of produce will take place.
Beginning at noon Sunday, dog lovers will be gifted dog treats from Bundle X Joy and kids will enjoy a reusable coloring tote activity. Plus, music and prize giveaways throughout the weekend.
Customers who text “VALLEY” to 777-688 will receive 20% off their purchase over the grand-opening weekend when they scan their app account barcode at checkout (up to two redemptions per Sprouts account per day).
🥧 Fabrice Buschtetz, the French owner and chef of family-run 
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🥖 Tucson-based 
🍪 The first 100 customers will receive a special gift when California-based 
🥤 Utah-based chain 
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