Category: Things to Do

Chandler Food Trucks, a four-month-old Friday night food truck court in south Chandler, has called it quits for good, organizers say. The on-again, off-again event was launched April 17 at the Downtown Ocotillo commercial development, but outgrew that venue after just three

Allison has been one of the stars of the Valley’s food truck scene, first with frank., which sold locally made hot dogs and sausages, then United Steaks of Cheese, which made gourmet cheesesteaks. frank., both the truck and the concept, were put

1. More than 30 breweries will participate in the second annual Beer Palooza from 1-6 p.m. Saturday. 2. The 21-and-over event again will be held in air-conditioned indoor comfort at WestWorld of Scottsdale (map). 3. There will be an $5 cash-only

It’s sweet corn season, and the Queen Creek Olive Mill is celebrating with a two-day Corn Roast from 4-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Along with its normal menu, the mill’s outdoor bar and grill (dubbed “The Pit”) will be roasting local sweet corn

1. The brand-new event, which celebrates summer days and a zest for life, will take place noon to 9 p.m. at Founders Park (map). 2. A free Summer Splash event for kids will be held from 9 a.m.-noon at Founders Park.

Downtown Ocotillo Food Trucks, which launched four weeks ago, was a victim of its own success, according to organizer Brian Denham. The Friday night roundup started April 17 at the commercial development Downtown Ocotillo, near Dobson and Queen Creek roads, with

You might not realize it, but in a quarter-mile stretch there are no less than 13 places to enjoy eggs, bacon, pancakes and much more: SanTan Brewing: The brewpub recently launched breakfast service from 8-11 a.m. daily. Besides pancakes, waffles, and an omelet

Despite the unfortunate connotations of its name, this Sunday’s eight-hour event sounds pretty fun. From noon-8 p.m., Brat Haus will have pretzels, brats, a pig roast, and various pickled goodies. Special brats will include: Umami Brat: A ramen-style brat made with

The Gilbert Food Truck Food Court moves to its third location in the past month Friday night. Its original home was on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Vaughn downtown – just across Gilbert Road from Oregano’s. After a brief

Hours are listed as noon-10 p.m. each day. The two-day event features “local food artisans and gourmet food trucks,” although a promised list of participants was not posted on its website. General admission starts at $10 per person, although you can get 50%

The second annual event runs 5-9 p.m. More than 50 spirit and restaurant vendors will take part, including Arizona Distilling Co. and Tombstone and Desert Diamond distilleries. Food will be available from SanTan Brewing Company, San Marcos resort, Social Box,

La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen in Gilbert will hold another of its popular tequila tastings from 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Featured tequilas this time will be from Clase Azul, Avion, and Cabo Wabo. The cost is $30 per person, or $20 if

If you’re willing to drive over to the West Valley, Ground Control in Litchfield Park will be hosting its Red, White and Brew Festival from 2-6 p.m. Saturday. The fest will feature more than 50 beers from Bell’s, Firestone Walker,

Tempe restaurant and craft beer bar Boulders on Broadway will hold its annual pancake-eating contest at 11 a.m. Saturday. Contestants will try to devour a 12-inch pancake (made with Deschutes Obsidian Stout) as fast as they can. The top three finishers

You can grab a piece of Valley dining history when Monti’s La Casa Vieja auctions off its vintage decor and historical memorabilia Thursday, Dec. 4. Owner Michael Monti announced last week the 60-year-old steakhouse, housed in the oldest continuously occupied

Cooks & Corks, an annual event featuring a multi-course tasting menu along with fine spirits, wines, and craft beers, will be held 6:30-10 p.m. Friday at Four Seasons Scottsdale. The one-night event previously was part of the week-long Scottsdale Culinary Festival in April. It became a

“Plant This Movie,” a 2014 documentary on urban farming around the world, will be screened Friday at The Farm at Agritopia in Gilbert. At 5:30 p.m., there’ll a “food and mingle” session with dishes created by chefs Jeff Kraus of

If you missed AZ Food Crafters‘ open house six months ago, you have a second chance. The Chandler hand-pie shop will host another wine and food tasting from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday. The open house, which is free, will feature free

Saddle up! The fifth annual Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-Off will be held Friday through Sunday at Tumbleweed Park, located on McQueen Road about a mile south of the 202 Freeway. The public can buy meals from 1880s-era chuck wagons from

The sixth annual Taste Chandler culinary festival was held Saturday night at Downtown Ocotillo. Chef/owner Anthony Serrano’s El Palacio was one of two dozen local restaurants handing out free food samples. My favorite dish of the night? Chicken cordon bleu pizza

SanTan Brewing in downtown Chandler is launching a series of classes pairing craft beers with craft food. Each will feature a local chef or food artisan and a SanTan brewer. First up will be a sausage and beer class at 6

1. The sixth annual Taste Chandler will be held 6-10 p.m. Saturday at Downtown Ocotillo, a commercial development on Queen Creek Road between Dobson and Price (map). 2. Unlimited food samples (while supplies last) will be provided by 23 restaurants,

As is becoming the norm lately, this week’s “Taste of Romeo’s Euro Cafe” dinner on Thursday was an early sell out. The dinners, hosted by chef Romeo Taus and his wife, Janice, highlight five items from the Gilbert restaurant’s regular menu. Cost is $25 per

Here’s what you need to know: When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Where: Salt River Fields in north Scottsdale (map) Food & Drink: More than 40 Valley restaurants will be selling tacos for $2 apiece. Drink stations will sell margaritas, beer, water, and

Chao Urban Asin Eatery, Angry Crab Shack, and El Palacio are among the East Valley restaurants participating in the inaugural Scottsdale Spice Culinary Event. From 6-10 p.m. Saturday at The Venue Scottsdale, chefs will compete with their spiciest dishes to advance to the

Sept 27: House of Brews Oktoberfest From noon-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, the Gilbert restaurant and bar will be pouring German-style ales from SanTan, Sleepy Dog, Uncle Bear’s and other breweries. There’ll also be German-inspired food, an outfit contest, apple bobbing, and a dunk

The twice-a-year Arizona Restaurant Week starts Friday, when eateries throughout the Valley and Tucson will offer special three-course menus for either $33 or $44 per person. Diners typically get to choose one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert from a

Due to last month’s inclement weather, Nicantoni’s still will be collecting school supplies – notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, crayons, etc. – for needy children. Magic Hat Brewing will be sampling beers as well as handing out shirts and glasses. The

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Fitz’s Supper Club, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s annual fundraiser for youth organizations, will take place Monday, Aug. 25, at Dominick’s Steakhouse in Scottsdale. Fitzgerald, with the help of Cardinals teammates and celebrity friends, will “pass plates instead of

Those with an affinity for barrel-aged beers may want to head over to the Yucca Tap Room at 4 p.m. today for Buncha Beer from Barrels. The longtime Tempe bar will be tapping an impressive list of high-octane offerings for

With temperatures hovering around 110, many East Valley residents are looking for an excuse – any excuse – to head to the cooler high country. Flagstaff offers a couple food and drink options this weekend and next. This weekend, the

Queen Creek Olive Mill will host Live Music & Grill, a day of Chicago-style blues and barbecue, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday. In addition to its regular menu, the mill will be grilling pork chops, featuring its signature BBQ sauces,

Ra Sushi will kickoff its 10th annual Nicky’s Week, a fundraiser for pediatric cancer research, Sunday. For seven days, 100% of the proceeds from select menu items (some pictured) will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. See the menu

The Perch Pub & Brewery in downtown Chandler will host Rescue on the Roof, a fundraiser for the AZ Exotic Bird Rescue, at 5 p.m. Thursday. Learn about the Perch’s tropical birds while enjoying live music and prize giveaways. Hundred percent

24 Carrots Natural Café and Urban Juicery in Tempe will celebrate six years in business with special celebrations Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the vegan cafe and bakery will extend its hours until 9 p.m. to accommodate an open-mic night

The fourth Friday of the month means this week is the monthly Fourth Friday Car Show at Nicantoni’s Pizza in Gilbert. Cars and bikes begin arriving at 5 p.m., but the action doesn’t really get rolling until closer to 7.

Nationally touring singer-songwriter Aaron Howard will perform 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday at Brooklyn V’s Pizza in Gilbert. The 27-year-old Montana native, who now lives in the Valley, performs a mix of folk rock and adult contemporary on acoustic guitar, drawing comparisons

La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen will be holding a Cinco De Mayo party from 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday in two big tents in its parking lot on Warner Road, just west of Lindsay, in Gilbert. Children’s activities from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. will include

The 140th Kentucky Derby, a.k.a. “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” will take place Saturday, and American Taphouse in Gilbert will be selling the famed horse race’s traditional drink, the Mint Julep, for $3 all day. The restaurant also

Brooklyn V’s Pizza is located on the northeast corner of Lindsay and Warner in Gilbert.

A Taste of Greece, a twice-a-year festival of Greek food and drink, music, dancing, and retail goods, will take place this weekend at St. Katherine Church in Chandler. Hours will be 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 11

Burkhart is the son of a Hamilton High and Bogle Junior High teacher who needs medical treatment for cerebral palsy.

Do you love pizza? I mean, really love pizza? Flancer’s is looking for a few more contestants for its 14th annual Pizza Eating Contest,  a fundraiser for Warfighter Sports, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, and Sunshine Acres children’s home, at

The first-ever Chandler Craft Spirits Festival – showcasing everything from small-batch bourbons to beer cocktails – will make its debut Saturday at downtown’s A.J. Chandler Park. For the general-admission price of $35, attendees will receive 15 “generous” 1-ounce samples. VIP admission is $75 and includes

Chef Off!, a series of friendly culinary battles featuring East Valley chefs, kicks off its third season at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 28, at sN Asian Kitchen in Mesa. The year’s first contest will debut a new format in a

A dozen East Valley restaurants will vie for the crown of King of Wings at the annual Wingstock festival from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Mesa Amphitheatre. ATL Wings in Chandler will return to defend its title at the event,

Four Peaks Brewing celebrates its 17th birthday Saturday with Local Fest, a festival of Four Peaks beers, food trucks, and live music, from noon to 9 p.m. in the parking lot of its Wilson Street production facility in Tempe. There’ll

Iowa author and pie maker Beth M. Howard will talk and sign her just-published book, “Ms. American Pie: Buttery Good Pie Recipes and Bold Tales from the American Gothic House,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Changing Hands in Tempe. The former journalist lives

Ravioli Inamorata (pictured) and Salonika Chicken will be the two main dishes at this week’s “Taste of Romeo’s Euro Cafe” dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The five-course dinners, hosted by chef Romeo Taus and his wife, Janice, highlight a rotating selection from the Gilbert restaurant’s

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Another Easter, another round of the usual Sunday holiday brunches, right? Not so at Caffe Boa, which is going “old school” on Sunday, April 20. The Tempe restaurant, which has been branding itself as an “original European bistro,” will have a

It’s Thursday, which means craft beer events… The Hungry Monk in Chandler hosts its monthly Beer & Bacon Night from 5-9 p.m. Special menu items include bacon tacos, pork belly sliders, BLTs (pictured), bacon waffles, and bacon cannoli. Get a

You can help Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta take a bite out of cancer today. The Chandler restaurant is donating a portion of all its sales from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. to Relay for Life of Chandler. That’s right. You can help

This Thursday, singing impressionist Tom LaGravinese returns to Brooklyn V’s Pizza in Gilbert to perform from 5:30-8:30 p.m. LaGravinese is best-known for his renditions of classic tunes by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Neil Diamond, and others. There is no

Gilbert restaurateur Joe Johnston, the namesake of Joe’s Real BBQ and Joe’s Farm Grill, will be inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame this month. Johnston (pictured), whose businesses also include Liberty Market and Agritopia, is this year’s inductee in

The fledgling Arizona Distilling Company picked up a pair of awards at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Tempe distillery was awarded a silver medal for its Desert Dry Gin and a bronze for its Desert Durum Wheat Whiskey.