Barbecue Basics Class at Four Seasons Scottsdale
Whether your dad is a barbecue novice or knows everything there is to know about the grill, he’ll surely enjoy talking technique and learning something new during a “Barbecue Basics” class with the pros at the Four Seasons Scottsdale. Read more
100 Ways to Save in Scottsdale This Summer
The Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau has a great page on its website that can show you “100 Ways to Save” some moolah this summer. You’ll find tips on how to save in general (always ask if there’s a discount for Arizona residents!), plus coupons for golf courses, resorts, spas, restaurants, shops and other activities. Read more
Experience a Seasonal Feast at Talavera
Talavera, the signature restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, debuts its “Feast” event on Tuesday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m. Scheduled to be held the last Tuesday of every month, Feast will be an energetic and interactive evening including a three-course, somewhat impromptu menu of seasonal delights accompanied by local Arizona Stronghold wine. Read more
Different Pointe of View Dinner With Trinchero Family Vineyards
On Friday, May 11, Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort will host a special Insider’s View dinner with Trinchero Family Vineyards from Napa Valley at the resort’s AAA Four Diamond restaurant Different Pointe of View.
The Insider’s View dinners are intimate experiences featuring courses prepared tableside by Executive Chef Anthony DeMuro. Attendance is also limited to about a dozen guests to further enhance the evening’s unique mood, and guests are invited to converse with both the chef and the winemaker during the event. Read more
Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby Mashup at The Saguaro
Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby fall on the same day this year! (That’s May 5.) And I know just the place you can go to take advantage of this awesome twist of fate. Head to The Saguaro in downtown Scottsdale to enjoy mint juleps at the Old Town Whiskey (anyone up for a Derby Dandy Party?), or to have tacos and margaritas at Distrito. Read more
Whiskey School at The Saguaro
On Sunday, April 29, join the Whiskey Professor at The Saguaro in downtown Scottsdale to learn all about scotch. For $20 per person, you’ll get an education, 1-ounce tasters of the different scotches being discussed, snacks from the Old Town Whiskey kitchen and a cocktail crash course. Plus, pass the pop quiz and you might just win a $100 dining credit. Read more
Swim Social Weekends at The Saguaro
Swim Social Weekends at The Saguaro in downtown Scottsdale kick off April 20 at the boutique hotel’s Picante Pool. From 6 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, “mermaids” and synchronized swimmers will play in the pool while you enjoy cocktails poolside. Or if your weekend plans are to include more sipping than splashing, head indoors to the lively happy hours at Distrito and Old Town Whiskey (4 to 7 p.m. every day). Read more
“Farmer in the House” Chef’s Table at ZuZu
On Monday, April 30, ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho will host a very special chef’s table with Pat Duncan of Duncan’s Trading Co. and farm. If you enjoy supporting local farmers (and tasting the fruits of their labors!), this event will be a can’t-miss treat. The four-course menu will feature produce by Duncan, who is known for growing organic heirloom varieties in unexpected colors and unusual shapes and sizes with profound flavors. Read more
Agave on the Rocks Margarita Party
After the shamrocks and the green beer and the pot of gold come and go, you can look forward to the Desert Botanical Garden’s 10th annual Agave on the Rocks margarita party, to be held March 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. Read more
Scottsdale Native Trails
Scottsdale Native Trails kicked off for its 10th season on Jan. 19 and will run through April 14. The free outdoor festival celebrates Native American cultures of the Southwest with song, dance and artisanal goods. New this year is the addition of local merchants selling food items indigenous to the area, such as breads, muffins and soup mixes traditional to the Hopi, Diné and Zuni tribes. Read more
Valentine’s Day at The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain
If you feel like getting out of town for Valentine’s Day — but not too far — head to The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, near Tucson.
The property will do the holiday up right, with special menus at its signature restaurants, a unique Splash Dining experience, and an exclusive spa package for couples, featuring a rose petal bath, massages, Champagne and strawberries. Read more
Valentine’s Day at FireSky Resort and Jurlique Spa
FireSky Resort, one of the greenest properties anywhere in Arizona, has some romance in store for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day.
While the Romantic Rendezvous Package places the emphasis on amour, the Robe-mance Package gives guests extra reason to snuggle, with the gift of two super-plush robes for an extra cozy stay.
And on-site natural Jurlique Spa will further woo you with wine, roses and relaxation. Read more
El Chorro Goes Electric
Well this is pretty cool: El Chorro Lodge, the first restaurant in Arizona to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) Gold Certification, has now gone electric.
That’s right — El Chorro, located in Paradise Valley, recently unveiled three brand-new Blink electric vehicle chargers, offering green drivers a convenient place to not only enjoy a fine meal, but to charge up their car while they do so! Read more
The Garden at Rico’s American Grill
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to meet chef Kenneth Arneson of Rico’s American Grill at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, and he is doing some exciting things at his restaurant.
At the invitation of Rico’s, members of the media, including food writers and others, enjoyed a meal served on the patio, right next to the restaurant’s garden, stocked with herbs, peppers, squash and much, much more.
Chef Arneson created the meal’s courses based on what was available locally, and most importantly, from the garden. The menu included … Read more
Different Pointe of View Winemaker Dinner Series
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort‘s acclaimed restaurant called Different Pointe of View will be hosting a series of winemaker dinners November 2011 through May 2012 — the likes of which you may have never experienced before.
While dinners focused on the wine pairings are nothing new, often it’s a sales person or other representative sent by the winery to serve as the meal’s host. Different Pointe of View does things a little differently, however, for these “Insider’s View” dinners: Your host will be the actual winery owner or winemaker, allowing for a unique interactive experience. In addition to discussing the subtle differences among varietals, learn how he or she became interested in vino and decided to turn a hobby into a business. Go ahead, ask your hosts anything you want! (Well, anything within reason, obvs.) Read more
