Pastries, pizza and other bites will be available to try at the Italian Festival.
Provided by the Italian Festival
Weekends are the time to treat yourself. For many diners, that means booking a reservation at a splurgy spot well in advance. It doesn’t always have to be that formulaic or well planned. Some of the best experiences come on a whim. A simple text from a friend asking, “You free tonight?” can lead to a memorable evening filled with excellent food.
Phoenix’s tight-knit community of chefs and bartenders always seems to have a collaboration, pop-up or one-off dinner cooking. And often, those events come together at the last moment. We’re here to make sure you don’t miss out on any of these fleeting opportunities.
This weekend, there are plenty of culinary events to fill your plate. Taste competition barbecue, bring your pup and enjoy a pint or celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights with a multi-course feast. Make your last-minute plans before it’s too late.
Sample barbecue and craft beer at Downtown Mesa’s BBQ & Bluegrass Classic.
Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic
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This weekend
BBQ & Bluegrass Classic
Friday and Saturday
At Macdonald and Main Street, Mesa
A packed food festival weekend starts in downtown Mesa. Kick off the BBQ & Bluegrass Classic on Friday with savory and sweet small bites, tastings with Arizona Distilling Co. and a jam session. On Saturday, nearly three dozen regional pitmasters will fire up their smokers for this barbecue competition. Attendees can taste their work and order drinks from the beer garden. Entry is free, and tasting tickets are $2 each.
Nadu’s executive chef Pujan Sarkar.
Celebrate Diwali
Friday through Sunday
Multiple locations
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s most important holidays. The five-day event marks light overcoming darkness, good triumphing over evil. Food and sweets play a role in the holiday, which begins on Friday. Several Valley restaurants will offer special menus to celebrate. Feringhee, the Chander restaurant that champions elevated Indian fare, will offer a special four-course menu Friday through Sunday. The meal features Goan shrimp curry and a bread pudding-style dessert, Shahi Tukda Delight. Indibar’s weekend Diwali meal includes Kalonji Murgh, a traditional chicken dish with nigella seed, and fig-and-date halwa. At Nadu, executive chef Pujan Sarkar draws on memories from growing up in Bengal for his Sunday tasting menu, which includes mutton chop cutlets and Mawa Gujiya, a traditional pastry stuffed with nuts.
Pups & Pints
Saturday
1312 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Saturday is for the dogs at Fate Brewing Co. as Pups & Pints takes over the Scottsdale brewpub. Sip a Hatch Chile Gatos golden ale with your goldendoodle at this dog-friendly day party. Attendees can shop local vendors, enjoy activities with their pup or just knock back a brew with other dog lovers. Tickets are $5 and include half off your first beer. Proceeds benefit Almost There: A Mom + Pups Rescue.
Sip pours from more than 30 local makers in the beverage garden at the 20th edition of Local First Arizona’s Certified Local Fall Festival on Saturday.
Provided by Certified Local Fall Festival
Certified Local Fall Festival
Saturday
67 W. Culver St.
Sip Arizona-made drinks and taste dishes from homegrown eateries at the 20th edition of Local First Arizona’s Certified Local Fall Festival. As the name implies, this fest celebrates all things Arizona, featuring 250 local businesses. Hosted at Margaret T. Hance Park, the event will feature more than 50 local restaurants, food trucks and chefs, including El Pastorcito Taqueria and Spinato’s Pizzeria. Step into the beverage garden, which organizers will expand this year, to sip pours from more than 30 local beverage makers paired with curated bites. You’ll find Outlaw Distillery, O.H.S.O. Brewery and Hundred Mile Brewing Co. at the fest. This event is free, but organizers are collecting RSVPs online.
Let Them Eat Cake Arizona
Saturday
113 N. Sixth St.
Inspired by viral community cake exchanges, Phoenix bakery Red Velvet Recipes invites home bakers, culinary students and pros to this baking celebration. Participants bring a cake to share at the event, hosted in downtown’s historic Heritage & Science Park. Tickets are $25. Dessert fans who want to taste these creations without baking can attend with a VIP ticket ($50). Proceeds benefit the Rooted in Education and Development Collective. The nonprofit helps students explore careers in STEM, culinary arts and entrepreneurship.
Taste more than 30 wines from regions across Italy at the two-day Italian Festival.
Provided by the Italian Festival
11th Annual Italian Festival
Saturday and Sunday
3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale
Take a trip to Italy at the 11th Annual Italian Festival. The Italian Association of Arizona will host the two-day festival in a new location this year, at the Civic Center in Old Town Scottsdale. Featured Valley restaurants include Sogno Toscano, The Italiano, Virtu Honest Craft, Pomo Pizzeria and Mamma Lucy. In addition to Italian eats, festgoers can taste more than 30 wines from across Italy. The event also boasts live music, a bocce tournament, cooking demonstrations and a market stocked with curated Italian products. General admission tickets are $15 in advance or $30 at the door. Children aged 12 and under get in for free.
SerbFest
Saturday and Sunday
4436 E. McKinley St.
SerbFest has celebrated Serbian culture in the Valley since 2003. The festival returns to St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church this weekend, offering two days to experience food, music and dance. Bites available for purchase during the festival include roasted lamb shank, cabbage rolls and gibanica — a blend of cottage and feta cheeses layered between crisp phyllo. Try Serbian doughnuts and crepes with the country’s brandy or beer. Single-day tickets are $10; those aged 15 and younger get in for free.
Grunch
Sunday
711 N. Seventh Ave.
The small bar-side kitchen at Gracie’s Tax Bar is normally only open at night. On Sunday, the downtown dive will host Grunch (short for Gracie’s brunch). Kaayo Crunch will serve breakfast bowls and crispy lumpia. Diners can caffeinate with the help of Maleta Cafe or get a deal on boozy sips at the bar. Gracie’s will offer $15 bottles of bubbles with orange juice or $5 micheladas. Grunch kicks off at 11 a.m.
Save your seats for these upcoming Phoenix food events
Bourbon Pecan Pie Demo
Nov. 12
5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley
Want to wow your holiday guests with a homemade pie? Sanctuary’s pastry chef Judy Chavez will show people how to make her signature bourbon pecan pie next week. Attendees will step inside the Elements’ kitchen for a behind-the-scenes demonstration, just in time for Thanksgiving. The intimate event is $50 per person and starts at 11 a.m.
Phoenix Pizza Festival
Nov. 14 and 15
1202 N. Third St.
Slice, anyone? The Phoenix Pizza Festival returns for two days in November. The event at Margaret T. Hance Park assembles some of Arizona’s finest pizza makers, including Pizzicleta, Otra Pizzeria and Freak Brothers Pizza. They’ll serve slices alongside a kids zone, live music stage and a spritz bar. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased online; kids ages 5 and younger get in free. Pizza and drinks can be purchased from vendors separately.
Le Âme x Chef René
Nov. 18 and 19
4360 E. Camelback Road
René Andrade, the James Beard- and Michelin-awarded chef behind Bacanora and Huarachis Taqueria, brings his Sonoran flavors to the Parisian-inspired steakhouse at The Global Ambassador. Andrade’s six-course menu will be available at Le Âme for two nights. The meal is $225 and can be reserved on OpenTable.
