Food

7 Wives Saison. Sounds like a French romance novel, doesn't it? It is a type of romance story actually--one that's brewing between four of Arizona's finest chefs and Scottsdale-based Sonoran Brewing Company.

Big news in the culinary world! Food & Wine magazine has just announced the nominees for their second-annual “People’s Best New Chef” awards. One hundred chefs from across the U.S. have been nominated, and there are 10 chefs selected from each region. Nominees have the chance to win the national prize, which brings a large amount of visibility to the chef’s talents. In this year’s Southwest Category, there is one nominated chef from Arizona. Drum roll please.... It's Chef Justin Beckett, of Beckett's Table in Phoenix.

Now that we’ve brushed off our New Year’s resolution to lose weight, it’s time to start enjoying food, wine and other culinary creations again. This spring get ready for a buffet of some of Arizona’s best cuisine.

This fall, the Valley is hosting many food festivals. Attend a few and learn about food, meet top chefs, and taste free samples of food and drink the Valley has to offer.
 

Phoenix Cooks!
September 3, 2011
Phoenix

Phoenix Cooks is a festival located at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Over 40 chefs throughout the Valley will participate. Attend classes, shop, sample wine and food, and watch cooking competitions at this event. Tickets are $75 online and $90 at the door. www.phoenixcooks.com.

NLS Food Evolution Summit 2011
September 13-14, 2011 
Scottsdale

The Food Evolution Summit, located at Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, offers a peer-to-peer networking environment with leaders from many fields within the food industry, such as Ingredient Suppliers, Consumer Market Research, Food and Sustainability, Process Development & Innovation. Participation advantages include discussing industry trends and how they impact your business. www.nextlevelsummits.com.

25th Annual Great Tucson Beer Festival
October 8, 2011
Tucson

The 25th Annual Great Tucson Beer Festival will be held at Hi Corbett Field. You can taste samples of a variety of beers produced by brewers from around the world. There will be snacks and food provided by eateries around town, as well as games and music. No one under 21 is permitted. www.azbeer.com.

Arizona Taco Festival
October 15, 2011
Scottsdale Waterfront

More than 30 amateur and pro teams will go head to head in hopes of creating the top taco. Fun for the whole family is planned, including plenty of tequila for the grownups and a kid’s zone with piñatas. www.aztacofestival.com.

TASTE Chandler Culinary Festival
October 15, 2011
Chandler

TASTE Chandler Culinary Festival is a food and wine tasting event. The event showcases local businesses and restaurants, and it benefits local charities. General admission is $45 and is held in the Historic Downtown Chandler Promenade. www.tastechandler.com.

The Arizona Local Food Festival
October 23, 2011, 10 – 4
Phoenix

Located at Phoenix College Osborn Campus, the Arizona Local Food Festival is a statewide effort to educate and encourage Arizonans to have a more active role in their local food system. Participants will learn to grow and will have access to local foods, as well as meeting producers, businesses, and public services. www.thefusionfoundation.org.

2011 Festival of Fruit
November 5, 2011 
Tempe

Hosted by the Arizona chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers, the 2011 festival will celebrate the Year of the Pomegranate. Seminars and meals will be offered at the festival, hosted at Arizona State University. Both plant growers and general public are welcome to attend. www.azrfg.org/festivalOfFruit/fof.html.