Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Arizona’s only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star restaurant, Kai at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, proudly announces its muse for a summer dining experience to remember.

On  Friday, July 6, Kai’s final night of dinner service before its annual summer hiatus, the award-winning restaurant will honor Howard Seftel, former food critic for the Arizona Republic, with a wine dinner unlike any other.  The prolific storyteller, who dined and wrote anonymously about the restaurant scene in the greater Phoenix area for over twenty years, will have a chance to share his stories through a different medium – a five-course, fine dining experience. 

Chef de Cuisine Ryan Swanson, who regularly draws inspiration from stories of the Gila River Indian Community, turns to Arizona’s most seasoned diner with a few questions of his own.  Seftel has answered a series of questions about his food-filled past, which Chef Swanson will use to craft a captivating menu.  Each question will result in a course for those in attendance to enjoy and discuss with the guest of honor himself, who will elaborate on each answered question and resulting course.

Wine Director and Certified Sommelier Kevin Lewis will pair Chef Swanson’s flavors exclusively with Arizona’s Rune Wines.  The selection of an Arizona producer seemed obvious for the occasion, and the tagline for Rune was all but destined for this evening: “Every wine has a story.”

While the food, wine and storytelling is more than enticing, guests will also be granted private viewing of the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Star-Spangled Spectacular  fireworks show in celebration of the 4th of July holiday weekend.

This exclusive wine dinner will be offered to a limited number of guests and is priced at $175 per person.  Each guest is invited to a private reception with hors d’oeuvres beginning at 6:00 p.m.  The five-course dinner with wine pairings will then follow with seating at 6:30 p.m. and private viewing of the Star-Spangled Spectacular fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m.

For dining reservations, call 602-385-5777.  To extend the evening with an overnight stay at the AAA Four-Diamond resort, call 602-225-0100 or book online at wildhorsepassresort.com.