Foodie news roundup for the week of August 29.
International Bacon Day is Sept. 3 and all four Valley locations of Snooze, an AM Eatery, are celebrating with a special menu of bacon-y food and drinks (like a bacon benny and Boss Hog bloody mary). Plus, a social media contest is offering Snooze fans a chance to win Tender Belly’s responsibly raised and delicious bacon free for a year. Plus, Snooze will be donating a portion of that day’s profits to support the nonprofit Slow Food USA, and its efforts to inspire individuals and communities to change the world through food that is good, clean and fair for all. To enter Snooze’s International Bacon Day contest and win free Tender Belly Bacon for one year, simply swing by your local Snooze all-day on Sept. 3 (6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and order one of the one-day-only bacon specials. Then snap a picture of your bacon dish and post to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the tag #BringHometheSnoozeBacon, and be sure to mark it which state you live in. Plus, increase your chance of winning by incorporating any Snooze, Tender Belly, Slow Food or bacon gear in their photo. Guest can enter as many times as they wish, with the winners (one per Snooze region) notified via social media on Monday, Sept. 5.
Octane Raceway in Scottsdale has updated its former dining area to the newly designated Brickyard Grill with an expanded kitchen area and racing-inspired bar top and seating. The upgraded kitchen accommodates hearty new dining and catering menus and a happy hour 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. New menu items include, pretzels and beer cheese, nachos, flatbreads, burgers, salads and a bacon-macaroni and cheese dish.
On the heels of its recent expansion into Scottsdale, Willcox-based Carlson Creek Vineyard is releasing their first-ever Mourvèdre next week. This light red wine will be available to the public on Saturday, Sept. 3 at both tasting rooms – with one complimentary taste per person – and released to their Wine Society members at a special event on August 30.
The Refuge is now offering two cold brews – a house cold brew with dark roast and a nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee on tap, featuring a Yirgacheffe Ethiopian beans. The house cold brew is made in-house and takes 24 hours to make.
Celebrate every Wednesday at The Melting Pot with Wednesday Wine-Down. During the weekly special, guests can enjoy $10 bottles of house wine or 50 percent off any other bottle of wine in the restaurant. Sip and Dip Happy Hour cocktails will also be available everywhere in the restaurant during Wednesday Wine-Down.
Scramble – a Breakfast Joint announces it’s holding a Nick Jonas video lip sync Instagram contest inviting fans to submit a 15-second clip of the pop sensation’s recent iTunes Top 100 release, “Bacon,” from his 2016 Last Year Was Complicated album. Contestants are invited to post their rendition to Scramble’s Instagram account, @azscramble, using the hashtags #NickJonasBaconLipSynch and #azscramble between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30. One lucky winner will be chosen and announced on Scramble’s Instagram on Oct. 5 and will receive an order of buttermilk pancakes and a side order of applewood-smoked bacon every month for an entire year (valid for redemption at either of Scramble’s two Valley locations).
Made with Arizona-grown grapefruit juice, SanTan Brewing Company launches a brand new beer on Sept. 1. MoonJuice Galactic Grapefruit IPA (pictured) is a spin-off of SanTan’s MoonJuice IPA, which launched into mass production in October 2015. The new fruity version is described as an out-of-this-world IPA crafted with tons of Galaxy and Nelson-Sauvin hops from the southern hemisphere. With an added splash of Arizona grown grapefruit juice, courtesy of Sun Orchard in Tempe.
Roka Akor in Scottsdale is hosting a one-of-a-kind tequila dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Prepared by Executive Chef Jason Alford, guests will enjoy a five-course menu paired with premium tequila cocktails created by bar chef, Chris Gorogias. Priced at $100 per person, the summer-inspired menu will be an open seating format in which guests can make a reservation between 4:30 and 10 p.m. Limited tickets are available and reservations are required. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 408.306.8800 or emailing Scottsdale@RokaAkor.com.
Throughout September, in honor of Hunger Awareness Month, guests who dine at any Arizona Grimaldi’s Pizzeria location can donate to No Kid Hungry, a charitable organization pushing to end childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. In return for their donation, guests will receive a bonus card matching their donation amount to use on their next visit. All of the proceeds raised will benefit No Kid Hungry.
Monday, Sept. 5, is National Cheese Pizza Day, and Fired Pie wants to help you celebrate. All Fired Pie locations will offer half off their cheese pizza with the purchase of any drink. This is for cheese pizzas only. Plus, all September long, the restaurant is participating in the No Kid Hungry Campaign. Every $2 you donate to No Kid Hungry while at any of Fired Pie’s 15 Valley locations, you will receive a voucher for a free Pookie that you can use on your next visit. You will have two months to use the voucher.
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