Roosevelt Row will be heating up next weekend when the third annual Roosevelt Row Chile Pepper Festival goes down. The spicy event will take place on Saturday, September 27 at the A.R.T.S. Market from 5 to 11 p.m.
In addition to naming a best chile pepper dish during the event, Roosevelt Row will also be crowing a new Chile Pepper Champion. This community member is honored for his or her work supporting good food and nominations are being accepted online.
Last year's winner was Monika Woosley of Hip Veggies, who was selected based on the nominations of community members that she had affected in her pursuit to support good food. To nominate someone for this year's award, you can submit their name, your name and email, and a short explanation of why he or she should win on the Chile Pepper Festival website.
At this year's festival, 24 local restaurants and chefs will also be vying for the title of best chile pepper dish. Participating restaurants include:
- AZ Food Crafters
- Aside of Heart
- Carly's Bistro
- Canyon Café
- Gadzooks
- Gallo Blanco
- Jobot Coffee & Diner
- Jamburritos Cajun Grille
- Moga Crepes
- Mamma Toledo's The Pie Hole
- Ollie Vaughn's
- Paletas Betty
- Phoenix Public Market Cafe
- Renaissance Hotel
- Shortleash Hotdogs /Rollover Doughnuts
- Squid Ink
- St. Francis
- The Refuge Cafe
- Treehouse Bakery
- Urban Beans/Tertio Wine Bar
- Welcome Diner
There will also be a beer garden presented by Deschutes Brewery and a gourmet margarita station by 3 Amigos Tequila.
Admission to the festival is free and food and drink tickets/tokens will be available for purchase individually and in bundles. Food tickets (good for food samples from the 24 restaurants above) will cost $2 each or 12 for $20. Drink tokens will cost $5 each of 5 for $20.
You can also purchase food and drink bundles such as the Pepper-Poppers bundle, which includes 24 food tickets and one drink token for $40. Downtown residents (area codes: 85004,85006, 85007, and 85008) will be able to buy the Downtowner Discount bundle, which includes 12 food tickets and one drink ticket for $20.
For more information or to RSVP and purchase tickets/bundles visit the Roosevelt Row Chile Pepper Festival website.
