National Cassoulet Day Friday, January 9 through Sunday, January 11
On Friday Francophiles from coast to coast will pay homage to cassoulet, or classic French casserole, in honor of National Cassoulet Day. And to celebrate here in the Valley, look no further than chef Christopher Gross of Christopher's Restaurant and Crush Lounge at the Biltmore Fashion Park. All this weekend chef Gross will be serving his own version of the traditional winter dish, a decadent version that includes Hudson Valley duck confit and house-made merguez sausage. Christopher's Cassoulet ($24) will be available for dinner Friday through Sunday. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 602-522-2344.
See also: Blasted Barley on Mill Avenue in Tempe to Debut First Beer This Thursday
AZ Veg Food Fest Saturday, January 10
This weekend the folks behind the annual NY Vegetarian Food Festival are headed to the Valley to host the first AZ Vegetarian Food Festival. The event will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheater and will feature food sampling and meals from vegetarian restaurants, vegetarian food companies, and health and wellness vendors. There will also be vegetarian/animal welfare information tables, live entertainment, and activities throughout the day. General admission tickets, which can be purchased online, cost $20 and will cost $25 at the door. VIP tickets are also available online for $50, which includes a goodie bag, t-shirt, and two raffle tickets. For more information check the Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival website.
Brunch at The Market by Jennifer's Sunday, January 11
Looking for a new spot to check out for brunch? Try The Market by Jennifer's located in the Gaslight Square shopping center in Arcadia. The market and restaurant is now serving weekend brunch from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and hosts live music from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday. This Sunday you can enjoy the talents of Daniel Nunez, while checking out the restaurant's new brunch menu. The restaurant has also added a full bar to complement the wine and dining options. For more information, visit The Market by Jennifer's website and Facebook.