Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We've got you covered. Check out what's on our plate.
See Also: - Kevin Binkley to Open Bink's Midtown in Phoenix on Wednesday - Urban Cookies Bakeshop's Brady Breese: Caramelpalooza Candymakers 2013
Arizona Rare Fruit Grower's Spring Plant Sale
Love homegrown food? Don't miss this unique plant sale at the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Office (near Sky Harbor International Airport) on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a huge selection of fruiting trees and plants, including bananas, guavas, pomegranates, star fruit, figs, loquat, avocados, dragon fruit cactus, peaches, and apricots. In addition, the Arizona Herb Association will be selling herbs and selected plants. The event will also feature a hands-on apple tree grafting workshop at 10 a.m. The cost is $5, and participants get to take home a 1-gallon tree. There will also be a 4H barbecue with hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, and lemonade.
Chiles to Chocolate: Eating in the Pre-historic Southwest
Linda S. Cordell is lecturing on the topic "Chilis to Chocolate: Foods that Americas Gave to the World" on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Heard Museum's Encanto Room. Cordell is the Senior Scholar at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and author of several books, including Archaeology of the Southwest and Ancient Pueblo Peoples. This event is hosted by the Heard Museum to complement the exhibit "Chocolate, Chili & Cochineal: Changing Taste Around the World," which explores how foods indigenous to the Americas affected other parts of the world. This event is included with museum admission.
Easter Cupcakes at Urban Cookies Bakeshop
Unless you gave up sugar for Lent, you've probably already started your Easter celebrations by sneaking a few Cadbury Crème Eggs. Up the ante on this dessert-laden holiday with six Easter selections at Urban Cookies Bakeshop. The everyday menu is delicious, but this all-organic bakery really shows off its stuff when it comes to seasonal specials like Pink "Peeps" (vanilla cake topped with natural pink sugar marshmallow frosting) and Bird's Nest (coconut cake topped with natural green coconut and jelly beans). And the Orange Fretti (orange olive oil cake with natural orange sprinkles) highlights the best of Arizona springtime with orange blossom buttercream.
The Great American BBQ & Beer Festival
This Saturday, March 23, The Great American Barbecue & Beer Festival is back, and this year's event promises to be better than ever with 20,000 pounds of barbecued meats and 200 kegs of beer. Finger-lickin' good ribs, brisket, and other tangy, smoky, sauce-covered eats will be provided by Tom's BBQ, The Hungry Monk Eatery & Taproom, Stacy's Pit Stop BBQ, and over 20 more local restaurants. The festival, which begins at noon at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, will also have live music from Smashmouth and Hoobastank, a hoedown, and an all-day KidZone. Proceeds will benefit the Downtown Chandler Community Foundation. Tickets are $10, and kids 12 and under get in for free. Through Thursday, you can also snag two tickets for the price of one (while supplies last).
Want to have fun exploring food this weekend without killing your diet (or your waistline)? Head to the Arizona State Fairgrounds for the first ever Arizona Health & Fitness Expo from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There will be three stages for seminars, including one dedicated to nutrition in the Wesley Bolin Building. Events include a healthy cooking lecture at noon and a Health Salad Challenge hosted by Monti Carlo of Masterchef and My103.9 at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The AZ Gourmet Food Truck Association will be serving healthy and gluten-free dishes, and there will be interactive activities in the Kid Fit Pavilion. Tickets are $5 at the door, half-price online, and free at Hi-Health locations.
