There's always something good cooking at FnB Restaurant in Scottsdale, and that includes the three dining and drinking series the restaurant is kicking off this fall.
Owner and front-of-the-house host extraordinaire Pavle Millic has rounded up a group of "grape geeks" for a Late Night Winos Tasting Series that will combine education, fun, and food. And starting next month, you'll be able to join some of the Valley's best farmers for the Chef-Farmer Lunch Series, which will include lunch and light conversation about different cooking techniques. Finally, the restaurant will offer Sunday Brunch on Roosevelt Lake, an aviation adventure with a one-of-a-kind view.
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Chef-Farmer Lunch Series $85 per person Sundays at 11 a.m.
This monthly series will run from September to November and bring local farmers into the restaurant for an educational experience. Each event also will include lunch prepared by FnB's chef/owner and resident vegetable whisperer, Charleen Badman. And you can bet it will be an intimate gathering since the lunches will be capped at 10 guests.
October 20: Bob McClendon of McClendon's Selects Organics will be in the house to give a talk about organic farming and what it means to be a certified organic farm.
November 10: Charleen Badman will be sharing some ideas of veggie side dishes, with plenty of time for practice before Thanksgiving rolls around. She'll also be sharing some tips about where to shop and what farmers markets to go to.
Late Night Winos Tasting Series $45 a person Saturdays at 10:30 p.m.
This series will kick off next month with events scheduled every other week through May. Each meeting will challenge guests to refine their palettes by tasting unique wines using the "Deductive Tasting Format." Guests will also get to chat with wine specialists and sommeliers during the structured but fun experience. Small plates will be served at the end of the tastings and each week will have a different theme. Tastings are limited to six guests a week.
The experts: Nate Claiborn of FnB, certified specialist of wine, The Society of Wine Educators Joshua A. Ivey, certified sommelier, Court of Masters US Division Joanna Eland of Quench Fine Wines, wine specialist Jessica Fleming of Quail Distributing, certified sommelier and wine specialist Bobby Lindeman of Pitcher of Nectar Distributing, beverage specialist Matt Lebowitz of Young's Market, certified specialist of wine and key accounts manager Pavle Milic of FnB, AZ Wine Merchants, Bodega Mark Pope, certified sommelier and wine specialist
Dates: October 5 October 19 November 2 November 16 November 30 December 14 December 28 January 11 January 25 February 15 March 1 March 15 March 29 April 12 April 26 May 10 May 24
Sunday Brunch on Roosevelt Lake $350 per person Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday brunch is a great tradition in and of itself but you can take it to a whole new level with this dining adventure. Guests will depart from Scottsdale Airport at 10:30 a.m. and board a Cessna Caravan Amphibious Seaplane. You'll then head over the McDowell Mountains, Apache Trail and Indian Ruins before touching down at Roosevelt Lake on the shore of Rabbit Island. There guests will be welcomed by Charleen, Pavle, and two special guests: an Arizona winemaker and local farmer or food artisan. Everyone will share a brunch feast with food, wine and conversation before the return flight home. Expect to return to Scottsdale Airport at 1 p.m. Limited to nine guests per event.
The dates:
October 12 with Rob & Sarah Fox Hammelman (Sand-Reckoner) and special guest
November 9 with Maynard James Keenan (Merkin Vineyards) and David Jordan (ROC2 Roasters)
December 14 with Todd and Kelly Bostock (Dos Cabezas Wineworks) and special guest
January 11 with Melinda Petznik (Stage Stop Vineyards) and Pavle Milic, and Earl Jr. Petznik, a third-generation Arizona cattleman
February 8 with Kent Callaghan (Callaghan Vineyards) and Bob McClendon (McClendon Select Organics)
March 8 with Anne Roncone (Lightning Ridge Cellars) and Jason Raducha (Noble Bread)
April 12 with Sam Pillsbury (Pillsbury Wine Company) and Maya Dailey (Maya's Farm).
Call Desert Splash Adventures at 480-948-3935 for a reservation.
