Spring will be here before we know it (Yer outta here, chilly, low seventy-degree days!) and that means celebrations-a-go-go for the Valley, including one of the biggest and most popular: The Scottsdale Culinary Festival.
Featuring six days of events, restaurants and chefs, wine and spirits, and chic soirees with proceeds going to The Scottsdale League for the Arts, 40,000 people are anticipated to attend this year's Scottsdale Culinary Festival, now in its thirty-fourth year, to be held from Tuesday, April 17, through Sunday, April 22, at various locations throughout the Valley.
With events like a burger battle, a dinner prepared by eight James Beard award-winning chefs, a chocolate and wine experience, and Travel Channel celebs Adam Richman and Andrew Zimmern, early planning means a better experience and, in some cases, cheaper tickets.
Read on for the details.
To date, there are nineteen scheduled events at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival. Many of them -- like performances by Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods and Adam Richman of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food, the Southwest Beer Festival, and a kitchen gadget expo -- happen during the Great Arizona Picnic, a two-day celebration featuring over fifty food and beverage exhibitors, specialty areas, and live music.
The Great Arizona Picnic takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22. For details and ticket prices, go here.
Other events that may strike a culinary cord are The Chocolate & Wine Experience on Wednesday, April 18, at Degree 270 at Talking Stick Resort; Arizona's first Burger Battle, where twenty local chefs will duke it out for best burger in the Valley at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday, April 19; and the Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner, Wednesday, April 16, at the Deseo at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, where eight James Beard award-winning chefs from around the country prepare a multi-course meal with wine pairings.
For the complete list of events, ticket prices, and details, go here.
