Check, please? Yes, please.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at downtown's CityScape, Check, Please! Arizona, KAET Channel 8's restaurant-review series hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef Robert McGrath, will take its show on the road by hosting its very own food festival.
See also: - Crudo and Noca Team Up for a One-Night-Only, 5-Course Cocktail Dinner Tour - Get Your Tickets Now for the Arcadia Edible Garden Tour on May 11
Since we first told you about the event in February, New Times has become a sponsor -- and now, Chow Bella's even got our own stage (Squeal!).
With all the goings on -- like eats from several restaurants previously featured on Check, Please! Arizona plus such events as a wine seminar with Mark Tarbell of Tarbell's, gnocchi-making with Jeremy Pacheco of Lon's at the Hermosa, and a chance to audition for the show -- you'll want to plan ahead to make your experience as delicious as possible.
We've got a cheat sheet that can help.
Here's what's happening on the Chow Bella Stage:
Noon: John Cavanagh of Tuck Shop -- The Art of the Perfect Mixer
1 p.m.: Craft Beer Seminar with Andy Ingram of Four Peaks Brewery
2 p.m.: James Beard Award Winners -- Discussion Panel Four of Arizona's James Beard Award Winning chefs will participate in a panel discussion about Phoenix as a culinary destination, each chef's unique culinary journey, and what the James Beard honor has meant to them. Chef Robert McGrath -- The Check, Please! Arizona show host will lead this panel. McGrath was awarded Best Chef Southwest in 2001. Chef Christopher Gross -- Gross, of Christopher's & Crush Lounge, was awarded Best Chef Southwest in 1995. Gross will host an exclusive wine seminar for VIP guests. Chef Nobuo Fukuda -- Recently acclaimed for Nobuo at Teeter House, Fukuda won Best Chef Southwest in 2007. Chef Fukuda will serve exclusive VIP samples. Chef Chris Bianco -- Best known for his world-famous pizza at Pizzeria Bianco, he earned Best Chef Southwest in 2003.
3 p.m.: Exclusive Wine Seminar with Mark Tarbell, Tarbell's
Here are the chef demonstrations happening on the SubZero/Wolf Stage:
Noon: Chef James Porter, Petite Maison
1:30 p.m.: Chef Eddie Matney, Eddie's House
3 p.m.: Chef Jeremy Pacheco, Lon's at the Hermosa will demo gnocchi-making and pair it with sausage.
Here's what's going on in the VIP area: 1 p.m.: Private Wine Seminar with Christopher Gross, Christopher's & Crush Lounge
Here's what's happening at the Safeway Grill Master Stage:
11:45 a.m.: Chef Hoffman, Haus Murphy's German Restaurant
12:30 p.m.: Robert McGrath, host of Check, Please! Arizona and James Beard award winner will take the grilling stage to share his award-winning techniques.
2:45 p.m.: George Frasher, Frasher's Steakhouse & Lounge
Auditions for Check, Please! Arizona will happen at the Check, Please! Arizona Audition Stage from noon until 4 p.m.
Here's a sampling of the eats from some of the event's featured restaurants:
- America's Taco Shop: Grilled meat tacos - Durant's: Brioche crostini with horseradish cream, roast sirloin and basil pesto; chocolate indulgence cake - Amuse Bouche: Meatloaf sliders with tomato glaze, smoked bacon and onion aioli; chocolate éclair cake. - Betty's Nosh: Mushroom soup; stuffed mushrooms - Eddie's House: Israeli fattoush couscous - Frasher's: BBQ pulled pork; gooey butter cake. - Haus Murphy's: Beefy bratwurst with sauerkraut - Havana Café: Moros & Cristianos (black bean & rice dish) with pork morsels - Hob Nobs: Gourmet pizza - MacAlpines: Velvet Elvis ice cream soda, pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad - Pittsburgh Willy's: Two gourmet hot dogs (Freddie G. and Wing Ding Willy) - Shugrue's: Seafood gumbo - Thee Pitts "Again": Pulled pork
To purchase tickets, go to the Check, Please! Arizona website. General admission is $60 and includes food as well as wine and beer sampling. VIP tickets are $100 and include a James Beard Award winners' private chef seminar, exclusive wine tastings, early entry to the festival 30 minutes before general admission, and VIP valet parking.
