Caramelpalooza 2013: Buy Tasting Tickets Now

Polish off that sweet tooth, Phoenix, because Caramelpalooza 2013's just a little more than a week away. Smeeks and Chow Bella's fourth annual caramel tasting will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at UNION -- a new location but the same sugar rush (more, in fact) you've enjoyed...

By Amy Silverman

March 27, 2013

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Polish off that sweet tooth, Phoenix, because Caramelpalooza 2013's just a little more than a week away.

Smeeks and Chow Bella's fourth annual caramel tasting will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at UNION -- a new location but the same sugar rush (more, in fact) you've enjoyed in years past.

For the past few weeks we've been getting cozy with the caramel makers, and now we have some news about how to get tasting tickets for the event.

This year's Caramelpalooza will benefit the Arizona Humane Society. You can show up the night of the event (we suggest you come early, tickets will go quickly) and buy tickets, or you can purchase tickets online now.

Purchase Caramelpalooza tasting tickets here.

Either way, it's $10 for 5 tickets. With 20 caramel makers competing, you'll want to study up on the chef profiles we've been sharing here on Chow Bella and plan your strategy accordingly. Caramel makers will compete for awards, including Best in Show and People's Choice.

In the coming days we'll announce a contest to choose a reader judge for the event, and we'll be sharing our Caramelpalooza Field Guide.

See you April 7!

Once again, the competing chefs:

Veronica Arroyo, Bourbon Steak Stacey Barnes and Donna Hansen, Goodytwos Toffee Company Patrick Boll and Jason Raducha, The P. Joseph Project Brady Breese, Urban Cookies Monica Castillo, Churn Denise Clayton, Denise is Cooking Amanda Crick and Erin Glassburn, Tonto & Cartwright's Donna Croyle and Julie Schobert, Twist Caramels Tracy Dempsey, Tracy Dempsey Originals LaDawn Driscoll, The Herb Box Slade Grove, Slade Grove Creative Gourmet Kathryn James, Sweets by 5ftLatina Jeff Kraus, Crepe Bar Jill McNamara, Millie's Caramels Rachel Miller, Pistol Whipped Pastry Minerva Orduño Rincón, Muñeca Mexicana Lisa and Jim Rast, NutWhats Virginia Senior, Urban Beans Eugenia Theodosopoulos, Essence Bakery Cafe Traci Zitzer and Russell Johnson, Urban Table

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Amy Silverman is the former managing editor of Phoenix New Times. She is a two-time winner of the Arizona Press Club’s Journalist of the Year award. Her work has appeared on the radio show This American Life and in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Lenny Letter, and Brain, Child.