Bink's Scottsdale Wednesday, August 13
On Wednesday James Beard Award-nominated chef Kevin Binkley will team up with winemaker Sam Pillsbury for a four-course wine-paired dinner at Bink's Scottsdale. The menu includes inventive summer dishes such as lobster with avocado, melon, extra virgin olive oil, purslane, and frozen passion fruit vinaigrette; smoked pumpernickel pasta with roasted mushrooms, arugula, cured egg yolk, aged gouda, and crispy proscuitto; and a surprise dessert. Featured wines will include 2011 Chenin Blanc, 2012 Shiraz, and the first-ever Pillsbury dessert wine. Tickets to the dinner, which starts at 6:30 p.m., cost $80 a person.
See also: Arizona Fall Restaurant Week is Back This September -- With Higher Prices and A New Schedule
El Palacio Wednesday, August 13
El Palacio of Chandler will close out its southwestern summer beer dinner series this week with an event featuring beer from the Grand Canyon Brewing Company. The four-course dinner will include gourmet Mexican-Italian fusion dishes such as melon and arugula salad with agave vinaigrette; Italian albondiga with picante alfredo sauce & cauliflower puree; and churro zeppole with Pumpkin Porter sauce. The dinner starts at 7 p.m. and costs $25 a person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 480-802-5770 or visiting the El Palacio of Chandler website.
Crudo Thursday, August 14
It's no secret that Crudo chef Cullen Campbell likes Asian food. The name of his restaurant is Italian for "raw," referring to the Italian raw fish dish reminiscent of Japanese sushi. This Thursday Cullen will be teaming up with local saké expert Matt Lebowitz of Young's Market for a five-course Asian-inspired dinner with sake pairings. The menu includes albacore crudo with buttermilk, white soy, and chive; teriyaki bone marrow with scallion crespelle, and pork temples; and rice pudding with yuzu sugar cookies and miso ganache. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and costs $75 a person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 602-358-8666.
District American Kitchen and Wine Bar Friday, August 15
This Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. District American Kitchen at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix Hotel is celebrating the launch of their 3rd Street Beer Club. From now on every time you grab a pint at the hotel restaurant and bar, you can get a membership card punched; after 12 punches you'll get a free growler or fill. At the kickoff event attendees will get a growler, samples from Mother Road and Cartel, and a 3rd Street Beer Club Membership card. The restaurant will also be raffling off free growler fills, serving complimentary appetizers, and offering complimentary three-hour self-parking validation. Tickets cost $10 at the door. RSVP on the Facebook event page.
Clever Koi
If you haven't been to Clever Koi in Central Phoenix lately, you might be interested to know that the restaurant has introduced a new late-summer menu that includes fresh eats and a few new drinks. On the food side the chefs have added dishes including Green Papaya Salad ($10) with crunchy peanuts and spicy chili soy vinaigrette. We've tried and recommend the Chicken & Waffles Steamed Buns ($4.50 each) served with kimchee waffle, chili maple syrup, and scallions or the Roasted Peach Fritters ($6) topped with five-spice and vanilla cream cheese. As for drinks, the restaurant is now serving Adult Sodas ($9); an Innocent Postcard ($10) with Saler's aperitif, Bonal, and orange flower water); and the Up In Smoke ($10) with Corsair Triple Smoke whiskey, Bonal, St. George spiced pear, and Gomme.
