Your Guide to Metro Phoenix's Food and Drink Events Happening This September

We've reached the beginning of the month again, so here's a brand new list of food and drink events to fill the calendar. Like cake? There's an event for that. How about garlic? We have that too, plus a shrimp boil, green chile festival, mescal pairing dinner, and more. Here's where to eat, drink, and be merry in metro Phoenix this September. 25th Birthday Celebration
Thursday, September 1
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Multiple Locations
nothingbundtcakes.com
The first 250 guests at Nothing Bundt Cakes locations will receive a free Confetti Bundtlet, as the bakery turns 25 years old. There's also an online contest where one lucky person will win a $25,000 birthday celebration planned by a celebrity party planning company, with 25 runner-ups receiving a $100 Nothing Bundt Cakes gift card. You can enter the contest by submitting a photo and description of your favorite birthday memory. Entries will be accepted through September 25.
Hot Dog Days Extravaganza
Friday, September 2 through Friday, September 30
Joe's Farm Grill
3000 East Ray Road, Gilbert
480-563-4745
joesfarmgrill.com Stop by Joe's Farm Grill for a hot dog and sausage extravaganza. It's $13 for one or $19 for two, of the same kind or mix and match. There's the Dynamite Dog, a Schreiner's spicy pork hot link slathered with scorpion pepper and habanero cream cheese, topped with hand-breaded fried chillito peppers and sweet-hot pepper jelly. The Loco Moco Dog sounds intriguing, with the classic Hawaiian comfort food of a burger patty topped with an oozing fried sunny-side up egg and rich homemade brown gravy, all on top of sticky rice, an open-faced, buttered grilled bun, and a split grilled hot dog. The dog days of summer aren't over yet.
National Cinema Day
Saturday, September 3
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
1 West Chandler Boulevard, Chandler
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas in Chandler is marking National Cinema Day by giving moviegoers $3 small popcorn portions and $3 soft drinks. Movies that day for all showtimes and in all formats will also be $3 per person.
Green Chile Festival
Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4
Amadio Ranch 4701 West Dobbins Road, Laveen Village
602-791-9633
www.amadioranch.com
Family-owned Amadio Ranch is hosting its second annual Hatch Chile Festival. Get your fresh roasted green chiles directly from Hatch, New Mexico plus visit food trucks and vendors. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Welcome Diner Shrimp Boil
Sunday, September 4
929 East Pierce Street
602-495-1111
welcomediner.net
You're encouraged to eat with your hands, right off the table, at Welcome Diner's shrimp boil. Wren House Brewing, McClendon's Select, Schreiner's Sausage, and Nelson's Meat and Fish will also be participating. The $40 tickets (plus fees) includes one seat, the shrimp boil, fixings, and two beers.
Grand Opening
Thursday, September 8
Belly Kitchen and Bar
3150 East Ray Road, Gilbert, #180
480-500-6464
bellyphx.com
Belly Kitchen and Bar is one of the host of new restaurants coming to Gilbert's Epicenter. The Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese-inspired eatery has already found success in Phoenix. Belly will be exploring new dishes at its East Valley location plus a completely new lunch menu. The restaurant will welcome its first customers on Thursday, September 8.

International Chocolate Day
Monday, September 12 to Saturday, September 17
International Chocolate Day is September 12, but Batch Cookie Shop in Gilbert is making it a week-long celebration. Four chocolate-centric cookies, including Chocolate Buttercream, Chocolate Lava, Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream, and Joyful Almond, will be around for the week in addition to the regular offerings. Plus on Tuesday you can buy one cookie and get one free, with a limit of three.
Meet the Somm Wine Dinner Series
Tuesday, September 13
Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion
2501 East Telawa Trail
Chef Mark Tarbell will be the guest sommelier for this wine series event at Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion. Tarbell has a background working at Michelin-starred restaurants and opened up the award-winning Tarbell's Restaurant in Phoenix in 1994. The reception will start at 6:30 p.m. with dinner to follow. It's $499 per person, and you can prepay online to reserve your spot.
Glass Etching and Wine Tasting
Friday, September 16
Found:RE Contemporary
1100 North Central Avenue
602-875-8000
Found:RE Contemporary art gallery is hosting a night of glass etching and wine tasting led by guest artist Cundiff Crafts and Creations. Choose between two or four glasses, the style of wine or pint, plus a variety of designs. There will also be a wine tasting and food and beverages available from Match Market & Bar. Show your ticket to receive 15 percent off your purchase.
Garlic Fest
Friday, September 16 to Sunday, September 25
Queen Creek Olive Mill
25062 South Meridian Road, Queen Creek
480-888-9290
queencreekolivemill.com
The ninth annual Garlic Fest is back at Queen Creek Olive Mill, lasting just over a week. Watch cooking demos, play games in the grove, purchase garlic products and accessories, and more. Del Piero Kitchen will have a daily garlic-inspired menu plus the beer and wine garden will be open on the weekend. The event is free to attend with no reservations required.
Spirited Sipping Seminar
Saturday, September 17
Hearth '61 at Mountain Shadows
5445 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale
480-624-5458
www.mountainshadows.com/dining/hearth
Learn all about bourbon during this history lesson and tasting, paired with a light nosh at Hearth '61 at Mountain Shadows. Space is limited to 20 guests, with a maximum party size of eight. Tickets cost $39.
Four-Course Mezcal Pairing Dinner
Saturday, September 17
Match Market and Bar at Found:Re Phoenix
602-875-8000
foundrehotels.com/match
Found:RE Phoenix and Compa Spirits are teaming up for a four-course mezcal pairing dinner, with dishes prepared by executive chef Shane Jackson with tastings from Erstwhile Mezcal, a woman-led socially conscious distillery. Examples of courses include a fresh corn porridge with a mezcal-cured quail egg, wild mushrooms, agave roasted peppers, and chapulines, and lamb shank barbacoa with habanero, clove, gremolata, and sour orange. The event costs $159 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Our Favorite Things Tea Party
Wednesday, September 21 to Sunday, September 25
Drink Me! Tea Room
1730 East Warner Road, #5, Tempe
602-206-5469
drinkmetearoom.com
Here's your chance to try some of Drink Me! Tea Room's favorite items from their menu over the past two years. You'll indulge in a three-tiered selection of sweet and savory plant-based and gluten-free treats. Opt to make it a tipsy tea party by adding special tea cocktails and mocktails. The Full Afternoon Tea is $54 per person while the Literary Tea offers a smaller sampling of treats and is $36.50 per person.
Arizona State Fair
Friday, September 23 to October, 30 (Thursdays through Sundays)
Arizona State Fairgrounds
1826 West McDowell Road
The Arizona State Fair has been entertaining Arizonans for over a century and it's back again this year for some more fun. Chow down on all the fried food on a stick you can eat, listen to musical acts, and take a ride on the Ferris wheel. Tickets are $15 for those age 8 and up.

Monday, September 26 to Wednesday, September 28
Multiple Locations