March Madness and Spring Training may well be over but the food and beverage extravaganzas are waking from a long winters nap to take their place!  Literally from now through the middle of May there is something new and exciting happening almost every day of the week!  From Saturday barbecues to Sunday Culinary Festivals, this time of year is jam packed with events for everyone! 

"But Brewsletter Tim, how can you possibly expect me to pick and choose which event's to go to?  It is just so time consuming sitting and researching all of the quality shindigs that go on in the Valley week to week!"

Fear not my faithful friends, that is exactly what I get paid to do!!  I have put forth all the leg work with the assistance of my trusty sidekick the "inter-webs" for a quick break down of all the places to see and be seen starting this weekend!  Wait, did I say this weekend?  I meant to say starting THURSDAY!

That's right my intrepid readership, the annual Forks and Corks event is going on in Phoenix at the Camelback Esplanade (map) from 5:30 until 8 pm on April 8th (chances are that's tonight by the time you read this)!  Now in its seventh year, Forks and Corks is a celebration of the finest food and wines (and some delicious craft beer favorites, don't you worry) the Valley has to offer.  More than 20 top chefs from restaurants and resorts will be offering a specialty or two from their menus for you to sample.  Several boutique wineries are also participating to round out the "corks" portion of the event.  Throw in a little live jazz and a Silent Auction with proceeds going to offer scholarships for the Arizona Hotel and Restaurant Education Foundation, and brother, you've got yourself a party!  This is a strictly 21 and over event, tickets are available at the door for $75, for more information check out their website HERE.

The following day, Friday the 9th, I recommend a day of rest so that you can be fully prepared for...

The Arizona BBQ Festival in Scottsdale on Saturday!  I don't even know where to begin when it comes to this baby!  First of all doors open at 10am and stay open until midnight!  Next, admission is only $10 for adults with kids under 12 getting in free, "food" tickets can be purchased at $2 a piece, but each ticket will allow you a healthy sample of some tasty treats from more than a handful of world famous BBQers!  If you ask me that is quite a deal!  I know what you're thinking, "But Brewsletter Tim, do you really expect me to hang out for 14 hours only eating BBQ meats?  Think about the human toll that would take!"  A very good question for the 12 people out there who may think that consuming professionally prepared BBQ for 14 hours isn't quite enough for them to drop 10 bucks on.  The Arizona BBQ Festival will also have live music throughout the day, a beer garden (including our own Four Peaks Beer Truck), cooking expos for any aspiring home barbequers out there, a kids zone...oh yeah, and a whiskey tent with a full bar!  I mean what else could you possibly need?  Scouring the internet I found this video clip from the folk at the 3TV Morning Show (the place with more stuff in case you haven't heard) with more information and some tasty looking ribs (HERE).  If you want to see everything they have to offer, check out their website HERE.  Just try to say "no".

...and on the seventh day he rested from all his work...

It says so in the Bible and I think it would be prudent to follow those wise sentiments by treating yourself to a relaxing time at The Kierland Commons in Scottsdale for Taste 2010 on Sunday the 11th.  Food and drink come together for a truly fantastic evening.  Beginning at 6pm and going until 9pm, let a world of flavor take you away. Italian, Japanese, German, French, South American, Californian, Spanish, the list is almost endless. Over the years Americans have embraced food and wine from various cultures and countries and many have even become uniquely American themselves. This augmentation is what makes particular foods or wine stand out from each other. It's what makes it unique to different regions. It's what turns flavor into a true art form.  All right, I stole that directly from their website, but it sounded so good it was making me hungry just reading it.  Personally I attended Taste 2009 last year and it was easily one of the best events I attended all year.  As a special bonus, if you go to their website (HERE) and buy 2 tickets, just enter the promo code: TOV2K10 and you will receive $100 off your total purchase.  That's right, what would normally cost you $300 ($150 per person) is now only $200 ($100 per person) by simply adding this little promo code.  No, thanks aren't necessary, a job well done is reward enough...

Stop by any or all of these great events, we'll be looking for you!