Write On Rubee

I’m an Arizona-based food, beverage, and travel writer sharing stories of my culinary adventures, drink discoveries, gardening projects, and travel in Phoenix and beyond.

March Madness with Thirsty Lion, Tilted Kilt, Kelly's Southbridge, Uptown Alley, and Sprinkles

March 09, 2016  /  Christina Barrueta

March is here and that means college basketball mania is just around the corner! Beginning March 9 through April 4, catch all of your favorite college basketball rivals compete to win the Pac – 12 Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Basketball Championship. Visit these local Valley eateries to catch all of the basketball madness and enjoy some delicious cocktails and tasty food.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill

Enjoy basketball and St. Patrick’s Day fare at Thirsty Lion Gastropub. Through the first weekend of March Madness, Thirsty Lion will be offering their limited time St. Paddy’s menu that includes Bacon Cheddar Potato Cakes and Corned Beef Mac & Cheese. For the rest of the basketball month, wine and dine on their happy hour menu that includes $4 drinks and $5 pizza while watching all of the games at either their Tempe or Scottsdale locations.

To revolutionize the gastropub business by combining the traditional values of European and American pubs, creating a gathering place where friends and family can come together to celebrate life, enjoy great food, craft beers, signature cocktails, wines, music and sports. Thirsty Lion’s culinary commitment is to provide cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients, bold flavors, scratch recipes and seasonal fresh sheets. Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill is located at 2000 East Rio Salado Parkway, Suite 1041 in Tempe and 7014 E Camelback Road, Suite 1423 in Scottsdale. Their Scottsdale location offers complimentary valet. For more information visit www.thirstyliongastropub.com.

Tilted Kilt

Test your luck at Tilted Kilt during March Plaidness! Sip on the Guiness beer of the month and catch all of the basketball craze and root for your favorite college basketball teams while munching on traditional Celtic fare. Throughout March, Tilted Kilt is offering their limited time St. Paddy’s Irish Hooley menu that includes Corned Beef Hash and green beer. Wear your favorite basketball team apparel throughout the month to win Tilted Kilt prizes. Secret codes will be given to guests throughout March Madness and they can win: 

·       10% off a single Tilted Kilt item
·       Half off of a retail item
·       $2 off your total bill ($10 minimum purchase) 
·       Free Tilted Kilt entrée (valid up to $12 value)

“A Cold Beer Never Looked So Good” at Tilted Kilt. The Celtic restaurant and bar known as “The Best Looking Sports Pub You’ve Ever Seen,” has 99 units in operation throughout the U.S. and Canada, with additional 20 pubs in various stages of development. Tilted Kilt is uniquely different than other sports bars because of its theme that combines Celtic décor, humorous and slightly bawdy limericks and sexy cast members with great food, drinks and a fun, entertaining atmosphere. The original restaurant concept was developed in the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas in 2003.  For more information, go to www.tiltedkilt.com.

Kelly’s at SouthBridge

When it’s game time during March Madness, Kelly’s at SouthBridge is the place to be! In the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, Kelly’s offers premium cocktails, burgers, wings and TVs to keep you entertained all game long. Located on Sixth Avenue in downtown Scottsdale, the 8,000 square foot upscale restaurant offers traditional pub classics mixed with exceptional modern cuisine and the perfect laid back atmosphere. Kelly’s is located at 7117 E 6th Avenue, in Scottsdale. For more information, visit www.kellysatsouthbridge.com.

Uptown Alley

Uptown Alley in Surprise, is hosting the Mayhem of March. Now until April 4th, they will be showcasing the Martini Madness and Nacho Pizza.  Starting with Martini Madness, for $5 choose between five delicious martinis featuring some of your favorite basketball cities: Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Louisville and Anaheim. The Anaheim is made from vodka, mango juice, lime juice and has a chili powder rim. Uptown Alley also has the Nacho Pizza available during The Madness of March, a 16 inch pizza topped with nacho cheese Doritos, taco beef, cheddar and jack cheeses, red onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, salsa and sour cream. Uptown Alley is a 60,000 square foot family entertainment venue featuring bowling, an arcade, two-level laser tag, a full-service restaurant—Red Embers Bar and Grill—that serves craft sandwiches, signature burgers and a custom Burger Bar. www.uptownalleysurprise.com

Sprinkles Cupcakes

For many March is all about college basketball, but Sprinkles Cupcakes is having a competition of their own!  This March is Cupcake Madness and the two flavors will be competing for a permanent spot on the menu. Swirl will be competing to take Vanilla Milk Chocolate off of the menu with its delicious Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla and Belgium dark chocolate hand-swirled together and topped with milk chocolate cream cheese frosting. Vanilla Milk Chocolate will be fighting to keep its place with Madagascar Bourbon vanilla cake topped with fudgy milk chocolate cream cheese frosting. Whichever cupcake sells the most between March 15 and March 31 will earn their permanent spot on the weekly menu. 

Sprinkles is located at 4501 N. Scottsdale Road on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Camelback roads, across from Scottsdale Fashion Square. For more information about Sprinkles or to place an order, visit www.sprinkles.com or call (480) 970-4321.

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Spring Arizona Restaurant Week Returns May 20-29

March 08, 2016  /  Christina Barrueta

Photos by Joanie Simon

Food Lovers Unite for 10 Days of Dining Delights

PHOENIX (Mar. 4, 2016)— Arizona Restaurant Association's Spring Arizona Restaurant Week (ARW) is back! Presented by BMW North Scottsdale, ten nights of epic dining adventures will happen May 20-29 and feature the best cuisine the Valley of the Sun has to offer.  During Spring ARW, more than 100 participating restaurants will offer a three-course prix-fixe menu for just $33 or $44 per person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity unless otherwise noted. ARW menus allow food lovers to experience the height of culinary talent of chefs statewide.

With more than $11 billion dollars in projected revenue for Arizona eateries in 2016, Spring Restaurant week helps give restaurants a needed boost before the summer months—and it allows diners a chance to eat their way around town—at true “win-win.”  Arizona Restaurant Association president and CEO Steve Chucri said, “Diners embrace our restaurant weeks and it’s so gratifying to see. From tacos, to pizza to fine dining and everything in between, ARW is a special time of year.”  

Newly opened restaurants Quill Creek Café at Grayhawk Golf Club, Drexyl and Inde Fusion are first time participants in ARW and they join long-time participating restaurants like Fogo de Chao, Liberty Market, Posh, White Chocolate Grill and many others already on the docket. 

Those anticipating the arrival of Spring ARW can check out updates at www.ArizonaRestaurantWeek.com, on participating restaurants and their menus will be continually added starting in late March.

About Arizona Restaurant Week: The most edible time of the year, Arizona Restaurant Week, is making its return Friday, May 20 toMonday, May 29, sending diners on a ten-day tasting tour of the state. Participating restaurants are not only known for their exceptional cuisine, they also spare no expense to give diners an extraordinary culinary experience. One of Arizona Restaurant Week’s goals is to position Arizona as one of the top culinary destinations in the nation by increasing awareness of the more than 8,500 dining opportunities available as well as stimulate business and revenue for restaurants throughout the state. Arizona Restaurant Week is produced by the Arizona Restaurant Association.

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