Another Update: Filiberto's/Chipotle at Scottsdale/Talking Stick Pavilions

Previously mentioned here along with Chipotle (expected to open in July), and updated here, Filiberto's opening at the Scottsdale/Talking Stick Pavilions has been pushed back.  According to the flyer pictured below, Filiberto's will now open Memorial Day weekend (5/27-5/30).

I know a lot of you out there are anxiously waiting for this location to open so keep your fingers crossed and I'll post another update as soon as I find out if anything changes.

Update (5-27-2011): Filiberto's is now open
Update (6-20-2011): Chipotle to open on 6-27

Venezia's Pizza Challenge 5/15 - 2 People / 24" Pizza

This Sunday, May 15th, all four valley Venezia's New York Style Pizzeria locations will be having a National Pizza Party Day Challenge where two people can dine in and try to eat a 24" pizza with any variety of toppings they choose within an hour for half price. This challenge is open to anybody and if you can do it, you get your picture on the Wall of Fame and a free Venezia's t-shirt. For additional information, check out Venezia's Facebook page.  The four valley locations are:

744 W. Ray Rd. #101 Gilbert, AZ 85233

2721 S. Ellsworth Rd. #107 Mesa, AZ 85209

27 E. Southern Ave. Tempe, AZ 85282

5057 E. McKellips Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202

Free Donut and Coffee Everyday For a Year at Krispy Kreme

I wanted to report this yesterday, but due to blogger being down and some bad information I was not able to.  Krispy Kreme in Arizona is celebrating 3 years of being back in the state after what many of you may remember as a sudden closing of every store here.

From today, May 13th to Sunday May 15th, you can go to any Krispy Kreme in Arizona and pay $20 for a "365 card" that will get you a free donut and a free 12-ounce coffee everyday for a year. That's not all though, the $20 purchase also entitles you to 3 dozen glazed donuts at the time of the purchase.  The CBS affiliate in Tucson confirms this report as well. Again, this is available at all 11 Krispy Kreme locations in the state. For your nearest Krispy Kreme location, check here.

Recall: Undeclared Allergens in Breads by Tri-State Bakery

According to the New Mexico Environmental Department, Tri-State Bakery is recalling their 24-ounce breads because they may contain the undeclared allergens soy flour, soy lecithin and milk.

"People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to the ingredients run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products, a release said...The recalled bread was distributed in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arizona through retail grocery stores."

The New Mexico Business Weekly states that consumers should bring the bread back to the store it was purchased at for a full refund.  A full list of the products involved in the recall can be found here.

99 Cent Iced Coffee or Iced Tea at Dunkin' Donuts 3pm-6pm

According to the latest Dunkin' Donuts advertising, you can go in between 3pm - 6pm and get any size iced coffee or iced tea for 99 cents.  Note there is a limit of 2 per person and like most deals, this is only for a limited time. Also, in case you missed it a couple days ago, the AZFoodDude posted a story about the new Dunkin' Donuts Blueberry Waffle Breakfast Sandwich going for $2.99.

Update (5-18-2011): This deal will expire on Sunday, May 29th.

Free McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade 5/12-5/15

Previously talked about here by the AZFoodDude, starting Thursday, May 12th to Sunday, May 15th, local Arizona McDonald's will be giving out free samples of their new McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade.  Supposedly the free samples are 5-ounces. Local television advertising does not stipulate any hours for this promotion so I am led to believe it is an all day event through and until Sunday.

More Fat Can Be Helpful For a Heart?

A very interesting study from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine came out a few days ago with some very intriguing results:

"The research, published in American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, suggests that for a damaged heart, a balanced diet that includes mono- and polyunsaturated fats, and which replaces simple sugars (sucrose and fructose) with complex carbohydrates, may be beneficial. In a healthy person, the heart uses both fats and carbohydrates to obtain the energy it needs to continue pumping blood 24/7. Ideally, fats are utilized because they yield more energy. However, if a person develops heart failure (or suffers from ischemia – a lack of blood supply), the heart seems to prefer using glucose for fuel, because glucose requires less oxygen to produce energy...researchers previously thought a high-fat diet fed to animal models that have suffered a heart attack, would overload their tissues with fat, which in turn would have a toxic effect on their hearts. Surprisingly, the heart’s pump function improved on the high-fat diet."

Please do not run out and eat as many Whopper's with extra mayo as you can, more research has to be done. That said, this is very interesting, if not a little confusing for those of us that are not medical experts, since we're generally told to limit how much fat we eat. Should we all be consuming some more fats or should this just apply to those who have a heart damaged in some way? I urge you to read the entire article to get a fuller understanding.

New: McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

Sometimes the AZFoodDude forgets he's the AZFoodDude.  Here is an example. You might have seen McDonald's has a new item, the McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade.  I tried this a little over a week ago and enjoyed it quite a bit. I must have enjoyed it so much I subconsciously wanted to keep it all to myself.  Being that as the case, here is my quick review, just for you. It was good...really good. I'd recommend it to a friend. I'd even tell a friend about the $1 off coupon you can print out at the McDonald's website for it.

Taste of the Nation in Scottsdale

This Friday, May 13th, Taste of the Nation Arizona is taking place at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, located at 7575 E. Princess Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85255. You can buy general admission tickets for $100 or $200 for V.I.P.  All the proceeds go to charities involved in fighting childhood hunger.  Here's how the event is described:

"The evening will begin with a cocktail competition in which 14 mixologists will square off, featuring recipes representative of various cities from throughout the nation. Guests will have an opportunity to sample these liquid creations and vote for their favorite cocktails. Guests will then enjoy a seated meal prepared tableside by some of Phoenix and Scottsdale’s most talented chefs. Each table will sample a different menu from a different restaurant. Each table of ten guests will be treated to a five course dinner with wine and specialty cocktail pairings prepared exclusively for their table by one of the featured chefs. As each chef will showcase cuisine from a different part of the country, guests will enjoy a true “Taste of the Nation.” Participating restaurants include: Brittlebush Bar & Grill, Bourbon Steak, Deseo, elements, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, La Hacienda, L’Auberge de Sedona, Province, 5th and Wine, Talavera, T. Cook’s, Smart Kitchen, Chef Aaron May, Fred’s at Barney’s and Nourish."

The event takes place from 5pm to 9:30pm w/VIP tickets and 5:30pm to 9:30pm w/General Admission tickets. According to the site, there will also be a silent and live auction during the event. Local charities that will benefit include St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance and the Association of Arizona Food Banks.

Arizona Restaurant Week 5/13-5/22

Friday, May 13th to Sunday, May 22nd is Arizona Restaurant Week.  The Arizona Restaurant Association announced a spring restaurant week due to the popularity of the event traditionally held in September. From the official website:

"2011Arizona SPRING Restaurant Week will give local, regional and national food lovers the opportunity to enjoy a prix-fixe dinner for $30 or $40 per person (unless noted: excluding beverages, tax and gratuity) at a number of participating Arizona restaurants. Arizona SPRING Restaurant Week’s goal is to position Arizona as one of the top culinary destinations in the nation by increasing awareness of the many dining opportunities available in the state, as well as stimulating business and revenue for restaurants throughout Arizona."

You can find a list of participating restaurants here. Reservations are strongly suggested. Note that the list indicates which restaurants have vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as restaurants that include a drink in the price.

New Jimmy John's in Scottsdale

A new Jimmy John's recently opened up next to Chipotle and the Buster's Restaurant at 8300 N. Hayden Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85258. You can take a look at the menu at their website. Jimmy John's is known for quickly made sandwiches and they do deliver.

Rogue Pine Nuts Ruining Sense of Taste

I'm pretty sure we've all had those nasty colds where food seems to have no taste, but what if everything you ate tasted awful?

"The problem has a medical name: metallogeusia...The disorder typically appears about two days after ingestion of a rogue pine nut, and can last for up to nine weeks...He simply cannot eat because everything tastes so horrible."

If you really like pine nuts, be careful where they're imported from.  Scientists believe they know where the trouble nuts are coming from:

"A January 2011 report in the Journal of Toxicology suggests that taste disturbances following consumption of pine nuts is related to a species from southern China, the Pinus armandii (white pine)....Pine nuts from the Pinus armandii genus can be identified with some certainty: they are shorter and fatter than the long-grain rice shape of the typical European or American variety, shaped more like corn kernels and have a brown tip."

Full article here.

Drugstores Will Cost You More Than Grocery Stores

Perhaps this is a sign that I've spent way too much time in stores but, I thought this report by ABC15 was common knowledge. The report details some information about the higher prices we usually find at drugstores when compared to grocery stores and large discount retailers. Here's a quick example from the article:

"We did a local survey looking at prices at drugstores versus discount stores. A good example was the price of moisturizers. We looked at Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Cream with SPF20. At national chain drugstores we found the price of a 1.4 oz tube cost $2 more than the price at a discount store."

While the article does not focus on food, the same rule tends to apply.  That said, if you pay attention to the Sunday advertisements, you occasionally will see a food item at a considerable discount that beats even the grocery stores.  I guess the question is, for you, does the convenience of drugstores make up for their higher costs?

New Biltmore Restaurant: Black Chile Mexican Grill

The same folks who opened up the Kona Grill are opening a new restaurant in the biltmore area at 2502 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016 called Black Chile Mexican Grill.  Slated to open later this month, the menu includes tacos, enchiladas, cheese crisps and multiple entrees as well as 125 brands of tequila. You can find the article here and the restaurant website here.

Update (5-22-11): Black Chile Mexican Grill is now open

Dunkin' Donuts Brings Back the Waffle Sandwich

The Waffle Sandwich was popular when Dunkin' Donuts debuted it in 2009 and this time, they've added something extra to it.  The new Blueberry Waffle Breakfast Sandwich is described in the press release as having:

"egg, maple sausage and American cheese served between two golden and toasty waffles with a sweet hint of blueberry...The Blueberry Waffle Breakfast Sandwich is available...at participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.99."

You can see what it looks like at the Dunkin' Donuts website.

Also, if you're interested: Search Amazon.com for Dunkin' Donuts