event Thin Mint Cheesecake at Grimaldi’s
Scottsdale’s own 5th and Wine, Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market, Café Bink, and 2014 top dessert seller Olive & Ivy. “Last year, we were so pleased at the show of support from a dozen or so restaurant dessert partners—not to mention the outpouring from the community, who lined up in droves to sample the menu items,” says Susan de Queljoe of the local council. “We had no idea how positively the community would react—so much so that we’ve
Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market’s The Tomoa
DESSERTS FOR A CAUSE
Valley restaurants take the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge
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BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
our mission, should you choose to accept it, is to eat dessert all month long at some of the most fabulous venues in the Northeast Valley! That is because the local Girl Scout Council announced the return of its award-winning Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge. For the second year in a row, chefs from some of the state’s most popular restaurants will use their culinary prowess to re-imagine one of the beloved flavors of Girl Scout cookies–Do-Si-Dos, Samoas Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Trefoils, and new flavor Rah Rah Raisins–into a custom dessert menu item. Each restaurant will feature its dessert on its menu throughout this month, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the transformation of the local council’s Camp Sombrero to The Leadership Center for Girls and Women. Back for year two are several of the award-winning restaurants that took part in the inaugural challenge, including
32 Shea’s Double Chocolate Thin Mint Cookie Mousse
If You Go…
WHAT: Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge WHEN: Feb. 1-28 WHERE: More than 30 restaurants Valleywide COST: $3-$12 INFORMATION: www.girlscoutsaz.org
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more than doubled our restaurant partners for this year to keep up with demand!” Just some of the nearby restaurants new to the challenge this year include 32 Shea, Bink’s Midtown, Bink’s Scottsdale, Rusconi’s American Kitchen, Del Frisco’s Grille, Gelato Spot, Grimaldi’s, Kelly’s at SouthBridge, Over Easy, Sushi Roku, The Henry, and Second Story Liquor Bar. “Calories don’t count when it’s for a good cause,” jokes de Queljoe of the once-a-year-treat, who also notes that there are actually kosher, vegan, and even gluten-free cookie options. Camp Sombrero, located at the base of South Mountain Preserve, is a 14.5acre site that has been owned and used by Girl Scouts for the past 51 years. “It’s time to better utilize this beautiful property and transform it into an urban program center, with camp appeal, to provide leadership training for girls and women; give girls their first camping experience close to home; and serve the surrounding community groups, partner organizations and schools,” says de Queljoe. “We’re halfway to our fundraising goal for Camp Sombrero and look toward beginning phased construction in early 2015.”
| FEBRUARY 2015
1/22/15 11:25 AM
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