Now EVENT
GET A TASTE OF CAVE CREEK The annual foodie event ushers in all-new experiences
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
Now in its 24th year, The Taste of Cave Creek has grown into one of the North Valley’s premier foodie fests of the fall. With 8,000 guests expected, the two-day event continues to expand, adding new restaurants and interactive elements every year. “The Taste of Cave Creek will once again be held at Stagecoach Village so we can take advantage of the outdoor, open-air setting. And as in recent years, we will have two stages of live music nightly, with acts including Fosterson, Rock the District and more,” says longtime event chair and Cave Creek Town Marshal Adam Stein. More than two dozen restaurants – many of whom call Cave Creek, neighboring Carefree and/or North Scottsdale home – are signed on to take part, each sampling from their fall and winter menus. They include The Bourbon Cellar, Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse, Cartwright’s Modern Cuisine, El Encanto Mexican Restaurant, Harold’s Corral, Indigo Crow, The Horny Toad and many more. Food sample tickets range from $3 to $5. “The event will also feature beer, wine and cocktail gardens – look for the vodka and tequila tastings for sure – but extra effort was made this year to develop impressive VIP experiences on top of these general admission sampling areas,” says Stein, noting drink sample tickets are just $1. As a result, at 5 p.m. both evenings, The Taste of Cave Creek will feature a limited-seating VIP beer experience. Hosted in a private area, tickets for this event are $50 and must be purchased in advance. Guests who take part in this program will go beyond sampling craft beers; they will sit with brewers to learn about their beer-making process while enjoying beer samples paired with small bites from local chefs, who will also be on hand. “We will host a similarly focused VIP wine experience both evenings as well, but at 7 p.m. to accommodate guests who want to take part in both,” says Stein, noting the wine experience is also $50 with limited
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So Scottsdale! October '17
tickets available for purchase in advance. And finally, Stein promises a “reel” new offering for seafood lovers at the event: A Tito’s VIP experience where representatives from the vodka brand will be serving up cocktails to pair with an old-fashioned shrimp and crawfish boil, courtesy of Creekers Cold Beer & Crab. This experience, also being held at a special tent separate from the main event, is available for purchase in advance for $15. Each of these VIP events has reserved seating, and reservations for any of these specialty events must be made in advance by calling 480.488.6612. A portion of proceeds from The Taste of Cave Creek, which is sponsored by Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln, will benefit the Sonoran Arts League.
IF YOU GO… What: The Taste of Cave Creek When: Oct. 18-19, 5-9 p.m. Where: Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek Tickets: General admission, $10 Information: www. tasteofcavecreek.com