What does a steakhouse, fine jeweler, and Easter have in common? Eggs. Fabergé Eggs to be exact. J&G Steakhouse and Molina Fine Jewelers have teamed up for a one-of-a-kind Easter experience that will impress the jewelry lover in you Sunday, March 31. On Easter evening only, you can get a glimpse of Molina’s “Museum Collection.” The collection’s five eggs are handcrafted in 18k gold, guillochéed and hard fire glass enameled in 7 layers to create an amazing depth of luster. Each egg also opens up to show more exquisite detail and guests will be shown that. So after Easter dinner, you’ll have a luxurious show. Speaking of dinner, here is J&G’s Easter dinner menu.

Choice of:
Salmon Tartar on Warm Garlic Bread
Sweet Pea Soup, Parmesan Foam
Chopped Lettuce salad, avocado and blue cheese

Choice of:
Slowly cooked Salmon, Warm Potato Salad, Sugar Snap Peas, Horseradish
Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Artichoke, Basil and lemon butter
Grilled Lamb Porterhouse, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, Pistachio Pesto

Choice of:
Warm Chocolate Cake, Caramel Ice Cream
Strawberry Pavlova, Crisp Meringue, Vanilla ice cream
Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sundae

You don’t have to be a sommelier to appreciate this. Chasseur Winery and J&G Steakhouse will be teaming up for a classy night filled with amazing wine and an equally amazing dinner. Owner and winemaker Bill Hunter will be the host of an exquisite evening in J&G’s private dining room on March 7. Each course will be paired with one of Chasseur’s award-winning wines. The cost is $125 for each guest and does not include tax and gratuity.

The Menu:

Amuse:
Beef Tartare Potato Gaufrette
Shrimp Satay
Chicken Samosas

Skuna Bay Salmon Caviar Purse

Chopped Lettuce Salad, Avocado and Blue Cheese Roasted Boneless Quail
2010 Chasseur Russian River Chardonnay

Warm Oysters, Basil Cream and Potato Crumbs, Wasabi
2010 ‘Lorenzo’ Chardonnay

Roasted Venison Loin “Poire au Lard” Pomegranate Reduction
2010 ‘Freestone Station’ Pinot Noir

Rose Macaroon with Vanilla Parfait, Raspberries and Candied Rose Petals
2010 ‘Umino’ Pinot Noir

It’s our favorite time of year. The decorations have been showing up and plans with the family are being made. When everyone is town, where are you going to take them to dinner? If you don’t mind, we have a suggestion. J&G Steakhouse in Scottsdale has just announced their great Christmas and New Year’s menus. Yep, if you don’t feel like cooking, J&G has your back.

Christmas Eve and Day Menu - $52 per person

Course 1
Frisee Salad with Champagne, Mango, Feta and Black Olives
or
Sea Scallops with Caramelized Cauliflower, Caper Raisin Emulsion
Course 2
Yellowfin Tuna with a Red Wine Sauce, Winter Vegetables
or
Grilled Filet Mignon with Gingered Shiitakes, Soy-Caramel Dressing
Course 3
Buche de Noel
or
Warm Chocolate Cake with Caramel Ice Cream

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J&G Steakhouse, the superb restaurant that sits atop the classy Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, has just been awarded the Wine Spectator “Best Of Award of Excellence 2012″ for an exceptional wine list. This is pretty much a no-brainer as J&G has one of the best wine collections around the Valley. To help celebrate this occasion, J&G’s Sommelier Sundays just got a little better.

Every Sunday, the restaurant will feature 1/2 off its entire wine list. Yes, that’s right. Half off its exquisite list.  Whether you’re in the mood to celebrate with Cristal or kick back with a funky red, you can enjoy your favorite bottle at 50% is original price. Here are some of the best to choose from:

• Champagne – Louis Roederer’s ‘Cristal’ for $292.50 (usually $585)
• White – Far Niente Chardonnay for $44 (usually $88)
• Red – Domain Serene ‘Evanstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir for $66 (usually $132)
• Red – Duckhorn Merlot for $53 (usually $106)
• Red – Nickel & Nickel ‘CC Ranch’ Cabernet Sauvignon for $87.50 (usually $175)
• Champagne – Salon for $432.50 (usually $865, and extraordinarily hard to come by)
• White – Peter Michael ‘La Carriere’ Chardonnay for $94.50 (usually $189)
• Red – Kosta Browne RRV Pinot Noir for $98 (usually $196)
• Red – Continuum for $183 (usually $366 – the newest Mondavi family project from Napa Valley)
• Red – Araujo ‘Eisele Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon for $296.50 (usually $593 and considered one of the top Cabernets produced in Napa)

We thought you would like that. Head to J&G this weekend, we’ll see you there.

J&G Steakhouse | 6000 East Camelback Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Looking for a classy way to celebrate Independence Day in style and in air conditioning? Why not at the top of a Valley resort, in front of floor-to-ceiling windows where you can view firework shows stretching from Phoenix to Scottsdale?

The Phoenician’s J&G Steakhouse invites you to share this holiday in their restaurant’s open seating while enjoying specialty cocktails, a full a la carte menu or their Fourth of July-themed prix fixe menu Wednesday.

The July 4th Prix Fixe Menu includes three courses. Choose between local watermelon gazpacho, jumbo shrimp cocktail or heirloom Tomatoes with fresh raspberry vinegar and goat cheese for the first course. Next up is a grilled tuna burger, french fries, miso mayonnaise and yuzu pickles; barbecue sirloin tip with creamy local corn; or  a grilled pork chop, cherry mustard and sautéed mustard greens. The third course includes your choice of strawberry charlotte sundae, popping cherry pie or warm chocolate nougat tart with praline ice cream.

Festive 4th of July cocktails are available for $12 and include Red: Sour Cherry Caipirinha (Pirrasunga 21 Cachaca, cherry, lime), White: Vanilla Cream Soda (Svedka Vanilla Vodka, caramelized Sugar and club soda) and Blue: Blueberry Lemonade (Ketel One Citroen Vodka, lemon, blueberries and Sprite).

The July 4th Prix Fixe Menu is $45, is available Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Located atop the luxurious Phoenician hotel in Scottsdale, J&G Steakhouse’s brilliant design is only rivaled by the quality of its food.

This Thursday, January. 12, J&G Steakhouse will be hosting the Kamen Wine Dinner. Beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m., the dinner will feature a four course meal. Each course is thoughtfully paired with a different Kamen Estate Wine. The $125 all-inclusive dinner will begin at 7 p.m. Call to make a reservation at (480) 214-8000.

J&G Steakhouse | 6000 E. Camelback Rd. | Scottsdale, Az 85251 | (480) 214-8000

If dining under the stars isn’t enough for you, how about we throw in a full moon and Jupiter?

J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician is doing just that on Thursday night with their Full Moon Social Dinner. Celebrate the lunar event with a $75 all-inclusive, wine-paired, four-course dinner and preliminary hors d’oeuvres while an astronomer is on hand with a telescope to guide your eyes to the solar system on a night when Jupiter will be seen along with the full moon.

Reservations by phone are required and make sure to be there by 5:30 to soak in the evening sunset before the stars come out.

J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician | 6000 E. Camelback Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | 480.214.8000

Full menu after the jump:
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Sample fine opera, along with delicious cuisine at Arizona Opera’s “Dine by Design” event, Saturday, October 15. Intended to give first time opera-goers, young professionals and culture-loving foodies a taste of operatic arias and duets in the unique setting of Scottsdale’s interior designer firm Palavela Home, the evening brings together beautiful music, interiors and gourmet food from J&G Steakhouse, Petite Maison, Taggia at Firesky Resort, Malee’s Thai Bistro and Wildfish Seafood Grille.

The evening begins with a 30-minute performance by Arizona Opera’s distinguished resident artists at the downtown Scottsdale interior design firm, owned by former Olympic Skater Ryan O’Meara. After the concert, Dine by Design-goers will choose their meal from the fabulous participating gourmet restaurants.

Tickets are $95 for singles and $180 for couples. Purchase tickets by calling 602.218.7334 or [email protected]

“Dine by Design” at Palavela Home | 6939 E. 1st Avenue, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85251

Arizona Opera’s 2011-2012 Season:

Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci”
Phoenix: October 7 & 8 (7:30 p.m.) & 9 (2 p.m.)
Gounod’s “Faust”
Phoenix: November 11, 12 (7:30 p.m.) & 13 (2 p.m.)
Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”
Phoenix: January 27, 28 (7:30 p.m.) & 29 (2 p.m.)
Verdi’s “Aida”
Phoenix: March 9, 10 (7:30 p.m.) & 11 (2 p.m.)
Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice”
Phoenix: April 13, 14 (7:30 p.m.) & 15 (2 p.m.)

Additional showtimes in Tucson are available. Click here for Tuscon schedule.

“Madama Butterfly” Image via Arizona Opera

Famed chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, recently jet-setted into the Valley to host a food-forward dinner event inside his posh J&G Steakhouse atop The Phoenician Resort. Named the “Chef Tribute Dinner: An International Harvest with Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten” this fine-dining feast was held as part of the week-long eat-o-rama that is Scottsdale Culinary Festival. From crafting menus to hiking Camelback Mountain, it was a whirlwind couple of days, says chef Vongerichten, who who gave us this first-person account of his Valley visit.

So we know you were only here for two days but what did you do aside from cooking at your restaurant?

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Golly gee, Batman, scouring food blogs every week can sure weigh on someone’s spirits. This is especially true when our favorite Phoenix bloggers don’t update their sites in months. *Heavy sigh* Do you hear that? That is the sound of the tiny violin that echos throughout the office when such a tragedy occurs so consistently. Luckily, not everyone is slacking on their civic duty and there will be a Chow Down Run-Down in spite of it all.

Here’s a redux of what’s happening in our favorite consistent food blogs: »READ MORE

Did you notice the moon seemed particularly large and bright last night, while you we we’re out drinking way too much green beer? Well it’s only going to get bigger and brighter according to those super-geeks at NASA. Turns out the moon’s going to be closer to the earth than it’s been on nearly two decades during Saturday’s full moon, creating an (awesomely-named) Extreme Supermoon. Enjoy this video and then enjoy the show.

Girls get gussied up, everyone drinks (a lot)* and the anticipation is running high. Now, what to do? With every restaurant, resort and nightclub throwing some sort of New Year’s shindig, the night holds high expectations. But if not done right, you can fall into the trap of Amateur Night a New Year’s Eve gone wrong. To save you from the horrible fate of a rotten 2011, here are our top picks for the most glamorous night of the year. Now you’ll have more time to memorize the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne. Full details after the jump!

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Hope you’re ready to put some happy in your holidays because today we’re dishing out not one, but two grand prize packages. Why don’t you try this one on for size: A cut, color, style, facial and waxing service from Inizio Salon courtesy of Spa Fit AZ + 1 pair of tickets to every show in Ballet Arizona’s 2010-2011 season + a $150 gift certificate to the sumptuous J&G Steakhouse. And speaking of the posh penthouse that is J&G, click here to read a tasty Q&A with the French-born chef who’s putting a Continental twist on the classic American chophouse.

Then again, maybe you’d prefer what’s behind door #2: A 1 night stay at the W Scottsdale on New Year’s Eve + a $100 gift certificate to the W’s sleek, stylish Sushi Roku + a timepiece of choice from Swisstek Watches Brillier luxury line. Now that’s some good gifting. First, however, we’ve got a little Weekend Guiding to get to.

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Get ready for a flurry of freebies because Scoop Factory’s annual Scoopstakes is back and bigger than ever! What’s a Scoopstakes, you ask? It’s our way of saying “thank you” to our 17,000-plus subscribers for being so darned awesome. But wait, what’s a Scoop Factory? It’s our FREE daily magazine that delivers the latest in local dining, style, design news, as well as insider tips and exclusive events.

More important, Scoop Factory dishes out freaking amazing freebies and subscriber-only prize packages, all year-round. And for 10 full days this December, we’ll be giving away AMAZING prize packages top local restaurants, boutiques, salons and resorts. (Think: 1 pair of tickets to every show in Ballet Arizona’s 2010-2011 season + A cut, color, style, facial and waxing service from Inizio Salon courtesy of Spa Fit AZ.)

Want to win? Simply sign up for our FREE email publication at www.scoopfactory.com, and we’ll deliver daily Scoops right to your email inbox. Conditions of entry will vary, but one thing is for sure, if you’re not signed up you can’t win. Here’s a sneak peek at the goodies we’re throwin’ your way, but shhhh … you didn’t hear it from us!

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Scoop Factory is still dishing up daily freebies, like this fab Neiman Marcus prize package. (Sadly, the walk-in gingerbread house is not included):

Now celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Neiman Marcus’ “The Christmas Book” is an ode to seriously-over-the-top gift giving. Are you looking for a $1.5M pool sculpture designed by famed blown-glass artist, Dale Chihuly? Or maybe a customizable cupcake car tricked out with your favorite toppings (it’s just as silly as it sounds). Or why not spoil the little ones with your basic walk-in Edible Gingerbread Playhouse (pictured), a $15,000 munchable manor handcrafted of 381 lbs. of gourmet gingerbread and 517 lbs. of royal icing by those crazed confectioners at Dylan’s Candy Bar? For realsies!

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Scoop up this amazing offer from Scoop Factory:

For decades, Cave Creek was everybody’s fav place to kick back, cowboy up and knock back a few cold ones. Unlike neighboring (and super chichi) Carefree, Cave Creek has always been a jeans and T-shirt sort of place. A charming little tourist trap where you can shop for tchotchkes at The Town Dump (seriously), and then jump into the rodeo ring and ride a live bull (seriously crazy). But times they are a’changing in Cave Creek (RIP Satisfied Frog), and it all has to do with a certain goateed chef with a five-star pedigree and a passion for farm-fresh ingredients.

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Sign up today, because it’s the final week of the Scoop Factory Scoopstakes:

Happy Monday, ya’ll. Which is something we could only say while in the middle of our Scoop Factory Scoopstakes. Today, we’ve got something for both the foodies and the shopaholics out there. Which, as far as we can tell, describes every single Scoop reader, so please to enjoy.

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Scoop Factory‘s wrapping up week one on its Scoopstakes with an engine-revving good time.

It’s crazy how time flies when you’re having fun. Yes, we’ve come to the end of the first week of the Scoop Factory Scoopstakes. But fear not, because we’ve got a whole ‘nother week of amazing freebies coming up, including not one, but two separate Grand Prize packages. However, before we get to today’s giveaway, we’ve got some Weekend Guiding to take care of first.

»READ MORE

Scoop Factory continues to throw around the freebies with reckless abandon:

Here at Scoop Factory, we always walk on the sunny side of the street. Which is why we’re happy to report that the Valley’s most recent real estate crash is officially over. Finito. Dunzo. TTFN. Sure, the so-called experts might use fancy figures (and actual facts) to say otherwise, but we have indisputable proof. Real estate developers are back in the party throwing business. We’re talking the sort of lavish, over-the-top shindigs that make us want to party like it’s 2005.

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Scoop Factory‘s going old-timey with today’s giveaway, and the freebies will just keep coming fast and furious through next Friday:

This one’s for you, gentlemen. (Well sort of, because we’ve got an equally indulgent treat just for the ladies. See below.) But let’s focus on the guys for a minute. Not boys mind you, but men. Manly men. The sort of man who always dresses to the nines, drinks his scotch straight up and gets his hair cut at an old fashioned barber shop. Who doesn’t want to be that guy?

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Want to win freaking awesome freebies? Sign up for Scoop Factory and you’ll start receiving free prize offers like this one:

A few weeks back, we reported that the US Airways Center recently wrapped up a much-needed culinary makeover. Now, our office-mates at Desert Living Today are reporting that one famed local chef will be doing the same thing for the super-corporate eateries inside Sky Harbor Airport.

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Still haven’t signed up for our free daily email magazine, Scoop Factory? Better hurry because you’re missing out on a flurry of freebies:

Today’s the day. Yes, all this week and the next, we’ll be giving away one awesome prize package per day as part of our Second Annual Scoop Factory Scoopstakes. It will all culminate one week from Friday when we’ll hand out our Grand Prize package, including a one-night stay at W Scottsdale on New Year’s Eve + a $100 Sushi Roku gift certificate + a timepiece of choice from Swisstek Watches Brillier luxury line. However, today we’re starting you off with a tasty teaser: A $250 gift certificate towards a Chef’s Table dinner at Michael DeMaria’s Heirloom Restaurant.
»READ MORE

Get ready for a flurry of freebies because Scoop Factory’s annual Scoopstakes is back and bigger than ever! What’s a Scoopstakes, you ask? It’s our way of saying “thank you” to our 17,000-plus subscribers for being so darned awesome. But wait, what’s a Scoop Factory? It’s our FREE daily magazine that delivers the latest in local dining, style, design news, as well as insider tips and exclusive events.

More important, Scoop Factory dishes out freaking amazing freebies and subscriber-only prize packages, all year-round. And for 10 full days this December, we’ll be giving away AMAZING prize packages top local restaurants, boutiques, salons and resorts. (Think: 1 pair of tickets to every show in Ballet Arizona’s 2010-2011 season + A cut, color, style, facial and waxing service from Inizio Salon courtesy of Spa Fit AZ.)

Want to win? Simply sign up for our FREE email publication at www.scoopfactory.com, and we’ll deliver daily Scoops right to your email inbox. Conditions of entry will vary, but one thing is for sure, if you’re not signed up you can’t win. Here’s a sneak peek at the goodies we’re throwin’ your way, but shhhh … you didn’t hear it from us!

»READ MORE

Don’t forget, Arizona Restaurant Week, the annual foodie fest featuring smoking food and drink specials at more than 130 of the Valley’s finest restaurants, is going on now through September 26. In short, each participating restaurant offers gourmet three-course meals at a red-hot price of $19, $29 or $39 per person. 

So who’s participating this year, and what are our highlights? We’re so glad you asked.

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Our pals at Scoop Factory are giving away three $50 gift certificates to the upcoming Arizona Restaurant Week. Details below, and make sure you sign up for Scoop because we hear there’s another freebie coming on Monday.

Arizona Restaurant Week, the annual foodie fest returns September 18-26 with smoking food and drink specials at more than 130 of the Valley’s finest restaurants. In short, each participating restaurant offers gourmet three-course meals at a red-hot price of $19, $29 or $39 per person. But why pay even that discounted rate when when we’re giving away $50 gift certificates to three lucky Scoop Factory readers.

»READ MORE