Photos by Sierra LaDuke and Sarah Kolesar
Despite Saturday’s rainy weather and the power outage, Roosevelt Row’s 2014 Chile Pepper Festival was still able to spice up downtown.
The event, located in the lot of the Phoenix Public Marketplace, featured local chefs from downtown Phoenix competing for the best-tasting chile pepper dish in the Chile Pepper Challenge.
While the weather caused several restaurants to be unable to participate, the remaining eateries brought energy to the event and kept guests filled with chili-pepper cuisine. Notable competitors were local restaurants Gallo Blanco, Welcome Diner, and Jobot Coffee and Dining.
Wayne Coats, Welcome Diner’s manager and self-appointed “hype man”, was a large part of the restaurant’s lively station. As water spilled down from the awning covering their station, Coats theatrically declared it a waterfall for festival goers to walk through. The diner’s chipotle lime sugar donuts stuffed with green chili pork and pico de gallo were a hit of the night.
“Welcome Diner’s donut was my favorite of the night so far, but that might change,” said festival goer Eleni Agelakos. “I’m in the line for Jobot, and I’ve heard that every year they bring out something great.”
Jobot served Jalapeño meatball “lollipops” and certainly upheld the positive reputation the restaurant has built up since its humble beginnings.
“We started out in my apartment, selling coffee out the front,” said owner John Sagasta. “We’ve grown so much.”
Amanda Ohmer, co-owner of Treehouse Bakery, served up sweet chili pop-tarts and jalapeño s’mores bites. As a first-timer of the Chile Pepper Festival, Ohmer said she signed up for a new experience.
“It just sounded fun, and it’s a challenge!” Ohmer said. “We definitely don’t incorporate chile peppers often.”
The Canyon Cafe also made its festival debut. Their chips and salsa and steak street tacos were popular among attendees. Natasha Keuseman, the restaurant’s marketing director, said she was excited about the exposure that the festival brings.
“I thought it was a great opportunity to do outreach to the local community,” Keuseman said.
The Chile Pepper Festival featured more than just delicious food. For attendees over the age of 21, a craft beer garden and margarita station were available. Booths were also available for guests to get caricatures drawn or their faces painted. A talent show hosted by Lawn Gnome Publishing and Bragg’s Factory Diner featured live music from local bands.
Before the rain started up again, people were dancing and laughing in groups by the stage.
Contact the reporter at Lia.Juriansz@asu.edu
