Photos by Evie Carpenter
The eighth-annual Forks and Corks culinary festival brought CityScape to life on Thursday, as food and drink lovers experienced some of the Valley’s most interesting and approachable cuisine.
The event, comprised of some of Arizona’s best restaurants and resorts, as well as several prestigious global wineries, benefited the educational efforts of the Arizona Hotel and Restaurant Education Foundation. The Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association organized the event.
This was the first year Forks and Corks was held in downtown Phoenix, after starting in Scottsdale.
“Moving to CityScape took what was an awesome event that seemed like an after-work happy hour to a trendy hot spot,” said Sara Anderson, marketing and event planner for Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association.
The event has sold out every year since it started and continued the trend this year, crowding CityScape’s lower level with white tents full of food, wine and people.
“It’s a great opportunity to try fine dining, and we love the new location,” event guest George Spicka said. “We have come every year and I don’t see us stopping.”
The food list included 30 of the Valley’s best restaurants and resorts like Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, the Arizona Biltmore and Kincaid’s.
Every restaurant was paired side-by-side with a winery to maintain the food-and-drink theme of the event.
Forks and Corks also included a silent auction, which included various signed sports and movie photographs and gift certificates to Arizona getaways.
“I didn’t even expect to have more than just food and wine, nor did I know about the silent auction. It is all so great,” event guest Liz Judkins said.
Todd Sicolo, executive chef at the Arizona Biltmore, said that even though Forks and Corks’ new location downtown is not as convenient as it had been in Scottsdale, the Biltmore will continue to participate in the future.
“The staff that puts on this event is tremendous, not to mention the attention it gives to the resort,” Sicolo said. “We love it.”
Anderson hopes to continue this event downtown and show what Cityscape has to offer.
“I don’t think people know how great this area is. An event like Forks and Corks can bring this great establishment and downtown to life,” Anderson said.
Contact the reporter at jlbrownl@asu.edu.
