Food and Beverage
Guy Fieri is Bringing Flavortown to Life: Introducing Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate Presented by Cash App Big Game Sunday | Feb. 12, 2023, Glendale, Arizona
Last Updated on February 12, 2023 by Daily News Staff
● An Interactive Food & Music Festival Featuring DIPLO and LOCASH With Performances Powered by Stagecoach ● Taking Place Directly Adjacent to State Farm Stadium Leading Into Kickoff, the Family-Friendly Event Will Welcome 10,000 Local and Visiting Fans for the Ultimate Tailgate Experience ● Fans Can Register for Free Tickets Powered by TickPick OR Purchase VIP Tickets Now
PHOENIX (Newswire.com) – America’s favorite food personality and restaurateur is bringing Flavortown to Phoenix in partnership with Medium Rare. Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate presented by Cash App will pop up stadium-side on gameday, hosting the largest culinary event in town leading up to the championship kickoff.
Big Game Sunday | Feb. 12, 2023, Glendale, Arizona
Part food festival, part music festival, Guy’s personally curated event will feature restaurant pop-ups, A Taste of Phoenix, tons of bars, a lot of tailgate fun, plus superstar musical performances from DIPLO and LOCASH. Best of all, the event is free, courtesy of TickPick, and family-friendly. Guy will invite the city of Phoenix and traveling football fans alike to join him outside of the Big Game on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MT for the tastiest event of the weekend. Registration for free General Admission Tickets powered by TickPick is now open. VIP Tickets and WYNN VIP Tables offer fans an elevated Flavortown experience and can be purchased now: www.GuysFlavortownTailgate.com. An exclusive offering across the entire festival, Cash App Card holders will receive 25% off their food and beverage purchases at all Tailgate locations when using their Cash App Card at checkout.
Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate is poised to be one the world’s leading culinary experiences popping up each year at Big Game Weekend. This year, the event will take place at an unprecedented festival location directly adjacent to State Farm Stadium (9191 Cardinals Way). Expecting up to 10,000 guests, Guy’s culinary offering will include 10+ restaurant pop-ups, exclusive Guy Fieri-curated concepts, A Taste of Phoenix highlighting local restaurants, The Sprouts Butcher Shop, Guy’s Trashcan Nachos presented by Cash App, and so much more. To view the entire culinary lineup, please visit www.GuysFlavortownTailgate.com.
“Flavortown is coming to Arizona for the big game. Everything you’d want in a music festival and a food festival combined to create the ultimate tailgate for 10,000. Killer food, plenty of drinks, Diplo, LOCASH … it doesn’t get much better than that. Let’s go!” Fieri says.
Guy Fieri’s Flavortown VIP Clubhouse is the ultimate way for fans to enjoy Flavortown — VIP tickets offer free food and beverage curated by Guy, front-row views of the mainstage, and more. In addition, Guy is teaming up with Wynn Nightlife to bring the ultimate Las Vegas-style VIP experience to Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate. The Wynn VIP Table Deck will offer bottle-service tables with the very best views of the mainstage, Guy’s banging food delivered directly to your table, and A+ hospitality. This year, fans can also purchase access to the TickPick VIP Lounge within the VIP Mezzanine. The TickPick VIP Lounge will offer shared-table tickets with bottle service, an expedited entrance, TickPick swag and more.
With musical performances powered by Stagecoach, California’s Country Music Festival will curate the mainstage sounds featuring a special country set from Thomas Wesley presents: Diplo and LOCASH. Born Thomas Wesley Pentz, Diplo is one of the most dynamic forces in music today. He is legend on his own; a member of the now iconic Major Lazer, which most recently released Music Is The Weapon, its first album in five years; one-third of LSD, the psychedelic supergroup with Sia and Labrinth, whose debut album has been streamed over three billion times; and half of Silk City with Mark Ronson, whose Platinum-certified “Electricity” with Dua Lipa topped charts worldwide and won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. The 10-time Grammy-nominated artist has worked closely with artists including Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Madonna and Bad Bunny; continues to helm his own long-running label Mad Decent; and tours the world over. In 2020, Diplo debuted his first country album, Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil — now certified Gold — and performed at Stagecoach. Joining Diplo is country music’s iconic duo LOCASH. Formerly known as LoCash Cowboys, LOCASH is an American country music duo consisting of vocalists Chris Lucas and Preston Brust. The duo has released three studio albums, charted three songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and 13 songs on the Country Airplay chart. The two-time CMT Music Award winners have continued to make history as a vocal duo with hits including “I Love This Life” and “One Big Country Song.”
Cash App is proud to present the first-ever rendition of Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate. As a brand dedicated to encouraging consumers to do more with their money, Cash App will continue to give back to its users at the Tailgate. Cash App Card holders will receive 25% off their food and beverage purchases at all Tailgate locations when using their Cash App Card at checkout. Furthermore, Tailgate fans that have used their Cash App Card at the tailgate will be able to redeem a free order of Guy’s Trashcan Nachos presented by Cash App by simply showing their receipt. Adjacent to the Guy’s Trashcan Nacho stand, Cash App will incorporate an oversized activation offering attendees comfortable seating, game-day face paint to help cheer on their favorite team, and complementary must-haves like sunscreen, koozies and more.
Sprouts Farmers Market, Phoenix’s famed healthy grocer, is scoring a touchdown with its very own on-site Sprouts Butcher Shop. Featuring 100% Grass-fed Angus Steaks, pasture-raised in the U.S., this on-site butcher shop will satisfy the hunger of meat lovers everywhere. With a local southwest-curated menu, fans will be able to stop by the Sprouts Butcher Shop to sample some of Sprouts’ delectable bites that include 100% grass-fed angus beef in carne asada tacos with Sprouts creamy smoked serrano taco sauce. For fans in the Phoenix area, stop by Sprouts today for the chance to win guaranteed tickets to the Tailgate AND a meet-and-greet with the mayor of Flavortown himself. Visit sprouts.com/flavortown to learn more.
It’s Tax Season! H&R Block, the company that is redefining the tax preparation industry, is enabling Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate fans to celebrate the tax season all Big Game weekend long. At the Tailgate, H&R Block invites guests to participate in the H&R Block Football Toss, featuring custom giveaways and more, where fans can test their football skills — right next to the Big Game stadium. Starting today, H&R Block, football, and food fans everywhere can apply for the chance to win airfare for two and VIP access to Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate to meet Guy Fieri, pick up signed swag, and taste the greatest tailgate treats of all time. To learn more, visit guysflavortowntailgate.com/hrblock.
For those looking for a boost of Essential Energy during Big Game Weekend, CELSIUS’ premium, better-for-you energy drink will be on-hand. As the official energy drink of Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate, CELSIUS will be integrated across the entire event for all guests to enjoy. CELSIUS will also produce a football-themed lounge featuring its all-new Lemon Lime flavor, seating, photo moments, and more.
Going to the Big Game? Buy no-fee game tickets on TickPick to get HELLAVA Savings and guarantee yourself a FREE General Admission ticket to Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate. TickPick, the original no-fee ticket site that guarantees the best prices on tickets to live events and the official ticket partner of Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate, is the brand powering FREE access to Big Game Weekend’s largest culinary event ever. To learn more about this exclusive offer, visit www.TickPick.com.
Rémy Martin: Since 1724, the House of Rémy Martin has produced premium spirits that consistently appeal to the world’s most discerning connoisseurs. During Big Game Weekend, Rémy Martin will debut its first national advertisement during the first quarter of the Big Game — highlighting how teamwork and the pursuit of excellence drive us forward through a never-before-seen lens for the brand.
As a proud partner of the first-ever Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate, Arizona IV Medics is excited to offer on-site treatments by licensed medical professionals to guests at the tailgate. Our services, including IVs and B12 shots, help keep fans feeling their best during Big Game Weekend. To learn more about our mobile IV therapy services, please visit our website at www.azivmedics.com.
KickStand Cocktails, the only canned cocktail dedicated to spice, is bringing the heat to Flavortown. Featuring custom KickStand bars on-site, fans will have the opportunity to experience KickStand’s four CRUSHABLE™ flavors — Roasted Jalapeño Cucumber, Smashed Raspberry Serrano, Charred Pineapple Poblano and Torched Peach Chipotle, ranging from mild, medium and hot.
The incredible VIZIO Bus is making its next stop in Flavortown. Fully equipped with VIZIO’s newest TVs and sound bars, and a sneak peek at VIZIO’s latest big announcement, guests can visit the bus to cool down, capture content in an amazing setting, and enjoy the innovation of VIZIO. If you can’t make it to Flavortown, check out the Fork & Flight Channel on VIZIO’s WatchFree+ streaming service for around-the-clock shows and features for foodies.
Santo Tequila, certified additive-free and made from the finest 100% Blue Weber Agave from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, is proud to feature its signature spirit at Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate. Founded by Sammy Hagar and Guy Fieri himself, this premium tequila will be served in three different award-winning expressions on-site at the Tailgate: Blanco, Reposado and Mezquila — a one-of-a kind mezcal/tequila blend.
About Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate
The inaugural Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate kicks off Big Game Weekend 2023 at an unprecedented location within kicking distance of the championship game. Part food, part music festival, the free and family-friendly event was designed to celebrate the local flavors of the host city and is poised to be the largest tailgating event in history. Hosted by America’s favorite restaurateur, New York Times Best Selling Author, Emmy Award-winning TV host, and one of the most influential culinary stars to date, the one-of-a-kind event is open to 10,000 locals and football fans visiting for the Big Game. Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate is produced in partnership with Medium Rare. Guy’s lauded production company Knuckle Sandwich and Medium Rare previously produced Guy’s Restaurant Reboot, a virtual live-stream benefiting the hospitality industry during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
About Medium Rare
Lauded events, experiential, and management company, Medium Rare works at the intersection of Sports & Entertainment, partnering with well-known athletes and brands to create iconic media properties, including Shaquille O’Neal’s Fun House, Daymond John’s Black Entrepreneurs Day, Guy Fieri’s Restaurant Reboot, The Sports Illustrated Awards, Rob Gronkowski’s Gronk Beach, and more. Creating and executing iconic IP and events that draw in millions of views and fans from around the world, Medium Rare also reaps industry accolades. Recognized with six Webby Awards, Medium Rare founders Joe Silberzweig and Adam Richman are Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni and have graced the Pollstar Next Gen and Variety New Leaders lists in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Industry innovators, the team has overseen successful launches and NFT campaigns for groups including The Golden State Warriors and the Preakness Stakes, shattering sales records in each category. The group’s world-class production is balanced by its growing management division, overseeing careers, tours, and partnership deals for some of the most celebrated artists and athletes, including Gordo (formerly DJ Carnage), DJ Diesel aka SHAQ and Rob Gronkowski. For more info, visit www.Medium-Rare.com.
About Stagecoach
Stagecoach, produced by Goldenvoice and now in its 15th year, is the world’s premier country music festival. The three-day event held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, features a staggering mix of the genre’s biggest stars and its hottest rising acts. Named “Best Country Festival” by Billboard, Stagecoach is the bucket-list country music festival for both artists and fans alike. Past headliners have included Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood, alongside many others. Additional activations on-site have included fan-favorite Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse, Compton Cowboys, Nikki Lane’s exclusive Stage Stop Marketplace and the Honky Tonk Dance Hall. Tickets and more information can be found at stagecoachfestival.com.
Source: Guy Feiri’s Flavortown Tailgate
Food and Beverage
ALDI Rolls Out Its First-Ever Line of Ready-Made Meals
ALDI is entering the ready-made meal market with seven fresh, refrigerated dishes priced under $15. The rollout begins in October, with nationwide availability expected by January 2027.
Busy shoppers looking for a quick dinner option will soon have something new waiting in the refrigerated section at ALDI.
ALDI is launching its first-ever collection of fresh, ready-made meals, introducing seven single-serve and family-size dishes designed to combine convenience, affordability and familiar comfort-food flavors.
The new meals begin rolling out at select ALDI stores in early October, with additional markets receiving them throughout the fall. ALDI expects the entire collection to be available nationwide by January 2027.
Seven New Meals — Ready to Heat and Eat
Unlike frozen dinners, ALDI says its new meals are delivered fresh and sold refrigerated in easy-to-heat trays.
The initial lineup includes five single-serve meals priced under $8:
- Beef Bolognese Spaghetti
- Beef Brisket with White Mac & Cheese
- Butter Chicken & Rice
- Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Two larger family-size meals will be available for under $15:
- Chicken and Bacon Mac n’ Cheese
- Meat Lovers Pizza Bake
ALDI says the recipes were developed around ingredients including chicken breast, smoked beef brisket, real cheeses and made-from-scratch sauces.
The single-serve meals contain between 30 and 46 grams of protein per serving, according to the company. Family-size offerings provide between 16 and 22 grams per serving.
Convenience Without the Restaurant Bill
The move puts ALDI more directly into the growing market for prepared refrigerated meals — an increasingly attractive option for consumers who want something more substantial than a frozen dinner but don’t necessarily have the time or desire to cook from scratch.
ALDI cited the 2026 International Food Information Council Food & Health Survey, which found that 61% of Americans consider convenience an important factor when purchasing food.
“Our shoppers are looking for meals that fit into busy lives without sacrificing quality or stretching their budgets,” Joan Kavanaugh, Vice President of National Buying for ALDI U.S., said in the company’s announcement.
ALDI supplier Kitchen Food Company said hundreds of recipes were tested while developing the new collection.
Dinner in Just a Few Minutes
Convenience is a major part of the concept.
Depending on the variety, ALDI’s single-serve meals require roughly 3½ to 4½ minutes in the microwave. The company instructs consumers to heat the meals until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The larger family meals can be prepared in a conventional oven at 350 degrees, with approximately 40 minutes of total cooking time.
Shoppers will find the meals in the refrigerated meals section near the front of participating ALDI stores.
More Meals Are Coming
The seven dishes are only the beginning.
ALDI says it plans to introduce additional ready-made meals through its rotating ALDI Finds selection every month during the next year. That could allow the retailer to experiment with additional recipes, flavors and seasonal offerings while expanding its presence in prepared foods.
The timing also makes the rollout noteworthy. With restaurant meals and takeout competing for household food dollars, prepared grocery-store meals occupy a middle ground: more convenient than cooking from scratch while potentially costing considerably less than feeding a family through restaurant delivery or takeout.
For ALDI shoppers, that means the familiar question of “What’s for dinner?” may soon have a few more answers — and they could be waiting just inside the front door.
Source: ALDI, September 22, 2026
Sources & Related Links
- ALDI — Official Announcement: ALDI Launches First-Ever Collection of Ready-Made Meals
- Original Press Release: ALDI Ready-Made Meals — PR Newswire
- Consumer Research: 2026 IFIC Food & Health Survey — Convenience Outranks Healthfulness
- More ALDI News: ALDI U.S. Newsroom
- More Food & Drink Coverage: STM Daily News Food & Drink
Hungry for More?
Looking for more easy dinner ideas, meal-planning inspiration, and affordable meals? Explore STM Daily News Food & Drink for the latest recipes, food news, restaurant stories, culinary trends and more.
A poached egg may look fancy, but it is surprisingly easy to prepare. With a tender egg white and warm, runny yolk, it makes a delicious addition to toast, salads, breakfast bowls or avocado toast.
Ingredients
- 1 large fresh egg
- Water
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar, optional
- Salt and black pepper
- Toast or English muffin for serving, optional
Instructions
Fill a saucepan with about 2 to 3 inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Avoid a rolling boil, which can break the egg apart.
Crack the egg into a small cup or bowl. Add the vinegar to the water if desired—it helps the egg white hold its shape.
Gently slide the egg into the simmering water. Cook for about 3 minutes for a runny yolk, or 4 to 5 minutes for a firmer center.
Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and place it briefly on a paper towel to absorb excess water. Season with salt and pepper, then serve immediately.
Quick Tip
Fresh, cold eggs usually produce the neatest poached eggs because their whites are thicker and stay closer to the yolk while cooking.
Simple, satisfying and ready in minutes, a poached egg is an easy way to make an everyday breakfast feel a little more special.
recipes
Fiber is Trending: Sorghum Makes it Simple
One whole grain quietly gaining recognition for its impressive nutritional profile and versatility in the kitchen is sorghum. This Sorghum Fall Harvest Salad makes it easy to add more fiber to your plate, pairing whole-grain sorghum with seasonal produce like kale, butternut squash and apples.
Fiber is Trending: Sorghum Makes it Simple
(Feature Impact) Protein has long dominated nutrition headlines. Now, dietitians encourage people to pay close attention to another important nutrient: fiber.
One whole grain quietly gaining recognition for its impressive nutritional profile and versatility in the kitchen is sorghum. It’s a naturally gluten-free whole grain that provides both fiber and protein, contains naturally occurring antioxidants and supplies essential nutrients including magnesium, iron and B vitamins.
One reason sorghum is attracting attention is its fiber content. Whole-grain sorghum contains a type of fiber called resistant starch, which research has shown can contribute to healthy body weight and improved insulin resistance.
Unlike many refined gluten-free products that are lower in fiber, sorghum delivers the benefits of a whole grain while remaining naturally gluten-free. Whether you have celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or simply want to enjoy a wider variety of whole grains, sorghum is an easy addition to your menu.
Another reason nutrition experts are taking a closer look at sorghum is its antioxidant content, specifically its health-promoting polyphenols.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is how easy sorghum is to cook with. Whole-grain sorghum offers a mild, slightly nutty flavor and pleasantly chewy texture, making it a delicious alternative for brown rice, quinoa or farro in grain bowls, soups and salads.
Pearled sorghum cooks faster, making it ideal for busy weeknights. Sorghum flour can replace wheat flour in pancakes, muffins and quick breads, while popped sorghum creates bite-sized crunchy kernels for a fun snack or topping for yogurt, soups and salads. For example, this Sorghum Fall Harvest Salad makes it easy to add more fiber to your plate, pairing whole-grain sorghum with seasonal produce like kale, butternut squash and apples.
Healthy eating doesn’t have to mean following the latest trend. Sometimes it simply means rediscovering nutritious foods that have stood the test of time. With its combination of fiber, protein, antioxidants and naturally gluten-free, whole-grain goodness, sorghum is an ancient grain worth adding to your pantry.
You can find dozens of recipes, cooking tips and meal ideas at SorghumCheckoff.com/recipes.
Easy Sorghum Swaps for Everyday Dishes
If you’re looking for ways to add more sorghum to your meals, these easy swaps make it simple to enjoy this versatile grain in recipes you already love.
- Replace rice. Use cooked whole-grain or pearled sorghum instead of white or brown rice in grain bowls, stir fries, burrito bowls and side dishes.
- Swap for pasta. Stir cooked sorghum into pasta salads or use it in place of small pasta shapes in soups for a hearty twist.
- Mix into salads. Add cooked sorghum to green salads, grain salads or vegetable salads for extra texture and whole-grain nutrition.
- Boost your breakfast. Stir cooked sorghum into oatmeal, yogurt parfaits or breakfast bowls then top with fruit, nuts or cinnamon.
- Bake with sorghum flour. Replace wheat flour in pancakes, muffins, cookies, waffles or quick breads with sorghum flour for a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
Sorghum Fall Harvest Salad
Recipe courtesy of Sorghum Checkoff
- 1 cup roasted butternut squash, cubed
- 1/4 cup olive oil, plus additional for drizzling, divided
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sorghum syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 4 cups kale, chopped
- 1 cup cooked whole-grain sorghum
- 1 small apple, diced
- 1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup red onions, diced
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- Preheat oven to 400 F. Toss cubed butternut squash with a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and golden.
- In a jar or small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sorghum syrup, Dijon mustard and salt and pepper, to taste, until emulsified.
- Add chopped kale to a large bowl. Massage with a drizzle of olive oil 1-2 minutes until tender.
- Arrange precooked sorghum, roasted squash, apple, pecans, dried cranberries, red onion and feta cheese on top of kale.
- Drizzle with sorghum syrup dressing just before serving. Toss lightly to combine or serve dressing on the side.
SOURCE:
🍴 What’s your favorite food, recipe, or dining spot? Tell us in the comments! Then subscribe to the STM Daily News newsletter for fresh recipes, restaurant news, food trends, and delicious stories delivered straight to your inbox. Join our growing community of food lovers today!
