The Devour Culinary Classic is considered to be the most grand food festival that Arizona has to offer. It is hosted by Local First Arizona and the Devour Phoenix Restaurant coalition. This is where chefs and restaurants do their best to razzle and dazzle you.
I started attending DCC in 2012. Back in 2012 you could get a great deal on tickets. If you purchased your tickets in advance general admission was only $45 a day. They used to offer the general admission a very nice reception before the actual culinary event. here are some pictures of a few of the past general admission receptions. My photos show mostly sweets but I do remember enjoying many savory items too.
They also used to have some other things like a live band and some other things like foodie T shirts and a photo opportunity.
As the years went by the general admission price climbed from $45 in 2012 to $105 a day without any discounts in 2018.
In 2018 the food part of the general admission reception was discontinued and replaced with a one man band.
Prior to 2018 one of the wines I enjoyed with my general admission ticket was Merry Edwards (actually 3 varieties) and the others were more expensive).
In 2018 the wine choices differed greatly and I drank this instead.
In 2018 was the first year that a section of food tents was reserved for VIPS only. These were many of the restaurants that I was expecting to try like Kai. I was ok with the discontinued food reception and the lower end wines. But the selective restaurants were the reason why I would attendant this event every year since 2012. VIP tickets were the only way to be entitled to everything. (today in 2020 VIP tickets are $205) One day would cost over $400 for me and my husband. That is not a bad price for such an event……but it is a lot to me. I don’t get invited to attend and have to pay my own way. I would love to attend as I always did but for $400 I will enjoy two really nice dinners out instead. For me the general admission 2018 was so disappointing…….. Lower end wines, discontinued reception, less food offerings (first year that I didn’t get stuffed). I saw all the restaurant line ups but had no idea at the time that some of the restaurants listed were only for VIPS. Felt deflated…..sort of bamboozled.
2018 was the last Devour Culinary Classic that I attended. I don’t expect to return to the Devoured Culinary Classic.
I enjoyed Devour The World this year (2020) in Peoria. That festival is a new favorite for me.
Those were some of my memories from Devour Culinary Classic.
www.DevourPhoenix.com
Everything is subject to change and your experience may indeed differ.
