We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort “Check, Please! Arizona Food Festival”
Comes to Beautiful Fountain Hills Sat., April 11, 2026, 11:30am-3pm
Featuring TV Show Host Chef Mark Tarbell and
PBS Emmy Award Winner Lidia Bastianich of “Lidia’s Kitchen”
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Attend a Rare Experience and Support Arizona PBS!
Tickets at www.AZPBS.org/FoodFestival
After a 10-year hiatus and a changed Arizona culinary landscape, the anticipated festival of the popular PBS TV show “Check, Please! Arizona” hosted by Chef Mark Tarbell returns in 2026, and lands in beautiful Fountain Hills.
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort “Check, Please! Arizona” Food Festival Sat., April 11, 2026, 11:30am-3pm, will feature more than 20 independent and often little-known Arizona restaurant jewels. Chef Tarbell hosts the event with special guest, Emmy® Award winning, PBS favorite, Lidia Bastianich, star of PBS’ “Lidia’s Kitchen,” bestselling cookbook author and restauranteur.
The vistas of Fountain Hills will be transformed into a culinary adventure featuring a flurry of Arizona’s favorite eateries as featured on the popular TV show.
Special Preview Dinner with Lidia Bastianich and Mark Tarbell. $350. Fri., April 10. Dinner with Lidia Bastianich hosted by Mark Tarbell. A four-course dining experience with each course paired with wines from Lidia’s own Italian wineries in Friulia, Venezia, and Tuscany. This ticket includes VIP access to the food festival the next day. Seating limited.
- VIP. $120. Early entry 10:30am, VIP Lounge, meet show host Mark Tarbell and Lidia Bastianich in a book signing session. All-inclusive sampling from more than 20 original Arizona restaurants, including wine and craft beer sampling.
- General Admission. $75. 11:30am. All-inclusive sampling from more than 20 original Arizona restaurants, including wine and craft beer sampling.
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“CHECK, PLEASE! ARIZONA” FOOD FESTIVAL will deliver the chance to meet several independent Arizona restaurateurs and chefs and taste their popular culinary creations as featured on the award-winning Arizona PBS show. Each restaurant will offer guests bite-sized samples, creating a singularly local culinary adventure. Wine and craft beer sampling add to the gourmand’s journey, along with a seminar by Chef Tarbell and a book signing by Lidia for her latest book, Lidia’s the Art of Pasta, co-written with her daughter Tanya Bastianich Manuali.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! AUDITION FOR “CHECK, PLEASE! ARIZONA” TV SHOW. Food festival guests are invited to audition to land a spot on an upcoming episode of “Check, Please! Arizona” with host Chef Tarbell. Sneak a peek of the show here.
RESTAURANT SHOWCASE SO FAR. Several new restaurants are part of the 2026 event, including those on the show’s upcoming 13th season, plus many favorites from over the years. A glimpse of the culinary lineup to date:
- Tarbell's
- La Famiglia
- Original ChopShop
- Spiga Cucina Italiana
- Jewel’s Bakery & Cafe
- Fabio on Fire
- The Hub Grill & Bar
- Giuseppe’s on 28th
- The Mick Brasserie
- Xolo
- The Joy Bus
- Frasher’s Tavern
- Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen
- Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
MORE ON SPECIAL GUEST LIDIA BASTIANICH. Lidia is the author of 18 books, including her latest The Art of Pasta: An Italian Cookbook. The Emmy ® Award-winning host of PBS’ Lidia’s Kitchen and her new special, Lidia Celebrates America, she is also an acclaimed restaurateur, owner of Becco in New York, and several others.
About Arizona PBS. Arizona PBS is one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, with five broadcast channels and a growing array of digital platforms. A trusted community resource for nearly 65 years, Arizona PBS fosters lifelong learning through quality programming, in-depth news coverage and critical educational outreach services. It is one of the country’s largest public television stations, reaching 80 percent of Arizona homes and 1.5 million households each week. Arizona PBS has been part of ASU since the station launched in 1961. Learn more at https://azpbs.org.
About R Entertainment. R Entertainment is an experiential marketing, content and business development company, producing 200 dates a year. The company celebrates 13 years managing and programming Pepsi Amphitheater; produces music and culinary events such as Check, Please! Arizona Festival, the 10-city Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience; Celebrity Wine & Spirits; PGA WM Phoenix Open; Scottsdale 4th of July Celebration at WestWorld; Holiday Snowfest; Arizona Diamondbacks Evening on the Diamond; DiscOasis Los Angeles, among others. Corporate events include Fund Launch, Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli private events; Kentucky Derby Fillies & Lilies Party; Final Four Sponsors Ball; Super Bowl events, and more. R Entertainment also books concert talent for numerous Native American casinos and provides a range of services for venues and events. Visit R-Entertainment.com
