You’ve spent years learning the alef bet, months studying your Torah portion and countless hours completing your mitzvah project … you’ve earned the right to celebrate!
For many freshly minted Jewish “adults,” that means a glamorous party full of glitz and glitter. Others want another shot at a favorite activity of their youth (which in reality continues for several more years).
Venues
Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club is a destination with “stunning sunsets and views and a clubhouse that offers a warm, intimate, Tuscan feel,” according to Bernadette Contreras, the country club’s events manager. Superstition Mountain can accommodate parties of up to 200 guests, with a variety of indoor spaces for smaller parties.
Although Superstition Mountain offers party packages, families can customize things to suit both their budgets and the interests of the bar or bat mitzvah.
The Four Seasons has a variety of banquet spaces that can accommodate parties ranging from 12 to 300 guests. The resort has onsite catering that’s so good they’ve even had guests call to get recipes from our chef after attending an event. Outside caterers are permitted with insurance and pay a fee for service. Thanks to “great relationships” with nearby kosher kitchens, the Four Seasons can provide kosher meals as well.
For families who want to make a weekend out of the event, the Four Seasons has many popular activities including nature hikes around nearby Pinnacle Peak and themed “Dive-In” movies at the pool.
The Phoenician is ready to customize a party with whatever theme the b’nai mitzvah chooses, with settings ranging from private rooms for intimate groups of 10 to ballrooms that can accommodate up to 1,000.
For those wanting to host a Havdallah service, the elegant resort features a wonderful outdoor location, the Orchid Lawn area with the beautiful Camelback Mountain as a backdrop.
The Phoenician is a full-service food and beverage establishment and provides all such needs for the affair. Though the resort does not have a kosher kitchen, the catering staff will work with an outside vendor to provide a limited number of kosher meals.
At the Phoenix Zoo, guests have the unique option of adding an up-close animal experience to their event. Each Animal Discovery includes two animals presented by an Education team member. The zoo also offers after-hours narrated Safari Train Tours for event guests. The train takes riders around the park, providing interesting information about the animals and zoo history.
The zoo can accommodate events ranging from two to more than 1,000 people in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues.
The zoo works with a number of professional, local catering companies and is willing to make arrangements with an insured and permitted kosher caterer.
Caterers
If you are holding your simcha at your synagogue or another venue that permits outside caterers, there are plenty of tasty options for you to consider.
Miracle Mile Delicatessen will cater parties for eight to 1,000 people. In addition to incredible food and hot and cold beverage options, Miracle Mile supplies utensils, dishes, cleanup and excellent Miracle Mile service.
The deli’s biggest hit at kiddushes has been the homemade macaroni and cheese, an unusual dish to find at a kiddush, but a huge favorite among kids and adults.
Miracle Mile will customize table cards to match any bar/bat mitzvah theme.
With 65 years of serving the Valley’s Jewish community behind it, Miracle Mile can cater kosher meals and desserts for any size kiddush or event. “We pride ourselves in the food and service that we provide, and look forward to serving more generations of the community as it grows,” says Miracle Mile Vice President Josh Garcia.
Chompie’s Catering can feed from 10 to 10,000 guests. In addition to providing the food, Chompie’s offers options for service staff and table settings, bar and bartender, and banquet buffet or plated meals.
During Chompie’s Catering’s 35 years, favorites requested for bar/bat mitzvah parties have been the smoked fish platters, noodle kugel and other traditional fare, but now requests vary quite a bit. Themed events have included those with a ball park feel – think mini franks in a blanket, giant pretzels and nachos – or cultural food stations such as Italian, Chinese, Mexican and New York Deli. Chompie’s Catering can provide kosher meals at venues with a kosher kitchen available for use. Chompie’s Catering offers hot or cold menus, custom cakes and even an ice cream bar setup and a chocolate fountain. However and wherever you celebrate your transition to Jewish adulthood, just remember, “You’ve earned it.”
