The taste of the town
Scottsdale Chef‑fest plates up a tasty fundraiser
by Chris Moore

SCOTTSDALE – Imagine partaking of the masterful culinary creations of 10 of the Valley’s top chefs ¼ in one evening. Author Pamela Swartz did, and she thought other people might like the idea as much as she did.

That led to the creation of “Dine Out with the Chefs: A Celebration of the Culinary Arts,” which will take place from 4‑7 p.m. on Oct. 8 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

At the event, diners will have the opportunity to meet distinguished Valley chefs and experience their culinary creations. Beer and wine samples will also appear on the menu for the fund raising event; the proceeds will go to the center’s youth education and outreach programs.

Swartz, who is author of  “Arizona Getaways, for the Incurably Romantic,” said a local Barnes & Noble representative contacted her with the idea of creating a dining guide for the Valley.

The result  was Swartz’s Zagat‑shaped restaurant guide, called “Dine Out Phoenix: Where to Eat from Chic to Unique.” In it, Swartz focuses on restaurants’ consistency, unusual qualities and special features, as well as the quality of the food and the price.

“I’m not a food critic,” she says, “and I don’t intend to be. I try to give readers an idea of the ‘experience’ of each restaurant, so they won’t encounter any surprises or disappointments. I also point them to the best places for what they’re looking for, maybe a girls’ night out, or a romantic date, or a business meeting.

“There are no guarantees with restaurants,” she continues, “but consistently good ones that offer a distinctive experience at a reasonable value are nice to find.”

When the book was published in August, Swartz and Barnes & Noble decided they didn’t want to do a regular book launch party. They hit upon the idea of a fundraiser as a way to present the book and give something back to the community.

 The chefs and restaurants selected by Swartz to participate are Bernie Kantak, executive chef of Cowboy Ciao; Guido Saccone, chef at Cibo; Beau MacMillan, executive chef of elements at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain; Tracy Dempsey, dessert chef at Kazimierz World Wine Bar; Jon‑Paul Hutchins, executive chef of L’Academie Café and L’Ecole Restaurant at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute; Paul Carter, executive chef of Mary Elaine’s at The Phoenician; Erasmo “Razz” Kamnitzer, chef and owner of Razz’s Restaurant; Nobu Fukuda, executive chef of Sea Saw; Brian Lewis, chef de cuisine of Vu at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch; and Roberto Sanchez, chef de cuisine of Windows on the Green at The Phoenician.

The evening features live jazz provided by The Andy Margolis Trio, a cash bar and a book signing with Swartz and the participating chefs. Kathy Shayna Shocket, society columnist for The Arizona Republic will be the emcee for the event.

Dine Out with the Chefs: A Celebration of the Culinary Arts takes place on Oct. 8 from 4‑7 p.m.  at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. in Scottsdale. Advance tickets are available for $35 at the Center box office (480) 994‑ARTS (2787). Tickets at the door are $45. Capacity is limited. For further information, visit www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org, www.bn.com and www.cloudninepress.com.

Reach the reporter at cmoore@thedesertadvocate.com.