Culinary Festival of the Desert

While most Valley culinary festivals take place in the spring or fall, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa will host a slew of fun food-friendly events as part of the Culinary Festival of the Desert June 30 to July 6. Highlights of the week-long event include cooking classes and demonstrations on health and wellness, beer and barbecue, “Discovering Chocolate,” sustainable ingredients, cuisine of India and “Chefs of Arizona Challenge” competitions.
On June 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., Taste of Desert Ridge will feature food from the resort’s Tuscany, Meritage Steakhouse, Blue Sage and Roy’s restaurants and wine tastings. The next day, a multi-course wine dinner will be offered at 6:45 p.m. at Tuscany for $55. Or, celebrate Independence Day with a Four Peaks Beer and barbecue lunch for $29 at 11:30 a.m. at Meritage Steakhouse.
The action-packed week of the Culinary Festival of the Desert ends with the Amoretti 2010 World Pastry Team Championship being held at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort July 5 and July 6. (Tickets are $150.) The competition include the resort’s own National Pastry Team Champions–Team USA–who earned the crown at last year’s national competition. They will compete with worldwide pastry chefs for 13 hours during the two-day period. Guests can to see the pastry teams as they make sugar and chocolate showpieces, a cake, a frozen dessert, three different types of chocolate bonbons, a plated dessert and a chef’s specialty creation. http://www.jwdesertridgeresort.com/.