Amanda Freitag joins top Valley chefs at James Beard events in Phoenix
How far do you have to travel to enjoy a four-course dinner prepared by celebrity chef Amanda Freitag and some of the Valley's top talent? If you’re in town on Friday, Sept. 23, that answer is: Phoenix.
That evening, the James Beard Foundation's Taste America: A Night of Culinary Stars comes to The Camby hotel at 24th Street and Camelback Road. Tickets are on sale now for the meal, a collaboration involving:
- Freitag (Food Network’s "Chopped," American Diner Revival in New York).
- Chef Christopher Gross (Christopher’s and Crush Lounge in Phoenix).
- Host chef Dushyant Singh (Artizen Crafted American Kitchen and Bar at The Camby in Phoenix).
- Pastry chef Tracy Dempsey (Tracy Dempsey Originals in Tempe).
- Pastry chef Eugenia Theodosopoulos (Essence Bakery Cafe in Phoenix and Tempe).
- Ice cream artisan Helen Yung (Sweet Republic in Phoenix and Scottsdale).
“I enjoy the Mexican influences in Arizona and love how chilies and corn, squash and beans all combine to create their own Southwestern American flavors,” said Freitag, adding that she visits Scottsdale often, plus Tucson, where her brother lives. “I really enjoy prickly pear fruit and juice as well, it's great for cocktails and desserts.”
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Taste America first hit the road in 2007, when the James Beard Foundation board wanted to honor the prestigious culinary organization's 20th anniversary. The idea was to gather dream teams of top chefs for fundraising dinners in major U.S. cities. It became an annual event, and now, at each city, guests enjoy a walk-around tasting and cocktail reception followed by the star-studded supper.
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The Phoenix reception will boast its own cast of celebrity chefs, including Gabe Bertaccini, Kelly Fletcher, Sacha Levine, Jeff Smedstad and Matthew Taylor.
Other fundraising events take place through the weekend, including cooking demonstrations. Proceeds partially benefit the Taste America Scholarship Fund.
When all the cooking is done, Freitag is looking forward to another local experience.
“I have a guilty pleasure in the Sonoran hot dog,” the "Chopped" judge said of the bacon-wrapped frank that’s grilled then topped with savories like beans, grilled onions, fresh onions, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cream sauce, mustard and jalapeño salsa. “I always get at least one when I visit Arizona.”
This year, the Taste America tour also stops in Boston, Charleston, S.C., Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Portland, San Francisco and the Twin Cities.
JBF's Taste America events
- Welcome reception: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Little Cleo’s Seafood Legend at the Yard, 5632 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. $75. 602-680-4044. littlecleos.com.
- A Night of Culinary Stars: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23. The Camby, 2401 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. $275. 602-468-0700, jbftasteamerica.org.
- Cooking demonstrations: Saturday, Sept. 24. 10 a.m. with Amanda Freitag and 2 p.m. with Christopher Gross. Sur La Table at Kierland Commons, Greenway Parkway and Scottsdale Road, Phoenix. Free. 480-998-0118. Reservations: jbftasteamerica.org/events.
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