Desert-inspired flavors meet world-class refinement in Scottsdale. For those with a taste for the extraordinary, from multi-course tasting menus that push the boundaries of gastronomy to intimate, chef-led classes where culinary techniques unfold before your eyes, Scottsdale is where you’ll find exclusive culinary bucket-list experiences, unlike anywhere else.
Dine under the saguaros with Cloth & Flame, your hosts for an immersive and collaborative culinary experience unlike any dinner party you’ve ever attended complete with open-air cooked fare, live music, dressed-up craft cocktails, and wines, to boot. A series of unique experiential and ticketed events bring dinner to pristine expanses of Sonoran Desert and other impressive outdoor sites across Scottsdale and beyond, think Sedona, Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree. From your seat at the fabulously-decorated community table outfitted with delicate ropes of desert florals and twinkling candles, a panoramic desert backdrop sets the scene for your multi-course meal. From amuse-bouche to dessert, each dish is crafted from start-to-finish by influential Arizona chefs. When it comes to this experience, the best pairing for your plate is the outdoors.
James Beard award winner Tyson Cole has brought his beloved sushi spot, Uchi, to Scottsdale. Like its Austin counterpart, Uchi Scottsdale offers a delectable lineup of sips, sushi, and small plates like the delectable Wagyu Carpaccio and refreshing Masu Crudo. In addition to the house menu, Uchi offers private dining experiences, ranging from curated tasting menus to immersive experiences. In fact, guests can experience chef-guided hands-on makimono-style sushi rolling classes. The educational – and immersive – culinary experience is followed by a 10-course meal which includes dishes you’ll only experience in Scottsdale like the Lamb Sirloin with roast kabocha puree. Additional bookable experiences at the Old Town sushi haunt include chef-led whole fish breakdowns and informative, cheers-worthy sake tastings.
Delight your senses at ZuZu with Chef Roulette, an interactive dining experience guided by Executive Chef Russel LaCasce. This ever-changing, rotating menu of six-courses tempts the taste buds, offering surprise dishes and tempting libations at each course that keep diners guessing with every bite and sip — because you never know what you’re going to get when you order Chef Roulette. Past dishes have included inventive bites like Hamachi shooters with passion fruit pearls and an innovative take on Nashville Hot Chicken, paired with buttered popcorn ice cream, dill pickle and hot honey.
For the ultimate in carnivorous feasts, Virtu Honest Craft delivers a bucket list-worthy experience. Chef Gio Osso’s Maialino Experience is a multi-course meal that elevates pork to star status. It all begins with a hefty selection of Italian meats and cheeses, followed by house made sausages, salads, and pastas that set the stage for the grand finale: a smoked and roasted Spanish suckling pig, served Calabrian style with potatoes, peppers and salsa verde. For dessert, if you’ve saved room, indulge in the chocolate date cake with maple bacon toffee or opt for a European classic, crème brûlée, to bring your epic feast to a sweet close.
Unearthed in the 1990s, the wine cellar at Lon’s is equal parts mythical and mysterious. Legend has it that American painter Lon Megargee, who settled in Paradise Valley in the 1930s, built the secret room to host his illegal poker games during the Prohibition era. While the poker tables are long gone, the underground hideaway is accessible by way of a narrow stone stairway or passenger elevator. Inside, the wine cellar is accented with a handsome dining table, plush chairs, and antique elements including reclaimed 18th century fir beams and ornate hacienda church doors — the perfect setting for a culinary bucket list experience ideal for private groups and your celebratory occasions.
Bring your culinary skills, and your appetite, to T. Cook’s “Cocina Latina” where you can learn how to make delicious empanadas. Happening each Friday and led by Chef Aaron Ochoa Gonzalez, this hands-on culinary experience is an educational master class, covering everything from the history of the dish to the best ingredients to use. During the experience, you’ll slice and season your way to the perfect empanada. And best of all, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor when the class comes to an end.
Newly introduced to the Biltmore Fashion Park culinary scene, San Diego-born Ambrogio15 now brings its elevated, globe-spanning flavors and signature modern Italian cuisine to Valley foodies and travelers with culinary savvy. While you can certainly get acquainted with Michelin-starred Chef Silvio Salmoiraghi and Executive Chef Fabio Pizzigoni’s acclaimed fare via reservation, the best way to get to know Ambrogio15 is with a seat at the Chef’s Table. Offered nightly inside of the restaurant's private dining room to one party exclusively, the Chef’s Table Experience features eight courses, each drawing inspiration from Japan, Korea, France, and Italy. To complete the experience, enjoy cocktail or wine-pairing options featuring rare or hard-to-find bottles from boutique producers.
With over 1,000 restaurants citywide, Scottsdale is the perfect dining destination for your next culinary bucket-list experience.
Article Credit to Lauren Topor Reichert. Lauren is an avid hobbyist who enjoys mountain biking, kayaking, and hiking across Scottsdale and the greater Sonoran Desert.