Culinary knowledge just flows from her like river, and she loves sharing every bit of it in her classes. That’s what makes Chef Amy Barnes one of the best chefs at Sweet Basil Culinary Center. She started cooking classes as a child which set her up for a long career at The Hyatt’s in Scottsdale and Austin, Texas, The Princess Resort and The Impeccable Pig Restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale. Chef Amy is a great story teller and loves to pay tribute to some of the upscale restaurants that helped to shape her career. This Chorizo Chicken and Corn Risotto pays homage to her years at The Golden Swan at The Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch, which she helped to open in 1986 and where she worked side by side with chefs from all over the world. It’s there that she says she was “Hyattized”, which means to carry high standards throughout her career. If you want to elevate, or “Hyattize” dinner this week, give Amy’s show-stopping dish a try!
juice of one lime
A Tale of Two Salsas
It’s officially pool party season and chips and salsa are our go-to favorites for backyard barbeques. If you’re looking for some fun new salsas to try, I’ve got some delicious options. The first is one of my favorite recipes for stand-out Salsa Fresca. It uses ingredients found in many diced tomato-based salsas, but you can heat it up or tone it down anyway you like. The second option is a Roasted Eggplant Salsa which was rescued out of my own recipe box—the one I’ve had for years stuffed with recipe clippings, potluck favorites and scribbles on scratch paper. It’s perfect if you’re looking to add something a little different to your salsa spread. Now, all you have to do is grab a chip and dive right in!
