James Beard Foundation's Taste America Is Coming To Phoenix

Get ready, Phoenix foodies. Your Christmas is coming early. The James Beard Foundation's Taste America tour will kick off the first stop in its 10-city tour Friday, September 22, at Mountain Shadows in Paradise Valley.

The evening will begin with a VIP reception at 6:30 p.m. The cocktail and tasting reception will begin at 7 p.m. with creations from Aaron Chambers, Dustin Christofolo, Lori Hashimoto, Branden Levine, and Beau MacMillan. Starting at 8 p.m., guests will enjoy a dinner prepared by host chef Charles Wiley and James Beard Award winners Traci Des Jardins and Nobuo Fukuda. Dessert will be prepared by Tammie Coe, Cassie Weisz, and Country Velador. KPHO/CBS 5 anchor Sean McLaughlin will emcee the event. 

A portion of the evening's proceeds go toward the James Beard Foundation's Taste America Scholarship Fund.

Tickets for the evening are available and begin at $275.