Culinary dynamic duo joins forces

What started as a way to bring business to the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in the slow summer months has turned into a popular event that is now 11 years strong.  

Executive Chef Beau MacMillan, said the first Lunch & Learn series brought in about a dozen people, now each event in the summer long series draws more than 100 people with some coming from all other parts of the country.

The draw for the out of town visitors are high profile guest chefs the series, like Chef Chuck Hughes who is kicking off this summer's series. Hughes is a past winner of 'Iron Chef America', and host of the Cooking Channel's 'Chuck's Day Off' and the owner and chef of two popular restaurants in Montreal, Garde Manger and Bremner.  

Hughes competed against MacMillan on the Food Network's 'The Next Iron Chef' and both are among the few to have defeated Iron Chef Bobby Flay.  

With that kind of star power, there seems to be no stopping these events.

At the Lunch & Learn series , held on Saturday's during July and August, guests get the opportunity to enjoy a three course lunch paired with wine or cocktails, while the chefs provide valuable culinary instruction on how to prepare the dishes. They also take home copies of the recipes.

Those who want a more intimate experience, can join MacMillan and the guest chef at a Friday night dinner hosted in the Sanctuary's ultra exclusive dining room XII, which seats 12. The Friday night dinner starts at 6 p.m. and is enjoyed at a large communal table which looks into the state of the art kitchen at elements.

The Lunch & Learn series kicks off Friday, July 13 and continues through August 25 with weekly guest chefs.  This summer the guests include, Danny Grant, The Casserole Queens, Bruce Seidel, Kevin Binkley, Gerald Tice and Mel Mecinas.