Scottsdale is always boasting new and innovative restaurants that will leave any mouth watering, but why should the culinary experience end with a great meal? Instead, visitors are taking advantage of all the great culinary kudos Scottsdale has been earning and spending time receiving first-hand instruction from the pros at several of Scottsdale’s renowned cooking schools and programs. Below are just some of the establishments that offer demonstration classes and hands-on cooking classes leaving visitors with new-found talents from the kitchen.

At the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, guests can work alongside the award-winning culinary team at Acacia to prepare dinner for resort guests, juggle orders, work on the line assisting chefs in "prepping" for a busy evening of service and direct the flurry of kitchen activity. As part of the program, In the Kitchen With Chef, guests receive a personalized chef's jacket embroidered with his or her name and the Four Seasons logo. The evening concludes with a private dinner in Acacia, allowing the “chef for a day” to dine with the Chef and prepare dinner for two guests of choice. The program is offered on Saturday evenings year-round.

For more information, visit www.fourseasons.com or call (888) 207-9696.

Diners at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa’s Deseo restaurant can opt to sit at The Rail and watch chefs as they perform feats of culinary artistry. This birds-eye view will make mouths water as chefs grill, saut©, chop, dice and prepare unique ceviche combinations and custom-formulated appetizers and entrees. Deseo, which means “desire” in Spanish, brings an eclectic, fervent approach to Cuban and South American-inspired cuisine. Cuban-born Chef Douglas Rodriguez, together with Chef de Cuisine Mark Dow, share their unique flavor combinations using a variety of spices, peppers, sauces and marinades.

For more information, visit www.kierlandresort.com or call 800-WESTIN1.

At Sweet Basil Gourmet Cooking School visitors can take time out of their busy vacation schedule and work alongside professionally trained chefs - many of them from notable Scottsdale restaurants. Classes vary weekly and cover a wide range of culinary skills and work with a global menu of regional, traditional and international cuisine. Regular classes include Lunch & Learn and Gourmet Couples. After slaving over a hot stove, guests can sit down and enjoy the fruits of their labor and take home recipes. Day, evening and weekend classes are available. Advance booking is encouraged due to the popularity with the locals.

For more information, visit www.sweetbasilgourmet.com or call (480) 596-5628.

At The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, guests can sign up for the Light & Easy Cooking Classes, which focus on healthful organic cooking. Offered the first Saturday of each month at the Golden Door Spa, participants earn hands-on instruction followed by a cooking demonstration by Chef Scott Stubinger and the spa nutritionist. The cost is for a two and a half hour class is $165 per person and includes a copy of The Golden Door Cooks Light & Easy, a chef’s apron, a discount certificate for a spa treatment, complimentary Golden Door lotion and lunch in the Spa Caf©.

For more information, visit www.theboulders.com or call (800) 553-1717.