To grill or not to grill? That is the question. As the warm summer months come upon us, there really is no other answer… Grill.

It is known with in my close circle of friends that I love to cook and even more so, I love to eat. But, it wasn’t always this way. Learning to prepare a meal on the grill was one of the first skills I mastered (well, mastered maybe a bit too nice, lets say one of the initial cooking methods I tried that didn’t end in disaster), and now I constantly experiment with new vegetables, fruits and even pizzas that can be cooked on the grill. For me, grilling is the simplest way to achieve tremendous flavor with very little preparation and in turn very little effort. With summer pretty much already here, the grilling season is well underway. Knowing a few tips and techniques for the grilling surface will surely contribute to some awesome backyard cookouts and not to mention, delicious memories.

Chef Alexis Martinez of the Flying V Bar & Grill at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson will break out the grill tools and teach a series of cooking classes themed around the grill and timed perfectly for the warm season.

The culinary classes are part of Loews Culinary Institute, a series of interactive sessions designed to teach participants essential grilling techniques, unique flavor combinations and gourmet food presentation.

The classes begin Saturday May 23, 2009 and will take place on the Saturdays of holiday weekends this summer, including Saturday, July 4 and Saturday, Sept. 5.

Grill mates and masters will enjoy a lively culinary demonstration from several of the resort’s award winning chefs, including Marc Ehrler, the resort’s executive chef who proudly mans the grill at the resort’s signature Blues, Brews and Barbeque Sunday Brunch.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort guests will enjoy trying classes themed around the grill. We’ve all cooked with wine, so these classes include a special summer twist including “Cooking with Beer,” a class that will detail how to use your favorite local microbrew in barbeque sauce, grilling and more. Additional topics that will be covered include: “Grilling 101,” and “Secrets to Making a Signature BBQ Sauce,” with advice from Loews Ventana Canyon Resort Banquet Chef Ken Harvey, who knows a bit about BBQ since he is a Kansas City native.

To learn more, visit  www.loewshotels.com or call 520.299.2020.

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