Dining

Chef Beau MacMillan, of elements restaurant at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, is becoming a household name with his new show, “Worst Cooks in America.” The Food Network competition program starts Jan. 3.

If anyone knows their way around a cookie sheet it’s Mrs. Fields baking expert, Rachel Matheus (the beloved cookie company has six Arizona locations). Here, we picked her brain about holiday cookie baking.

Thanksgiving is approaching fast, and many are planning to spend countless hours in the kitchen putting together the perfect holiday feast for their families. This may be a terrifying prospect to some. Fortunately, several restaurants in Phoenix will be open to serve dinner or prepare a meal to be enjoyed at home—without piles of dishes to wash afterward! We’ve compiled the best options the Valley has to offer.

Fall in the Valley couldn’t be more perfect: the temperatures are back down to the double-digit zone, we can finally touch our steering wheels without letting out an “ouch!” and—most importantly—several food festivals and events are on the horizon. Here are few to put on your culinary calendar.