So, I am a well documented foodie.  I should have been a chef, but culinary school was seriously too expensive after graduating from ASU.  I already had student loans and I couldn’t afford to take on more debt.  Instead, I worked for Aramark for 5 years as a Food Service Director.  I wore every single hat that you can possibly wear in a restaurant, including a toque.  I read tons of culinary and/or cook books, and I learned how to cook on the job.  Seriously all I do is watch the Food Network if I am watching TV and I watch all of the restaurant reality TV shows…Hell’s Kitchen, Next Food Network Star and Top Chef.  Dare I say, I am a pretty damn good cook and deep in my gut I feel that if given the chance, I could be on one of those reality TV shows and I might just be a major contender even…winner!

Hell's Kitchen Season 4 Winner

Well, now that you have the background you will know why I asked to go to the Scottsdale Culinary Festival for our five year wedding anniversary gift.  It was a chance to be surrounded by my loving husband, food and wine/beer.  It was perfect!  Mom watched the children all day and Travis and I had an all access pass to the event.  We went to Cooks and Corks, which was a wine and food tasting venue.  There they had cooking demos from some of the reality celebrity chefs from Hell’s Kitchen and Top Chef.  It was exciting to be there and I have to say it was soooo yummy.  I must admit though, I should of not kidded myself when I thought I wouldn’t drink too much, because I did…it was fabulous!

Travis and I at Scottsdale Culinary Festival

After we were done the the venue, we decided to venture outside to the beer garden.  They give you this little mini-mug and for $1.00 a pour, you could try 100′s of different beers.  We didn’t try all of them, but we tried to!  Pretty soon we were socializing with others and drunk dialing our friends to tell them how much fun we were having.  Silly I know, but hey it’s what we do.

Travis Telling Our Friends How Cool the Beer Garden Is

Jolene and Travis Enjoying Our Day Out

Finally it was time to go home and of course we didn’t get enough to eat at the Food Festival, so we stopped at Papa Murphy’s for some pizza.  It was a great time spending grown up time with my honey…Love Ya Babe