Chef Demonstration with Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort

This Winter, Uptown welcomed Brian Contreras of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort for a Chef Demonstration at the market. Chef came ready to share a perfectly seasonal dish with Uptown-goers: Roasted Winter Squash with toasted Hazelnuts and Apple Cider Glaze!

The students of Careers in Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP Arizona) worked alongside Chef Contreras to prep, assemble and share this stunning seasonal offering.

Chef began by sourcing beautiful, locally grown Organic Butternut Squash and Delicata Squash from McClendon’s Select — he first cubed the squash in to bite size pieces, and the students of C-CAP began preparing the crushed Hazelnuts, Microgreens and glaze, rounding out this dish that was aromatic, and filled with warm flavor.

The crowds started to gather around the Chef Demonstration Tent as Chef Contreras pan-seared the squash, giving it the right amount of softness and perfect charred sides. Chef noted that the most important thing to remember when cooking squash is to cook until it is fork tender, making it a softer bite to enjoy.

Butternut Squash has a sweet, nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin, making it a favorite ingredient during colder months where heartier vegetables are desired. Delicata Squash’s flavor, when cooked, is sweet, rich, and moist, much like a sweet potato. Pairing these two squash together, and searing them to desired softness, can create a filling main dish that can easily be replicated in your kitchen at home, as noted by Chef Contreras!

To complete the dish, Chef Contreras and the students of C-CAP created an Apple Cider Vinegar Glaze which they drizzled on top of the roasted winter squash. To finish, they added festive toasted Hazelnuts and Microgreens for a bright, crunchy bite.

Uptown would like to extend a special thank you to Chef Contreras and the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort for joining us at Uptown Saturday! We also want to thank Uptown vendors for contributing to the demonstration and sampling. Congratulations to all Uptown-goers who won gift certificates to enjoy at the resort. For more information, follow the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort (a wonderful resort for a local stay-cation!) on social media here and visit Chef Contereas at one of the EIGHT dining establishments at the resort.