Culinary Events & Offerings
Celebrate & Support Ah Haa This New Year’s Eve!
New Year’s Eve Launchpad Dinner with Chef LT Smith
December 31st at 6:00pm
MEET CHEF LT
James Beard Semifinalist, Emerging Chef ‘25
Food & Wines Best New Chef, Class of ‘24
Esquire & Bon Appétit, Best New Restaurants ‘23
Rising star Chef LT Smith shares his culinary talents with Ah Haa this New Year’s Eve. The Launchpad will be filled with revelry and festive decor, ready for a stunning multi-course dinner highlighting favorites of the chef’s off-the-cuff new wave Mexican plates with curated, paired wines and cocktails. This is a very rare opportunity to experience Chef LT’s cuisine outside of Phoenix and support Ah Haa School for the Arts.
The ’25 James Beard Semifinalist (emerging Chef) and ’24 Food and Wines Best New Chef creates unapologetically authentic experimental Mexican cuisine, highlighting shared cultures on every plate. Chef LT, a former NFL receiver with the Colts, left the team to pursue a career in the culinary arts and has quickly made his mark on the culinary scene. At Chilte, the electric “new-wave” Mexican-inspired hotspot tucked inside Phoenix’s retro Egyptian Motor Hotel, chef Lawrence Smith is rewriting the rules of flavor. His boundary-blurring menu pulls from everywhere — Latin roots, childhood soul food, globe-trotting adventures — and then boldly reimagines it all.
Core Classes
With the overarching goal of cultivating community, cultural connection and a sense of place, Ah Haa’s culinary offerings bring people together at a fundamental touchpoint – the preparing and sharing food. As a resource for skill building, sustainable practices and connective storytelling with chefs, cooks, farmers, winemakers; Ah Haa nourishes and nurtures culinary students of all ages and skill levels.
Locals’ Lunches & Seasonal Suppers on Wednesdays
Family Cooking Classes on Thursdays
Market Day Cooking on Fridays
Date Nights & Multi-Course Dinners on Fridays & Saturdays
Culinary Focus Classes Weekly
GUEST CHEFS
Ah Haa invites regional, national and international chefs into the kitchen to bring their unique flavors into our kitchen and to your plates! Guest Chefs at Ah Haa offer classes, skill building, story telling and multi-course Launchpad Dinners.
UPCOMING Guest Chefs
LT Smith, Chilte Phoenix, NYE 2025
Reogelio Garcia, Napa, August 2026
Previous Guest Chefs
Iliana Regan – Six Consecutive Michelin Stars
Justin Pioche – James Beard Award Finalist Best Chef of the Southwest
Alexi Mandolini & Taylor Herbert – Easy Vegan – Winners, Great Food Truck Race 2023
Brendan Kelley – Amass, Copenhagen & owner Confidant, NYC
Laura Cole – James Beard Award Semi-Finalist, Top Chef Season 15 contestant
Carolina Zubiate – Hispanic Top Chef 2023
Biju Thomas – USA Cycling Head Chef, Author
Youth & Teen CUlinary Classes
Fun in the kitchen begins at age 5! Kids learn skills, recipes, baking and presentation they can take to their own home kitchens! Ah Haa also offers classes for families to participate in – kids must be accompanied by an adult.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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