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Phoenix Cooks offers food & drink samples, classes, demos Saturday

Phoenix Cooks, a festival offering small bites from more than 50 Valley restaurants and 30 beverage-sampling booths, takes place 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in northeast Phoenix.

The indoor event also includes 16 food and drink classes on subjects like “What’s Hot in the World of Wine” and “Argentinean Grilling,” as well as four live “mystery basket” cooking competitions between chefs.

New this year is a Kickoff Zone, where sports-minded guests can watch college football games on big screens while eating gourmet tailgate fare.

Tickets are $75 in advance and $90 at the door, and classes are $10. Attendance will be capped at 3,000 people, about 500 fewer than last year.

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