SRYP - Cook, Connect & Schmooze with Chef Tony

SRYP Networking After Hours:
Cook, Connect & Schmooze with Chef Tony

Join Blue Zones Project Scottsdale and Schmooze a Blue Zones Project Approved™ restaurant, for a fun and flavorful cooking experience featuring Chef Tony, owner of Schmooze. Chef Tony will lead two cooking demonstrations, sharing his culinary creativity, helpful tips, and simple ways to bring fresh ingredients to life. Come ready to be inspired, discover new flavors, and learn how healthy choices can be both simple and delicious.
 
Designed exclusively for young professionals ages 23–39, this relaxed event blends wellness education with plenty of time to mix, mingle, and build meaningful relationships. Come curious, leave inspired, and discover how good food and great connections can fuel a healthier life and a stronger professional network.

About Our Host
Schmooze is a locally owned café founded by Chef Tony, known for its fresh, flavorful menu, welcoming atmosphere, and commitment to creating delicious meals with quality ingredients. They have taken the coffee house, restaurant, and bar to another level by catering to professionals, entrepreneurs and businesses that want a private, club-like setting for dining, coffee, drinking or schmoozing.  It's Scottsdale's best hidden gem!
As a Blue Zones Project Approved™ restaurant, Schmooze helps make healthier choices easier by offering options that support overall well-being. 
 
About Blue Zones Project
Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being initiative inspired by research from National Geographic Fellow and best-selling author Dan Buettner. Through sustainable changes to the environment, policy, and social networks, the project makes healthy choices easier, helping people live longer, better lives. Brought to Scottsdale by Blue Zones, LLC in collaboration with HonorHealth, The Cigna Group, Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona, this innovative five-year initiative utilizes the Blue Zones Life Radius® model to build a culture of well-being across the community.
 
Meet Your Chef:
Say hello to Chef Tony, aka the "King Schmoozer" and owner of Schmooze in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. After studying food, beverage, and hotel management at the Culinary School of Jordan he continued his education at the Culinary of the Sorbonne, Paris. He began his career in 1980 as sous-chef for King Hussein at the Royal Palace of Jordan. He prepared many styles of cuisine for state dinners, where guests included dignitaries and leaders from around the world.

In 1985, he moved to the United States and became an American citizen. He was the banquet chef at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in the mid to late '80s, then moved temporarily to Honolulu, Hawaii to open the new kitchen at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa located on Waikiki Beach. Tony then served as General Manager of Tomaso's restaurant, opening Tomaso's concepts in Del Coronado and Phoenix, Arizona. In 1996 he opened Bravo! Bistro and has been a chef-owner since that time. His belief is that fresh, slow food prepared properly appeals to people who know and enjoy quality cuisine.
 
Event Details

• Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • 5:00pm - 5:30pm: Check-In & Mix/Mingle
  • 5:30pm: Welcome & Introductions; SRYP > BZP (5 min) > Chef Tony (30 min)
  • 5:40pm: Cooking Demos & Q&A
  • 6:10pm: Mix/Mingle
  • 7:00pm: Event Concludes
• Schmooze Scottsdale Front Garden, 4222 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
• Registration: SRYP Members: FREE, Non-Members: $20

• Arrive early to check in, explore the garden, and start making connections before the demonstrations begin.
• Bring your appetite and your questions for Chef Tony during the cooking demonstrations and Q&A.
• Use the open networking time to exchange ideas and meet young professionals from across the Valley.
• Take home recipes, follow up with new contacts, and put both your culinary and professional inspiration into action.