From Desert to Dish: A Cooking Demonstration Rooted in the Sonoran Landscape

 
FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 1st, 2026
 
From Desert to Dish: A Cooking Demonstration Rooted in the Sonoran Landscape
Chef Christine Leo will show guests how to turn prickly pear, tepary beans, and other native ingredients into nourishing, plant-forward meals
 
CAVE CREEK, Ariz. — Desert Foothills Land Trust is excited to present Desert to Dish: A Sonoran Foods Cooking Demonstration, exploring the flavors and health benefits of Sonoran Desert foods. The event will be held Thursday, October 22, at 4 p.m. at Harmony Hollow, 44316 N Spur Cross Road in Cave Creek.
 
Chef Christine Leo, who serves as HonorHealth Food Service Manager, will headline the demonstration with a menu of plant-forward dishes. She'll work with prickly pear, squash, tepary beans, and other ingredients that have fed communities in this region for generations. Guests get a front-row seat to the process, then a taste of the results. They'll leave with recipes and practical tips ready to try at home.
 
Desert to Dish ties together the places our food comes from and our relationship to the land. The Sonoran Desert has fed the communities who call it home for thousands of years, and those same ingredients can nourish us now. It celebrates the powerful connections between food, culture, community, and the landscapes we call home.
 
"This event is about more than a great meal," said Raena Kamakahi, President and CEO of Desert Foothills Land Trust. "It's an invitation to see the desert differently, as a source of nourishment, culture, and community that's worth protecting."
 
Proceeds go directly to Desert Foothills Land Trust's work of protecting the Sonoran Desert. Reserve your spot at dflt.org/deserttodish.
 
Event Details
What: Desert to Dish: A Sonoran Foods Cooking Demonstration
When: Thursday, October 22, 4 p.m.
Where: Harmony Hollow, 44316 N Spur Cross Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Tickets: $50. Purchase at dflt.org/deserttodish
 
Desert Foothills Land Trust connects people to nature by working with communities and partners to conserve and steward sensitive lands and species for the survival of our Sonoran Desert. Operating in communities across the North Valley, this nonprofit has conserved 1,100 acres across 31 preserves, many open for public exploration. Re-accredited in 2022 by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, the organization continues its vital work protecting the region's unique desert landscapes, balancing conservation with community needs in rapidly developing areas.
 
Media Contact
Sue Force, Chief Development Officer, Desert Foothills Land Trust
sforce@dflt.org, 480-488-6131 x203