Chef Showdown

Don't forget about the Great American Picnic this weekend! Saturday (noon to 10 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 6 p.m.). Admission is $10, and tasting tickets cost $1 each.

The Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza will be swarming with foodies sampling tastes from 50 different restaurants, and imbibing in the vodka tent, the margarita tent or in the beer garden.

If you can only go one day, pick Sunday and arrive before 1 p.m. That's when the Challenge to the Chefs takes place, pitting four rockin' chefs against each other in a crazy, timed competition with a mystery basket of ingredients.

The competitors: Aaron May (Sol y Sombra, Autostrada, Over Easy); Jeff Smedstad (Elote Cafe, Sedona), Tim Fields (Sushi Roku) and Wade Moises (Pasta Bar).

The GAP is always fun, and this culinary showdown just sweetens the deal. It's going to be hot, hot, hot on Sunday, so slather on the sunscreen, wear something light and breezy and go support the festival. See you there!