What's Cookin' With Elote Cafe Chef Jeff Smedstad?

Chef Jeff Smedstad of Sedona’s Elote Cafe has become famous for his innovative interpretations of Mexican and Southwestern cuisine over the years. And, he’s having a good year. He just received his first James Beard Award nomination and he’s just released his second cookbook, "The Elote Cafe Notebook."

The Chandler native began his cooking career on a Coast Guard cutter on a desert island when he was 17. I spent a little time in his kitchen recently to find out a little more about what goes into his cooking.

And you can try a taste of Smedstad’s Southwestern cooking Monday night. He’s signing copies of his cookbook at Changing Hands in Phoenix.