Friday, June 19, 2015
How do you like your barbecue—dry rubbed and smoked or slathered in sweet and tangy sauce? Well, regardless of your 'cuin' preference, you're going to want to head to the inaugural Smokin' Showdown cookoff event. For the first time ever, Hotel Congress will be putting local barbecuers in head-to-head competition to try to determine who Tucson's top pitmaster is.
This year, Chillin n' Grillin BBQ, Edge Catering, Gary Ray’s Smokehouse, The Cup Cafe, Acacia and Brushfire BBQ will compete alongside the brand new Rusty Truck BBQ. Rusty Truck will be making its Tucson premier the night of the Smokin' Showdown, showcasing what we can expect from the mobile BBQ unit in the future. Although the truck has roots in Kansas, the caterer and food cart looks to bring some of that flavor right here in town by serving up smoking meats from a converted six-foot old, rusty water tank, grilled brownies and other BBQ faves like mac and cheese.
Inside Tucson Business contributor and On the Menu Live host Matt Russell will be judging the BBQ throwdown, alongside executive chef Daniel Perez of the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and CJ Hamm of Tucson Foodie. The team that is judged to have the best brisket in Tucson based on appearance, taste and tenderness will get bragging rights, the title of Old Pueblo's Pitmaster and a commemorative trophy belt.
The neighboring Pueblo Vida Brewing Co. will be on site to serve up pints to thirsty guests, and local band Greyhound Soul will perform. Best of all, proceeds from the event go to benefit Steele Children’s Research Center.
The first Smokin' Showdown barbecue cookoff kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 and runs until 9 p.m. Tickets are available for $30 in advance or $35 the day of the event (if it doesn't sell out), which includes two ounces of barbecue from all seven vendors, two sides, one draft pint and a vote for People’s Choice. You can snatch your spot at the Smokin' Showdown and find more information on the event by visiting the Hotel Congress website.
Tags: smokin showdown , bbq , barbecue , competition , tucson , hotel congress , Image
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
From now until September, head over to the Coronet for a special lunch deal that will help you save some cash while still treating yourself. Lunches feature different combinations of cups of soup, a la carte salads and half tartines, which are $5, $4.50 and $10.50 (for a whole) respectively on the regular menu. The $10 combo special, which includes iced tea or Pellegrino soda, is available Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. along with the regular afternoon menu.
Tags: the coronet , tucson , restaurant , summer deals , dining , lunch , dinner , prix fixe
Monday, June 15, 2015
If there's one bright side to Tucson in the summer (besides the oppressive, blinding sunlight, of course), it's summer deals around town. That means right now is the perfect time to seize the opportunity to help your favorite local businesses make it through the dreaded summer slow down and take advantage of culinary experiences that you may not have been able to afford regularly.
One such bangin' summer deal is Penca's Noches de Penca dinners. The prix fixe meals will serve up three courses for $25 plus tax and gratuity with dishes inspired by many different regions in Mexico. Also on the specials roster is a special selection of wines priced at $5 per glass. If that doesn't get you out from under the swamp cooler, maybe the menus for both nights will.
Menu for Wednesday, June 17
Pulpo escabeche
Banana leaf steamed cabrilla with achiote and bitter orange
Ice cream with papaya verde
Menu for Wednesday, June 24
Ensalada de chicharron
Braised achiote and garlic rubbed pork ribs
Caballeros pobres (Yucatan-style French toast) with cinnamon syrup
The dinners, which kick off at 5 p.m., will continue every Wednesday with the final event on Wednesday, August 26, excluding Wednesdays during July 6 through 15 when the restaurant closes for a brief summer break. Penca's regular menu will also be available those nights, if you're so inclined. Reservations can be made by calling 203-7681.
In other Penca-related news, the restaurant, located at 50 E. Broadway Blvd., also announced it will be getting a patio in front along Broadway soon, though an exact date is yet to be released.
Tags: penca , summer , dinner , mexican , restaurant , tucson , downtown , prix fixe , summer deals , patio
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The first of the new Gibson Court businesses is almost ready to open. On Friday, June 12 at 3 p.m., Highwire Lounge give away first glimpses of the intimate, upscale cocktail bar's interior, as well as modest patio to the public.
Owners Nick Eggman and Jacob Hise aren't looking to quietly enter Tucson's cocktail scene, either. With a ten-drink menu that utilizes popular liquors like El Jimador tequila, Smirnoff vodka and Bulleit whiskey, the pair say they're looking to impress their guests with their inventive take on "molecular mixology."
Much like their circus theme would suggest, the cocktails at Highwire definitely have a trick or two to show. That means you can expect drinks to change colors, make noises, change flavors and look unlike the cocktails you're used to seeing at local watering holes.
Tags: highwire lounge , tucson , molecular mixology , cocktails , jacob hise , nick eggman , cotton candy , pop rocks , caviar drops , Image
Friday, June 5, 2015
If you're looking for a night of beer, barbecue and bluegrass, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort is ready to oblige with a special cookout event. Casks and Cooks will team up chefs Ken Harvey, Jose Salas and Mike Behan with brewers from Dragoon, Ten Fifty-Five and Pueblo Vida to offer smoky, meaty eats paired with local brews.
With grilled-to-order offerings like IPA-brined baby back ribs grilled on mesquite and an all beef Sonoran dog wrapped in jalapeno-crusted bacon, the menu will offer up some spicy treats in an open air cookout setting. Along with pairing beer with the dishes, the breweries will also be releasing a special collaborative brew called the Blanche de Ventana. The beer, which is a Leuven Wit, utilizes coriander blossoms and cumquats picked at the resort.
The Casks and Cooks cookout event will take over the Coyote Corral with food, brews and live bluegrass performances at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort (7000 N. Resort Drive) on Saturday, June 13. The 21 and over dinner runs from 6 until 9 p.m. Tickets are $55 and can be reserved by calling 615-5496.
Tags: casks and cooks , beer , bbq , dinner , tucson , loews ventana canyon resort , pueblo vida , ten fifty-five , dragoon , baby back ribs , sonoran dog , events
Thursday, June 4, 2015
This June Tucson's Desert Harvesters will be busy talking to folks in town about how to use up all of the edible plantlife that exists around us.
On Tuesday, June 9, you can head to La Cocina (201 N. Court Ave.) for an "Evening of Story, Food, Drink, and Music." From 5 until 10 p.m., dinner and drinks will be served featuring native plants, such as a margarita made with locally harvested prickly pear juice. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., Desert Harvesters' co-founder Brad Lancaster will speak about wild food propagation and strengthening our local community and ecosystem. Hey, Bucko! will be playing at the event as well. 10 percent of all proceeds from food and drink sales will go to the Harvesters and Lancaster's talk is free to listen to.
Then, on Thursdays this month, the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market in conjunction with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona will be offering a Desert Harvest series designed in collaboration with the Desert Harvesters. The events, which take place from 4 until 7 p.m. at Mercado San Agustin (100 S. Avenida del Convento), will cover a range of topics, featuring farmers, fermenters and chefs who know their way around Sonoran specialties.
The series caps off on Thursday, June 25 with the 13th Annual Mesquite Milling and Wild Foods Fiesta at the market. While the event will feature tastings and more, those looking to mill can purchase mesquite to grind to nutritious flour on-site for $3 per gallon with a $10 minimum.
Wrapping it all up on Friday, June 26, the harvesters will host a happy hour at Tap & Bottle (403 N. 6th Ave. #135) that will showcase regional brews infused with native ingredients. A portion of the sales will go to benefit the organization for beers bought between 5 and 8 p.m.
So, you know, get out there and start foraging and creating unique desert treats before the monsoons come.
Tags: desert harvesters , tucson , food , events , forage , mesquite , flour , mill , la cocina , tap and bottle , community food bank , santa cruz farmers market , mercado san agustin , brad lancaster
For 22 years, Kingfisher has given local food lovers the opportunity to take a culinary vacation with their summer road trip dinner series and this year is no exception.
While the events have already made their Southwestern stop with eats curated by sous chef Richard de la Cruz, diners can head to the seafood spot from Thursday, June 4 until Wednesday, June 17 for the Pacific Northwest leg of the food tour. This time around, the menu was dreamt up by executive chef Fred Harris.
Here's the full Pac-NW menu to be served at Kingfisher:
Tags: kingfisher , seafood , jim murphy , jeff azersky , summer , road trip , pacific northwest , tucson , dining , restaurant
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Ermanos, located at 220 N. Fourth Ave., will be serving up six courses specially paired with Sand-Reckoner wines beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Wilcox-based winemakers will be in attendance at the dinner to speak about their wares, as well as celebrate the release of their rosé. Each course offers up dishes like pierogis, rabbit ragu over pappardelle or bone marrow that is paired with fruits like raspberry, blackberry or orange to accentuate the accompanying wine's flavor. All six courses with wine at $75 plus gratuity. You can make your reservations by e-mailing [email protected].
Here's the full Ermanos menu:
1st Course: 2013 “W”
Watermelon vinaigrette, compressed watermelon, watermelon seeds, served over frisée with herbed chevre
2nd Course: 2014 Rosé
Honeydew melon, raspberry foam, garnishes, candied flowers
3rd Course: 2012 “5”
Raspberry-poached fennel pierogi, brown-butter emulsion
4th Course: 2012 “3”
Ragu of rabbit confit, pickled blackberry, smoked Sonoran wheat pappardelle
5th Course: 2012 “7”
Bone marrow, pickled fruit, raw orange, batard
6th Course: 2011 “11”
Bleu cheese ice cream, caramelized pineapple, almond cake, almond cocoa nib
However, if fruit and wine isn't your bag, you'll likely prefer to head to Union Public House that night at 6:30 p.m. for a bacon and whiskey dinner. In honor of Arizona Bacon Fest, the restaurant, located at 4340 N. Campbell Ave. will feature the first place winning BLT Slider from this year's event. The five pork-centric dishes come paired with different whiskeys, with bourbon being the main feature. The dinner is $75 including tax and gratuity and you can make your reservation for the event by calling 329-8575 or e-mailing [email protected].
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Tags: emanos , union public house , tasting dinners , bacon , wine , whiskey , sand-reckoner , tucson , restaurants , events
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Although Tucson has an unwavering love of hot dogs year round, it is officially hot dog season with baseball in full swing and summer barbecues heating up. That means it's the perfect time to test your love of the dog and see just how many you can competitively cram into your craw in the span of ten minutes. At least, that's the thinking behind the second annual 4th Avenue Delicatessen Hot Dog Shoot-Out.
Last year, Dustin Cox managed to eat 12 hot dogs in ten minutes at the event's inaugural competition. However, this year the competition will likely be a lot stiffer as the event organizers are offering a $500 prize to whomever can chow down the most dogs.
Owner Austin Counts says the event will serve to create buzz around Fourth Avenue during the dreaded summer slow down that many local businesses feel.
"Tucson is a hot dog loving city and I felt this city I love needed a hot dog eating competition," Counts says. " Also, anyone who works in the Fourth Avenue and downtown area knows how slow it can get during the summer months. This competition is a good way to help promote the establishments that host this event, as well our local sponsors and area as a whole."
The qualifying events for the final competition will be held at The Flycatcher on Friday, June 12 and Che’s Lounge Saturday, June 20 with both rounds running from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Each event will potentially have two rounds with ten competitors each, depending on how many sign up. There's a $20 entry fee for competitors, which includes all you can eat (in ten minutes) hot dogs and a free t-shirt designed by Carne & Queso.
Interested eaters who are 21 and over can sign up now by going to 4th Avenue Deli, located at 425 N. Fourth Ave., and signing a waiver. Participants can also sign up at the qualifying events up to ten minutes before the competition begins. The events are free to watch.
The grand finale will pit ten people against each other at The Rialto Theatre as a part of Bob Log III’s Great ‘Murican B-Day Bash on Friday, July 3. Eight first and second place winners, last year's winner Dustin Cox and a third place wild card competitor (the one who eats the most hot dogs in third place) will compete. Bob Log III, The Jons, Pork Torta and Dep't of Descriptive Services will entertain crowds.
Tickets for the final competition are $12 in advance and can be found on the Rialto Theatre website, along with more information.
Tags: hot dog , competition , eating , 4th avenue delicatessen , flycatcher , rialto theatre , austin counts , bob log iii
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
When The Dish closed for dinner service in March of this year, owner Tom Smith assured that the restaurant would still host occasional dinner events for their loyal fans and customers. A little over two months later, The Dish announced its first in a series of one-time-only dinners, resurrecting the Tucson favorite on Saturday, May 30.
The "Favorite Things" dinner will bring back The Dish's last chef, Michael Muthart, for a six-course dinner paired with wine. The dinner runs at $195 including tax and gratuity. Attendees will also have the opportunity to order any of the wines served at the dinner with a 15 percent discount.
You can make your reservations for the dinner, which starts at 7 p.m. by calling 326-0121. The event will be held at The Dish's old location inside RumRunner, located at 3131 E. First St.
Here's what you can expect to eat and drink at the event:
Tags: rumrunner , tom smith , michael muthart , favorite things , dinner event , tucson , restaurant , wine
