Sunday, March 22, 2015
If you're still lazing about at home and starting to think about feeding yourself on this Sunday morning, remember that Sunday is Brunchday and brunch means it's okay to start drinking in the morning.
Playground is hosting what, according to the Facebook event page, is the first of their Trumpets & Tequila brunch events. Today's event features music from Mariachi Luz De Luna.
From event page:
Trumpets & Tequila will feature $6 specials on generous pints of Milagro Bloody Marias & Margaritas made to order, as well as Playground's full Sunday Brunch menu—from Breakfast Chilaquiles to California or Southwestern Omelets to vanilla-infused Texas French Toast!Brunch ends at 2 p.m., so get your tequila face on and get down there.
Friday, March 20, 2015
You're probably not looking forward to May and the onslaught of summer, but the good news is there'll be at least a little relief from the heat in downtown Tucson then. That's because The HUB is opening an ice cream specific concept at 245 E. Congress St. right before summer hits.
The HUB's Ice Cream Factory will have more flavors of ice cream than the restaurant currently carries, but, also, milkshakes, floats, ice cream cakes and ice cream sandwiches. The in-house crafted and churned ice cream is designed by pastry chef Irene Cohen and will include seasonally rotating varieties. The forthcoming spot will also offer vegan and gluten-free options.
To stay up to date with The HUB's new ice cream spot, follow the new spot on Facebook.
Tags: the hub , ice cream , factory , downtown , tucson , artisan
The Arizona Foodist finalists have been announced for 2015 and some Tucson favorites are up for awards this year.
For restaurants, The Coronet is in the running for Emerging Restaurant of the Year and Agustin Kitchen and Cup Cafe are in the running for Best Breakfast Dish for their AK Poutine and Cast Iron Baked Eggs, respectively. Both Pizzeria Bianco and Diablo Burger are getting a nod for their multi-locational endeavors.
The beverage community made a pretty great showing this year too with bartender Aaron Defeo and Casino del Sol getting nominations for the Master Mixologist and Outstanding Beverage Program categories. The three month old Tough Luck Club is also in the running to win best cocktail for the Tough Luck Cup.
While it's admitterdly a bummer that Tucson didn't garner any nods for Food Pioneer, Top Chef and Outstanding Restaurant Concept, it's absolutely insane that a town that inches nearer and nearer to the 1,000 mark for food trucks and food carts didn't get recognized in the Outstanding Food Truck category.
The winners for the 2015 Arizona Foodist Awards will be recognized at a four course dinner event on Thursday, April 23 at 6 p.m. at the Showcase Room in Tempe. Tickets and more information on the ceremony, including a full list of finalists, can be found on the Arizona Foodist website.
Tags: arizona foodist , food , awards , restaurants , arizona , beverage , the coronet , agustin kitchen , cup cafe , aaron defeo , casino del sol , tough luck club , pizzeria bianco
Thursday, March 19, 2015
You might find yourself craving a savory ham and brie crepe or a tart lingonberry crepe, but you're going to have to wait it out a little longer because Cafe Marcel's new location at 2281 N. Oracle Rd. isn't open quite yet.
Due to some delays in building out their new space, the restaurant won't likely open until April. To stay up to date on the new location, you can follow Cafe Marcel on Facebook.
Tags: cafe marcel , crepe , fourth avenue , tucson , restaurant , moved , closed
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
I'm not much of a holiday lady. I don't decorate for Christmas or Halloween, I don't watch the fireworks on July 4 and I am wearing exactly zero green things today*. And while I do love it when drinking is encouraged, there's no way I'm cramming myself into a bar tonight. That sounds crowded and terrible, and green beer isn't much of a consolation prize.
But you know what does sound like a good time? Boozy cupcakes. Mother Nature Network—a website I have never visited before, but whose food section is winning me over with vegetarian breakfast lists and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt companion cocktails—presents a recipe for Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Baileys Frosting:
IngredientsGrab an apron, cancel your bar plans, and get drunk at home where the booze is free and the cupcakes aren't for children.
For cupcakes
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch table salt
6 ounces stout beer
1/4 cup melted butter
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
For the icing
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
3-4 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk cocoa, sugar, flour, baking soda and salt until combined.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the stout, melted butter and vanilla together.
Beat the eggs into the stout mixture, one at a time. Then mix in the sour cream.
Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients a little at a time until it’s all mixed together thoroughly.
Lightly grease 12 muffin tins (or use non-stick spray or cupcake liners). Pour the batter evenly into the tins.
Bake from 18-24 minutes, checking at 18 minutes and continuing to bake until they are set in the middle.
Allow to cool.
While cooling, make the icing.
Combine the softened cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer (hand or stand mixers will both work). Add the confectioners sugar and mix. Slowly add the Baileys and mix until icing is the desired consistency.
When the cupcakes are cool, frost with icing.
*Pinch at your own risk. I'm a kicker.
Tags: booze cupcakes , St. Patrick's Day
Thai food junkies in Tucson have likely had a rough couple of weeks. That's because one of the most beloved spots for pad thai and tom kha in town, Char's Thai, has been closed since the beginning of the month.
If you've tried to stop in between March 7 and this morning, you likely saw a sign that said the spot was closed for kitchen repairs. Well, the wait is finally over and Char's Thai, located at 5039 E. Fifth St., is back open. You can pop in today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to get your Char's fix satiated.
In case you're wondering what all of the fuss is about, here's what we had to say about the Best of Tucson 2014 winner:
Char's is a little off the beaten path, but if you're looking for the mint, lemongrass and lime flavors of Thailand, it's worth heading over to Fifth Street for this long-time Best of Tucson winner. The dining room isn't likely to wow you, but there's magic happening back in the kitchen and sure, you could go with something off the Chinese menu, but why not live a little and try something new? The panang curry, in particular, shines but find something on the menu with lemongrass and enjoy one night in Bangkok (sorry if that song's in your head now).
Tags: char's thai , tucson , thai , restaurant , reopen , rennovated , best of tucson
Monday, March 16, 2015
If you're looking for an upscale dining experience on the cheap, Maynard's happy hour menu is the way to go. Served Monday through Saturday from 4 until 6 p.m., the downtown spot offers up deals on pizza, poutine, mussels and more from the kitchen and cocktails, beer and wine from the bar.
Tags: maynard's , tucson , happy hour , downtown , mussels , poutine , cocktails , craft beer , pizza , deals , Image
Friday, March 13, 2015
Scott & Co. is debuting a new cocktail menu next week and a sneak peak showed a focus on bright, exotic flavors, bitter liqueurs and an egg white or two. Overall, the menu seemed well-suited for spring and summer drinking, with most options being shaken, light and juicy drinks that range in price from $10 to $14.
During the tasting, bartender Rik Evans explained that many of the cocktail's elements are crafted especially for the drinks. This includes a pipe tobacco-infused tincture, macadamia orgeat, roasted coconut water syrup, and a plum sauce made with soy sauce for a savory kick.
Several of the drinks included saline drops to balance flavors and mellow out some of the more bitter components. This technique was most aptly utilized in the Giant Slayer, a drink made by Matt Martinez that was one of the day's best offerings. The bold drink combined coffee-infused Dewars, Ardbeg Islay scotch, Cherry Heering, Creme de Cacao, saline and an entire egg.
One of the event's most unexpected standouts was the Slow Slipper, which was green in color with a bright green screwpine milk float that reminded me instantly of Hi-C's Ghostbuster-themed Ecto-Cooler. (Bring back Ecto-Cooler, Hi-C!) With a sweet base of Mt. Gay rum and Giffard banana liqueur, the drink was balanced out by a lovely roasted coconut water syrup. The cocktail looked absolutely nothing like it tasted, showcasing the playfulness of the new menu.
There were definitely a few other drinks that had tiki elements too. The Shore Leave used arrack, Evans' plum sauce, Cocchi Barolo and a rosemary tincture. Topped with club soda, the drink, which could've been intense and heavy, was light and refreshing with a depth on the back. The Loki's Travel was an interesting blend of aquavit, green Chartreuse, macadamia orgeat, pineapple juice, lime juice and a tobacco tincture. Served over crushed ice, the drink started sweet and bright—almost like cotton candy, but finished more complex once diluted.
Although not all of the cocktails exhibited a strong balance of flavor, the menu as a whole was a work in experimentation, getting back to what Scott & Co. became known for in this town. For a bar that kickstarted the careers of many of the town's top folks behind the stick, it's nice to see the small speakeasy-like spot carrying on the tradition and pulling in and nurturing new talent.
You can check out Scott & Co.'s new cocktail menu beginning next week at 49 N. Scott Ave. The bar is open Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. until midnight and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Tags: scott & co , cocktails , new , menu , tiki , tucson , downtown , erik evans , matt martinez , Image
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Downtown's top spot to eat vegan is soon going to leave the scene soon. Kathy Iannacone, owner of Urban Fresh, says she's been telling her customers as much as possible about the restaurant's imminent closing to ease the blow.
"We’ve been telling our regular customers because we don’t want to be a shock when they come in on the 27th and we're closed," Iannacone says.
But on Friday, March 27, Urban Fresh, located at 73 E. Pennington St., will serve up its last smoothie. The restaurant specialized in vegan and raw foods with a full menu of salads, wraps and fresh juices, catering to the downtown lunch crowd.
"Restaurants that are only open for lunch downtown have a harder time," she says, adding, "and our sourcing is expensive for a daytime lunch spot."
However, she says she doesn't feel bad about the restaurant ending. Despite the difficulties of educating while making everything from scratch, Iannacone believes she set out what she meant to do with her downtown restaurant while it was open.
"I want to be positive about everything. I really love downtown and I love our customers," she says. "We’ve met so many great people."
Iannacone says her and her staff are ready to move on to other things. Her daughter and business partner will be moving out of the state and she plans to focus on being an integrative nutritionist and certified raw foods chef. She plans to continue teaching classes on both topics. She says she hopes other people will pick up the torch for vegan fare downtown.
"I’m hoping in my lifetime more and more people will want to do a business like this," she says. "It’s so important."
Tags: urban fresh , tucson , closing , restaurant , downtown , vegan
Monday, March 9, 2015
If you're anything like me, you like your locally-roasted coffee and you like it every day. Sometimes it's hard to make that time commitment to the third wave on a busy day, but, luckily, EXO Roast Co. has a solution for you time-crunched, Type A coffee shop junkies.
EXO just started selling two varieties of cold brew in bottles for a little over $4 including tax at their cafe and roastery located at 403 N. Sixth Ave. The regular cold brew and chiltepin and chocolate bottles are available at Tap & Bottle, Food Conspiracy Food Co-Op and the Rillito Park Farmers Market this week as well.
Coffee, of course, is great and EXO does a beautiful job roasting, but the real showstopper here is the bottle chocolate and chiltepin cold brew. Made simply with coffee, cream, dark chocolate and chiltepin chilis, the flavors are extraordinarily well balanced, with not too much heat, cream or cocoa to overpower any of the other elements. I wouldn't blame you if you started a small stockpile of those in your fridge for emergencies.
It's not just about the flavor with these bottles, either, as the Saywell-designed packaging is so gorgeous and clean that you'll want to show it off between glugs around town.
Tags: exo roast co , cold brew , bottle , chocolate , coffee , chiltepin , tucson , Image
