Slideshow

A First-Timer Visits a Farmers Market

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Tucson Farmers Market is brought to Maynard’s Market & Kitchen every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. located at 400 N. Toole Ave.

Vendors come bearing delicious treats and fresh produce ranging from goat milk soap, homemade salsa, organically grown vegetables, herbs and spices and much more.

The farmers market is something I had never been to but had always wanted to go. Although temperatures were over 100 degrees, I toughed out the heat and made my way over. I wanted to see what was so great about it!

Vendors from Ironwood Ranch Soap, Arizona Sprouthouse, Richcrest Farms, Cirle Key Farms, Wild Rose Coffee, Small Planet Bakery to a number of other vendors. While first entering the market, my eye was caught by some beautiful flowers from the River Roads Garden.

I found a very beautiful, handcrafted dream catcher that I ended up purchasing made from all natural materials found in the desert. Not only were all the items beautiful and delicious, everything was reasonably priced as well.

I took some photos of the different vendors to show all the different items sold at the farmer’s market.

After I walked around a bit and enjoyed some delicious free samples from Small Planet Bakery, I walked across the street to Cup Café at Hotel Congress and enjoyed some breakfast. It was a very successful first trip to the farmer’s market and needless to say, I will definitely be back! Not only it is a great way to help support local vendors in the Tucson community but it is also a great way to spend some time with family and friends on a nice Saturday morning.

Dizzy G's is more than just a restaurant. It's a Downtown landmark. It originally opened as Dizzy G's in 1983 - a fact belied by the aged wooden sign still affixed above the entrance - but the building at 75 E. Pennington St. has been serving food in one way or another since the 1950s. When it closed, reopened and then closed again a few years ago many of us were more than a little bummed out.

But, out of nowhere, Dizzy G's has opened again. We cruised down there to check it out this Sunday and found signs in the windows indicating the place is once again bringing old-school diner fare to that area, and that it's under new management.

Dizzy G's was closed when we visited, so we couldn't get the whole scoop on who's running the place. We did get the hours, though: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Breakfast available all day; lunch starts at 10:30 a.m.

Ryan Clark's most recent victory at the Iron Chef Tucson Culinary Weekend must make him one of the most decorated, competition-wise, chefs in town. I've lost track of how many competitions he's won at this point, but they are many. He beat Allen Yap of OM Modern Asian Kitchen at this competition.

The secret ingredient this year was Chilean sea bass. The chefs cooked like hell to try to walk away with the honors. I find it difficult to summon excitement over this style of cooking competition any longer - it really feels like watching reruns at this point - but, hey, whatever floats your boat.

There's more on Clark over here.

It's one thing to get something for free because of what you're wearing — I still fondly recall the time that my I Love Hot Moms shirt got me free double meat in my Subway cold cut combo footlong because the sandwich artist told me that 'us moms appreciate that' — but I think I might draw the line at dressing up a certain way solely to get grub at no charge.

For those who disagree, I give you Carl's Jr.

The fast food franchise is giving away a free Amazing Grilled Cheese Burger on July 4 to anyone who is willing to dress up as Spider-Man.

They've even gone so far as to employ Spider-Man creator (and compulsive super hero movie cameo appearance maker) Stan Lee to provide some dos and don'ts regarding one's attire. For instance: no masks, unless you're also planning to rob the place after you get your free burger, and expect to pay if you come as anyone other than Spidey. I wonder if that applies to Venom.

Some thoughts: This could be the first part of the program, and if people embrace it perhaps Walmart will make more of an effort to support local farmers. Or this could be what one could call "local-washing," nothing more than a marketing ploy that makes the megastore look like it gives a shit about the local economy/farmers.

It should also be pointed out that this lettuce is actually produced in Salinas, Calif., and shipped to Tucson from Yuma. How local is that? Not very.

Ever since I wrote a blog about how conflicted I am over the local food movement it has been on my mind constantly. I've gotten e-mails from some who couldn't believe I would be so critical; others said I pointed out something they identified with. I remain conflicted. Some of the hardest working and most-intelligent people I know are involved in the local-food thing, yet I am sort of poor and, as you can see, sometimes shop at Walmart to stretch my pathetic paycheck out a bit.

So I ask all the local food advocates out there: Is Walmart less evil now that I can buy local lettuce there?

Meet Bruce Gerowitz, a Tucson food vendor who has 23 years experience selling hot dogs with interesting toppings to late-night customers.

The new restaurant Kimchi Time Korean Restaurant has opened at 2900 E. Broadway Blvd. A charming woman answered the phone when I just called and invited me to come in for lunch. I might just have to take her up on that offer.

Yelp reviews are already pointing out that members of the An family - as in, Mr. An - are suggesting it as a place to get great Korean food locally. There is no better endorsement than that.

You can read more about the restaurant here. Most intriguing is that the places is said to be serving makkoli, an ancient alcoholic Korean concoction that we haven't seen served elsewhere in Tucson.

Call the restaurant at 305-4900 for more information.

A new place called Tap + Bottle is opening up shop at 403 N. Sixth Ave. It will sell booze and have a tasting room that specializes in craft beer and wine.

On a personal note, herein lies the danger of writing about food and drink in the heat of summer. As I write this the clock has just rolled over to 9:44 a.m., and, frankly, an ice cold beer sounds awesome right now. I know that makes me sound like a lush. I'm o.k. with that.

There's a website up for Tap + Bottle. Find it here. We'll get back with you when we learn more.

Big burger news on this blisteringly hot summer morning: Smashburger, a Colorado-based restaurant chain that cooks fresh meat in butter to produce some super-delish burgers, is opening its first Tucson location.

The restaurant is going in at 4821 E. Grant Road. A company spokeswoman tells us the tentative opening date is mid-December.

We know that's a long time to wait, but for the time being you can feast your eyes on this.

V Fine Thai Dining down on the corner of Stone and Congress has added a bunch of vegetarian and vegan options. This, of course, can be enjoyed in what I think is one of the most incredible courtyards in town and under the influence of one of the many great cocktails or imported wines and beers the place stocks.

Some of the new dishes include a grilled garlic portabella mushroom cap served with curried corn on the cob; green avocado curry with eggplant and green beans and artichoke hearts cooked with basil and tofu.

Also worth checking out: V Fine Thai Dining's summer menu, which includes a Thai fish-and-chips and barbecued pork ribs with sweet-potato fries. More on all of that deliciousness over here.