Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Posted By on Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 1:00 PM

Moveable Type is a portable printing press contained entirely inside of a 1982 Chevy step van and it's coming to Tucson this Sunday for an event with local food truck Foodie Fleet at Conrad Wilde Gallery.

Here's the poster from the event. There's more on Foodie Fleet - which makes amazing sandwiches and waffles - over here.

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Friday, March 16, 2012

Posted By on Fri, Mar 16, 2012 at 3:00 PM

We just discovered that there will be numerous food trucks at the Tucson Museum of Art today, Friday, March 16, through Sunday, March 18. More on that here.

The exhibit of photographs of Frida Kahlo currently hanging at the museum is seriously well worth checking out. The embroidered pieces on the lower level are breathtaking as well. I was so inspired after checking it out that I stopped by a craft store on the way home and have been embroidering my pillow cases ever since. For real.

More on the exhibit here.

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Posted By on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Daniel Scordato’s pizza restaurant Pizzeria Vivace at 4280 N. Campbell Road is changing names to Scordato Pizzeria.

Justin Scordato, general manager of the eatery, says the change is expected to happen in the next several months once issues with the signage and other details are worked out. He said the menu will largely stay the same, although he anticipates adding a few items.

“Daniel wants to make a separation between Vivace and the pizzeria,” said Justin Scordato, referring to Vivace, the nearby restaurant also owned by Daniel Scordato.

He also mentioned that people have been asking if the restaurants are a spin-offs of Gusto Osteria - the restaurant at 7119 E. Tanque Verde Road that uses recipes written by Daniel’s brother Joe Scordato - which has to be somewhat annoying being that Vivace and Pizzeria Vivace have been there for years and Gusto Osteria just opened.

"A part of it is that we want to keep the family name intact,” Justin Scordato said.

There’s more information on what will soon be called Scordato Pizzeria over here.

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Posted By on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:00 PM

The date has been set for this year's Eat More Pie event, hands down the best dessert-themed event thrown in Tucson each year. This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, April 28. More on the event can be found here.

The event - now in its ninth year - apparently ran out of pie last year, so if you're touched with the gift of knowing how to make decent pie, consider entering a few. Otherwise, just bring a fork and sample away to your heart's sweet content. All the money made goes to a local charity, too.

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Posted By on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM

An e-mail arrived yesterday asking for a recommendation for a good place to find good Thai food in Tucson. Without hesitation I suggested the monthly Thai feast at Wat Buddhametta, a Buddhist temple at 1133 S. Swan Road. It is truly some of the best homemade food I've ever had, and for $10 per person it's an absolute steal.

Wat Buddhametta is throwing another feast this Saturday, March 17. From Ajahn Sarayut, abbot of the center:

The very best Thai cooks are preparing a wonderful buffet of Thai food including pad thai, egg rolls, yellow potatoes chicken curry, red curry, vegetarian curry, dessert and more delights. Bring the whole family and your friends. The buffet starts at 5 p.m. and continues until about 7 p.m. We are asking for a small donation of $10.00 per person, children under 10 eat free. The collected funds from this event will help to support the temple to sustain the ability to offer all classes free of charge to the community.

There's more on Wat Buddhametta over here.

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Posted By on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 9:03 AM

There's a new sushi joint called Sushi Lounge at 4802 S. Sixth Ave. If memory serves me right that location was formerly a place called Wok and Sushi and I'm pretty sure it was a Shakey's Pizza before that.

I haven't heard much about the place yet, except for one righteous detail: Apparently you can get sushi rolls there done "Mexican-style," which means jalapenos and onions are tossed in the mix. I love it when foods from different cultures intermingle and this is one of the better fusion incidents I've come across in some time. Hats off to Sushi Lounge for keeping it interesting.

I'm heading over there today to try a Mexican-style sushi roll. If you want more information on the place, give 'em a call at 294-4408.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Posted By on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 1:00 PM

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Bunz is a 1973 Pace Arrow that’s been converted into a sweet little food truck that's been quite a hit with the late-night bar crowd on Fourth Avenue. Owner Peter Raskob says about half of his customers stop by between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. to cap off an evening of revelry with one of the truck’s cheeseburgers or chili dogs.

In a world where food trucks become ever more complex, Bunz stands out for its simplicity. You will not find gourmet twists, flashy signage or locally sourced ingredients, but everything is made right and tastes very good ... and the prices won’t make you gasp when the check is tallied up.

Raskob is the former owner of Café by Peter, which he operated from 1993 to 1998 at 4784 E. Sunrise Road. His most recent gig was at Coyote Pause Café out on Kinney Road. After he left there he took his daughter to Spain for three months and started the food truck when they returned.

At Bunz - which carries that name because the original concept was to serve only things that came in buns - you will find grilled-cheese sandwiches topped with bacon and tomato, chili dogs, cheeseburgers, breakfast burritos, bowls of chili and Fritos, cookies, chips and drinks. The barbecued-chicken sandwich they had on special last weekend was off the charts and Raskob plans to have a corned-beef-and-cabbage special this weekend.

Bunz can be found outside of Creative Ventures Craft Mall at 522 N. Fourth Ave. from around 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Call 336-5049 for more information.

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Posted By on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Think you've got international cooking know how? If so, consider entering the Lee Lee International Supermarket Passport Contest to try your hand at answering cooking questions from around the globe for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate.

You have to be on that Facebook gizmo to enter, and you might want to get started today because the contest is already underway. You can get started over here.

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Posted By on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 9:00 AM

If you're out on the East Side and craving a cup of coffee, you might consider stopping in at the new Cosmo's Espresso Coffee and Tea at 5775 E. Broadway Blvd.

Owner James "Cosmo" Cramer tells us he uses a special blend of coffee called Astro that's made in collaboration with Raging Sage Coffee Roasters. There are tamales from Tucson Tamale Company, cupcakes and other things by Sahuarita-based company Bite Me, bagels and more. He also sells teas made by Two Leaves and a Bud.

Cramer says he's running a special right now featuring a 99 cent cup of coffee, and if you kick down another buck he'll throw in a bagel and cream cheese.

The coffee shop is chiefly a drive-through outfit, but there's a small walk-up area with a few chairs, too. There's more on Cosmo's over here.

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Monday, March 12, 2012

Posted By on Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 10:00 AM

A sink full of greens freshly harvested from Dos Manos Farm in Marana.
  • A sink full of greens freshly harvested from Dos Manos Farm in Marana.

It's sad how long I went without greens in my life. I was in my 30s before somebody introduced me to collards, kale, chard and the various other leafy vegetables that are delicious and have the added benefit of being utterly nutritious as well.

I have a feeling I'm not alone on this one. Local farmers say many shoppers at local farmers' markets don't know what to do with greens. They say their job is equal parts growing the leafy vegetables and educating people about how to use them. Once introduced, however, people almost inevitably come back for more.

There are innumerable kinds of greens and countless ways to use them. Broccoli greens, mustard greens, wild greens and, yes, even purple greens. You can scramble them into eggs, or add them to a chicken casserole for a bit of extra texture. I usually take the purist route, cooking them with a little sautéed garlic and onion so the healthy, vibrant flavors can sing out loud.

The farmers' markets are full of greens right now, but that will taper off when the temperature starts rising. Grab a few bags the next time your at the market and give them a whirl. You might be in for a very tasty surprise.

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