FOOD & DRINK

Tucson Summer Nights

June 1, 2015 | Craig Baker

photo © David Olsen

When the temperature rises to the point that the plastic cups in your car begin melting into their cup holders, some Sonoran Desert dwellers experience a buildup of unfathomable rage. If you’ve lived here long enough, you may have been there yourself—at that point where you feel like you could lift and toss a small car, or at least a motorcycle, just to snag the only shady spot in the parking lot. We get it.

But there are a few other ways that we as Tucsonans can choose to deal with these feelings which fall comfortably short of literal or metaphorical combustion: 1) we can complain about it, making the lives of everyone else around us just a little more miserable; 2) we can lock ourselves indoors in the protection of those ever-sacred climate modification devices that keeps us from losing all motivation to live; or 3) we can find a way to shift our schedules ever-so-slightly so as to enjoy more of the cooler, more palatable moonlit hours of the day. Here are a few ideas for those of you who are looking to go nocturnal this summer…

Catch an outdoor flick

When: Every Thursday evening at 7:30pm through the end of August at La Placita, or 5:30 pm at Reid Park June 5 and 19, as well as alternating Fridays through August 14.

Where: La Placita Village downtown, 110 S. Church Ave; Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way.

What: The outdoor family-friendly film series, Cinema La Placita, has been running every summer since May 2000. Bring the kids, your (good) dogs, and $3 for admission, but popcorn is included for free! Check the Cinema La Placita Website for upcoming titles or to make movie suggestions at CinemaLaPlacita.com. Reid Park also runs a similar series for free every second Friday with a number of vendors and entertainers on site starting at 5:30, and shows starting at dusk. More info at SAACA.org/Cox_Movies_in_the_Park.html.

Wander the Desert Loop Trail

When: Every Saturday night from June 6-Sept 5 from 5pm-10pm.

Where: Arizona Sonora Desert Museum; 2021 N. Kinney Rd.

What: Each uniquely themed Saturday evening in the 14th Annual “Cool Summer Nights” series at ASDM will feature three live music venues (including one specifically for children), live animal demonstrations, activity stations run by the museum’s Junior Docents, and educational and entertaining programming related to each theme. Covering everything from the oceans, to astronomy, to comedy, ASDM promises something for everyone this summer, and at no additional charge on top of regular admission. ASDM’s Director of Marketing, Rosemary Prawdzik, says that the kids are especially fond of “Insect Insanity!” (July 18) and can even buy black lights at the gift shop to help in the hunt for scorpions. “Coming to the Desert Museum at night is a very different experience than during the day time,” says Prawdzik, pointing out that the low lighting on the grounds allows for easy stargazing, and that the animals on site tend to be more active after the sun goes down. No wonder this annual event has become a tradition for many local families. Watch in coming months for “Full Moon Festivals” which will shine a spotlight on the arts.

Celebrate the Solstice

When: Saturday, June 20 from 7pm-1am.

Where: Sky Bar; 536 N. 4th Ave.

What: What’s better than, pizza, beer, and fire spinning—at a safe distance, of course. Drop by Sky Bar to celebrate the summer solstice—the longest day of the year—with live music and an always-thrilling performance by the Cirque Roots crew.

23rd Annual Summer Art Cruise, image: Naoto Hattori, Recollection 029, 3.8 x 5.8, acrylic on board, 2015, at Baker + Hesseldenz Fine Art, June 6.

Gallery hop

When: Saturday, June 6 from 6pm-9pm.

Where: Central Tucson Gallery Association (CTGA) Galleries downtown and on University Blvd.

What: What: The 23rd Annual Summer Art Cruise is the biggest night of the year for the seven member galleries (Baker+Hesseldenz, Conrad Wilde, Contreras, Davis Dominguez, Moen Mason, Philabaum, and Raices Taller 222) that extend their hours for this single evening of connecting art fans, collectors, and artists—and the best part is, it’s free to you. Each gallery curates its own events (of course) and co-owner of Davis Dominguez Gallery, Mike Dominguez, says that many offer hors d’oeuvres and live music. Dominguez says that, for their part, the Davis Dominguez Gallery will be holding a reception for the 80+ artists featured in the Small Works show that will close the following week. “There will be plenty of people out,” says Dominguez, “and a lot of the artists will come together to fill the streets here.” The question is will you be there with them?

Take a flashlight hike

When: Saturday, June 6 from 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Where: Catalina State Park; 11570 N. Oracle Rd.

What: Take a moonlit hike in Catalina State Park with the Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department to celebrate National Trails Day. Snacks will be provided and an expert guide will be on hand, but be sure and bring plenty of water and your own flashlight. More info available at OroValleyAZ.gov.

Take your clothes off

When: Night of Saturday, June 13 until 2am.

Where: Club Congress; 311 E. Congress St.

What: The annual Underwear Party at Club Congress has been known to draw more than 1200 nearly-naked alcohol-consuming individuals of both sexes for an evening of good-natured debauchery unlike any other. Any questions? If so, check out HotelCongress.com… I wash my hands of this one.

Check out Second Saturdays

When: Saturday, June 13 from 6:30pm-10pm .

Where: Congress St., Downtown Tucson.

What: If you haven’t been to a Second Saturdays Downtown event yet, take advantage of the quiet, cool summer evenings to do so this month. As always, there promises to be plenty of entertainment, music, street performances, vendors, and all of that fair food nobody can seem to get enough of. Grab a bite to eat and a drink or just make a free night of it by catching a live show or two—you’ve got nothing to lose with this regular crowd-pleaser.

Have a “Brew at the Zoo”

When: “Brew at the Zoo” is on Saturday, June 20 from 6pm-9:30pm; Summer Safari Nights run every Friday through July 10 from 6pm-8pm.

Where: Reid Park Zoo; 3400 Zoo Court.

What: The third annual iteration of this highly-anticipated event combines two of everyone’s favorite things—alcohol and animals. Craft Tucson provides plenty of sudsy drink for the event, the admission cost of which covers the beer. Tucsonans come out in droves, so make sure to get your tickets in advance. This year’s Brew event, themed “Healthy and Hoppy”, will help support the construction of a new medical facility on the zoo’s grounds, so drinking to excess here is actually for a good cause. You’ll have to leave the little ones at home for this night of frivolity, though, as it is strictly 21+. For a more family friendly atmosphere, check out the zoo’s Summer Safari Nights program, in which the zoo reopens between 6pm and 8pm every Friday for a cooler trip down the Tanzania Trail. Tickets to the Brew event are $40 general admission, $35 for zoo members, and $20 for designated drivers if purchased in advance. Admission to Summer Safari Nights is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for kids ages 2-14—zoo members get $2 off. More info available at ReidParkZoo.org.

Catch a soccer game at Kino Sports Complex

When: Every weekend in June (various dates).

Where: Kino North Stadium; 3400 S. Country Club Rd.

What: With the addition of a women’s team to the FC Tucson family, there will be a lot more competitive soccer in Tucson this summer, and you can bet the Cactus Pricks are ready for the action. For a full schedule for both the men’s and women’s teams, tickets, or more information, visit FCTucson.com. Also, check out the article on FC Tucson in this issue.

Learn some history and celebrate freedom

When: Saturday, June 20 from 10am-9pm

Where: The Donna Liggins Center/Mansfield Park; 2160 N. 6th Ave.

What: Did you know that it took a full two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation for all of the slaves in the United States to finally obtain their freedom? June 19th—or Juneteenth—of this year marks 150 years since the last slaves were set free in Galveston, Texas. It also marks the 45th anniversary of Tucson’s own annual Juneteenth Festival. Indoor educational activities end at three and give way to the evening celebration, which will feature guest speakers, free hotdogs for the kids at 5:30pm, historical exhibits, as well as live entertainment. More info available on the “Tucson Juneteenth Celebration” Facebook page.

Do some stargazing

When: Every night through July 14.

Where: Kitt Peak National Observatory.

What: This stargazing program is so popular in the winter months that Visitor Center Manager Bill Buckingham says that Kitt Peak has to turn away more than 1000 people each day during high season. And it’s easy to see why the nightly observation program is such a hot ticket (wrong phrasing?)—Kitt Peak can be a full 25 degrees cooler than Tucson in the evenings. Reservations are $49 per person, but there’s actually a good chance of landing one during the slower summers. Also, be on the lookout for the Kitt Peak-sponsored binocular stargazing program to return to Saguaro National Park West for an out-of-this-world experience that’s a little bit closer to home.

Agave Fest

May 1, 2015 | Zocalo Staff

agave by Cristina Manos

Mezcal is tequila’s cousin, made from the heart of the maguey plant, a type of agave native to Mexico. The spirit is called the “elixir of the gods” and Hotel Congress is getting ready to celebrate this Earthly gift starting at 6pm on Saturday, May 2 for the seventh year in a row. Agave Fest is fast becoming a popular cultural event in Southern Arizona.

“I feel that we are growing the event into something special. This year, as we partner with Visit Tucson and the Mexican Consulate to add more interesting programming, I feel we are offering a more substantive cultural experience, rather than simply a fun agave cocktail party. Albeit, it will be that too, for sure!” Dave Slutes of Hotel Congress says.

Agave Fest has much to offer, especially for those who are interested in the history and culture behind agave-based spirits and for adventurous tasters who want to try mescal that is not normally available in the United States. Downtown Tucson does it right. There are several events in addition to Agave Fest, making the whole weekend an opportunity for regional education and local fun.

This is the first year Chef Janos Wilder of Downtown Kitchen & Cocktails is getting involved with Agave Fest, adding to the expertise of native ingredients and cultural traditions.

“Mezcal is a small, fun piece of it,” Chef Janos says, “I’ve been working with local products in every form for over 30 years. The menu [at Downtown Kitchen & Cocktails] is saturated with different elements from the region that go back thousands of years.”

Chef Janos is tapped into the bigger picture, and his contribution to the weekend includes regional cuisine, native culture and history, and local agricultural conservation. He is the wizard of his gardens, one of which is located at the Tucson Children’s Museum, and many guests who dine at his restaurant may not realize they’re eating fresh vegetables and herbs grown right across the street. Chef Janos has been involved with Native Seeds Search for 20 years, and this year, his benefit dinner joins powers with Agave Fest for this year’s cultural celebration of regional food and spirits.

Agave Dinner Benefit: Friday May, 1, 7pm at Maynards Market & Kitchen. Proceeds benefit Native Seeds Search, a local nonprofit that focuses on the conservation of our traditional agricultural community and native resources. Tickets are $95, with 32 available seats. Hotel Congress and Chef Janos Wilder of Downtown Kitchen & Cocktails are hosting the event, and world-renowned mescal expert, Sergio Inurrigaro will be present to meet and greet guests at 6:30p.m. prior to the Agave Dinner.

The Agave Fest: Saturday May 2, 6pm at Hotel Congress. Tickets $35 in advance. Includes 10 tasting tickets, a commemorative shot glass, a cascarone, Cup Café specialty taco & salsa bar, live entertainment by Vox Urbana, and a vote for the Best Cocktail by the historic East Bartenders sponsored by Yelp.

Hotel Congress will also offer hotel packages to tasters who want to spend the night. The package includes two tickets to Agave Fest, a hangover recovery kit, and Agave Fest memorabilia. This event is likely to sell out.

Prior to Agave Fest at Hotel Congress: Saturday May 2, at 5pm, the Agave 101 lecture by President and Founder of the Pro Mezcal Culture Association and Director of Master Mezcalier Program, Sergio Inurrigaro. This your chance to meet the Mezcal-Man himself. Inurrigaro has been all over the world and back. He’s led more than 1,750 tastings across the world. His knowledge and stories will set the tone for your mezcal tasting adventures.

Agave Fest will feature over 50 spirits to choose from. Tequila lovers are in for a real treat, so don’t wait another year to taste rare mezcal spirits, as many of them won’t be in town again until the next celebration. Hotel Congress will offer tequilas by rock star Roger Clyne and movie star George Clooney. They are even offering chapulines, yes grasshoppers, for super-curious tasters who don’t mind a crunchy, traditional treat considered a delicacy to some.

For more information and for tickets to the Agave Dinner or Agave Fest go to www.hotelcongress.com. Article courtesy of Downtown Tucson Partnership.

Mercado San Agustin Spring Bazaar

May 1, 2015 | Zocalo Staff

Spring-Zocalo-2015-01.eps

Sat and Sun May 2nd and 3rd

The Annual Mercado San Agustin Spring Bazaar returns in May getting shoppers into the spirit of celebrating family and friends, and having some fun finding gifts for Graduates and Mother’s Day.

In conjunction with Spring Bazaar, there will be a special ‘Farm to Table Brunch’ event with covered outdoor seating in the beautiful old world courtyard for patrons to enjoy. Sample food, coffee and artisan cocktails while you shop.

The mercado has handpicked 50+ local shops, makers and artisans to offer shoppers an event where they can buy a variety of unique and one-of-a-kind gifts during this weekend-long event. The Mercado San Agustin Spring Bazaar is dedicated to sharing bright and emerging entrepreneurs and businesses from within the region. Included in this juried pool of very talented makers who will be onsite during Spring Bazaar will be a group of high school students from the Western Institute of Learning Development, a local public school, who have created and developed a line of bags that they have made in their journey to discover the power of entrepreneurism and the opportunity it brings.

Some of the Artisans and Shops attending include:

Woolies and Buster and Boo, Lila Clare Jewelry, Val and Vanessa Galloway, Guatemala Acupuncture Project, Razzle Dazzle, Eco Grow, Revolutio, Collected Artifacts, Anita’s Crafters, Elaine Isner, Jacqueline Knits, Linda Cato, W.I.L.D. High School, Creative Kismet, Desert Vintage, Willies Fort, Tu Kaets Pottery Studio, Avenue, Tin & Teak, Becky Zimmerman alongside our permanent stores like MAST, Transit Cycle and Blu.

The Spring Bazaar takes place at Mercado San Agustin, 100 Avenida del Convento, Tucson, on May 2 and 3 (Friday & Saturday 10am-6pm). For more information, vist www.mercadosanagustin.com

HUB Ice Cream Factory to Open in Spring

March 19, 2015 | Zocalo Staff

HUB Ice Cream Factory to Open in Spring at 245 E. Congress

News directly from HUB….

“Just in time for Tucson’s summer heat, HUB is proud to announce the opening of HUB Ice Cream Factory this May at 245 E Congress. HUB Ice Cream Factory will serve the same rich ice cream Tucsonans have come to love from HUB. The Factory will have an extended menu of flavors and added ice cream novelties such as milk shakes, floats, ice cream cakes and ice cream sandwiches made with fresh-baked cookies.

‘We are proud to be a member of the downtown community and we’re excited to expand just across the street. We’re really looking forward to introducing all of our new sweet treats,” said Sandy Ford, Director of Operations, HUB Ice Cream Factory. “There can never be enough ice cream.’

Each batch of ice cream is made in-house and churned into flavors such as HUB’s signature Salted Caramel, Oatmeal Cookie Dough and Birthday Party. Pastry Chef Irene Cohen has developed an extended list of flavors that will rotate seasonally and complement HUB’s case of flavors, which will continue to be served inside the restaurant. The Factory will also offer vegan and gluten-free recipes of cool treats.”

A Conversation with Derrick Widmark

November 20, 2014 | Zocalo Staff

Derrick Widmark at Good Oak a few days before opening in 2013. Photo by Blake Collins.

Table Settings

Derrick Widmark is the owner of Diablo Burger, a popular Flagstaff restaurant he opened in 2009. Last year, Widmark expanded his operation to Tucson, opening two businesses on Congress Street – Diablo Burger Tucson and Good Oak Bar, both specializing in Arizona sourced food and drink. We asked Widmark a few questions about his relationship with food. He had this to say…

On opening diablo burger

I was working for the Diablo Trust, a ranching-based collaborative conservation group, and became intrigued with the connection between local food and local conservation. Beef is the largest cash crop in Arizona, and yet we send almost all of our beef into the national market. Then we buy beef back from the national market to feed ourselves here — often at higher prices and lower quality. That makes no sense — although of course I understand that is how a commodity market with economies of scale functions — and I became and remain interested in the myriad benefits of connecting local supply to local demand.

On What He Loves to Cook

Risotto is my go-to, and I love Italian food across the board. Simple pasta dishes, the beauty of cooking with a few distinct ingredients… add a straight-up salad, some real bread, a bottle of red and I’m the happiest of campers. Unlike many food lovers, I’m not a great fan of cook books, but Jamie Oliver’s “Jamie’s Italy” is one they’ll have to pry from cold, dead hands one day. Hey, that could be a bumper sticker!

On The Flavors He Loves

Sweet, savory, whatever… the food experience that I’m drawn to has a name, and it’s called “delicious.” And I’ve found that the ingredients that deliver that experience are pretty consistent: authenticity, simplicity, and the intention and practice of sourcing quality products.

On Foods He Craves

I was always willing to go far out of my way to eat simple, authentic, traditional fare. When I lived in New York City I would often drive an hour north to Tarrytown to eat at a little Cuban lunch counter by the Tappan Zee Bridge because it was the real deal, superior to any Cuban food I’ve had in Miami or anywhere else. Now that I’m driving back and forth between Tucson and Flagstaff all the time I find myself stopping at Chris Bianco’s Italian Restaurant in Phoenix for similar reasons. The simplicity and the purity of intention of serving very traditional dishes with carefully sourced products… man, that “restores” me every time.

I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in India and to have been introduced to Indian versions of that kind of authentic, traditional experience, and so I’m always on the lookout for great Indian food. Paul Moir (Proper Tucson) and I have had the Biryani at Sher-e-Punjab so many times, the guy there just gives us a nod and brings out “the usual.” And this new Indian market on Stone, Yogi, which serves Indian street foods like bhel poori and samosa chaat, is very exciting. There’s a place like that in Berkeley, Vik’s Chaat Corner, that draws people from miles around (and that I will find my way to if I’m anywhere close to the Bay Area) in the same kind of market/lunch counter setting, so I have very high hopes for that place.

On His Food Philosophy

I’ve been fortunate to travel a fair bit, and once I discovered “taste of place” – the experience of having something that is specific and distinct to that particular corner of the world – well… it’s hard to go back to mass-produced, uniform, same-here-as-it-is-everywhere food. And the thing about “taste of place” is that it doesn’t have to be expensive or exclusive, as the great taco places of South Tucson prove day in and day out.

My intention, with Diablo Burger and Good Oak Bar, is to deliver “taste of place” here in Tucson, in much the same way that I seek out when I travel. Whether in a burger, a glass of wine, or even in the local ketchup we are serving now, for someone to taste these products that are specific and distinct to our food-shed, right here in Arizona… I believe that creates connection, and community, and a greater appreciation for the farmers and ranchers and other producers right here in our little corner of the world, who contribute in truly immeasurable and irreplaceable ways to our quality of life — and who help us deliver “delicious,” I hope, one meal and one visitor at a time.

Diving Into History: The Buffet Bar Turns 80

November 1, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Buffet Bar & Crockpot

The repeal of the prohibition act in 1934 ushered in a new era for America. As the sale and consumption of alcohol once again became legal, people all over the US rejoiced with emphatic cheers while more than a few pints clanked together in celebration. It was at this time that a small Tucson bar opened its doors at 538 East 9th Street, and would become a favorite among college students of the University of Arizona and lovers of spirits and good company alike.

80 years later, after sixteen changes of ownership, numerous economic ups and downs and seeing Tucson grow from a tiny western town to a thriving city, The Buffet Bar & Crock Pot is still standing in its original location and is still serving cold libations to its beloved regulars. Known now on a national level as a must-visit dive bar, even Esquire Magazine named the Tucson watering hole as one of its Top 12 Dive Bars to Visit in America. With an increasingly popular status among natives and newcomers to the Old Pueblo, The Buffet has become a right of passage for college students, who eagerly fill its seats and take full advantage of their 6:00am opening time.

“It’s a very nice neighborhood bar, more so probably in its first 34-years,” laughs co-owner Marilyn Smith. ”We’ve been opening our doors at 6:00am for many years and I think that’s part of our popularity. We offer good service, cold beer, hot dogs and nothing fancy. We like to keep it simple and make the patrons the focus of our little beer bar. A lot of people come in and tell us their grandparents used to drink here, and that makes us really happy.”

To celebrate their monumental milestone, The Buffet is throwing its 80th Anniversary Party on Saturday, November 1st from 1:00pm-5:00pm. The party will take place in the parking lot of The Buffet, where live music, comedy, food and drinks will be served. Mayor Rothschild will be in attendance to deliver and read an official proclamation from the City of Tucson’s Office of the Mayor that commemorates the 80th anniversary. In a fitting choice of words, one line of the proclamation reads, “The Buffet Bar draws a clientele that ranges from college students to punk rockers and old timers,” which appropriately encapsulates the landmark bar.

“The anniversary party will be a gathering of old and new regulars of the bar and many friends that we’ve made over the years. We’re hoping to see a lot of people we haven’t in a while and also hopefully some new people will come join us,” says Smith. “We’re doing it as a fundraiser for two of our neighbors right next to us in Fluxx Studios and Positively Beautiful, which are two wonderful non-profit organizations run by people who used to work for us. So we’re tying it in as a benefit for them as well.”

Chacos Barrachos, D-Wall, Jillian Bouchet, Tom Walbank and the Tucson Drum Core will provide music for the event and two Buffet regulars “Aaron and Bobby” will deliver a comedy set for the crowd. The Buffet will be open, of course, at its regular time of 6:00am, so attendees are encouraged to come by at any point before for a drink prior to the start of the celebration. The party continue inside The Buffet after the event, where patrons can play pool and shuffle board while reminiscing about the many fabled stories of the joint that have occurred over the years.

“I love the history of this place. We are a part of the Iron Horse Neighborhood Association, of which I am now the vice president,” Smith says. “It’s a unique little neighborhood with a very close community. There are always so many great things going on down here in this area and it has such a communal feel to it. All of us try to support each other and our businesses as much a we can.”

Marilyn, along with her daughter Lisha Smith-Davidson and her son-in-law William Davidson, bought The Buffet from its previous owner in the beginning of 2008. And while the initial years of owning the bar proved to be challenging with growing pains and major inconveniences, the trio’s passion for the preservation of the popular dive bar are a large reason why it continues to grow in popularity.

“Lisha and I are both accountants and she was Ted Bear’s (the previous owner) accountant over the years and his wife died tragically in 2007 and it destroyed him, so he gave Lisha the first rights of refusal, so we ended up buying the place,” explains Smith. “It seemed like a good thing and then economy went down the hill the next year and then they blocked off our roads down here because of the streetcar, so its been a rough seven years. But we’ve made it through and are still here.”

If any local establishment knows anything about perseverance, it’s undoubtedly The Buffet. After eight decades of service, the doors are still promptly open early in the morning, the seats of the regulars are left undisturbed, the hot dogs are kept cycling in the crock pot and their antique sign remains stoically lit above the street. Longevity for businesses is hard to come by nowadays, but it appears Smith and those before her have found the right formula, as she smiles and casually explains, “we’re just a little dive bar that keeps on going.”

The Buffet is located at 538 East 9th Street and can be reached at 520-623-6811 and viewed online at www.thebuffetbar.com

Table Settings: Ari Shapiro

September 15, 2014 | Kerry Lane

Full disclosure: The author and subject are personally and professionally connected.

Ari Shapiro
Photo: Kate Roberts

Ari Shapiro is a Tucson transplant who has spent well over a decade establishing his food and beverage concepts in this city. A vegetarian and avid commuting cyclist, his businesses naturally fit into the spectrum of being healthy with a focus on quality and an emphasis on plant-based eating. Craving a quick breakfast or light lunch option? Xoom Juice has you covered with three locations and a spectrum of smoothie combinations. Sparkroot, the downtown coffee shop, just celebrated its third year anniversary and provides a creative space to get a caffeine buzz or unwind with a beer. Falora, a Neapolitan pizzeria, and the recently opened craft cocktail lounge Sidecar, round out his roster. With his slate filled each day, it’s no wonder his approach to food is so routine.

This New York native finds a way to balance his plate and his palate.

1. Flavor: sweet, sour, salty, bitter or umami?

Morning, bitter. Day, sweet. Evening, sour/salty.

2. Mouthfeel: creamy, chewy, crunchy, dense, dry, light, hot, cold?

All of the above in one mouthful, can molecular gastronomy do that yet? Until then, a fresh baked bread is my lifelong favorite, which surprisingly achieves most of these!

3. Ambiance: indoor or outdoor?

I love al-fresco, but mostly in picnic or camping settings. Restaurants, I prefer inside, to take in the decor, details, smells, energy. It also feels cozier, as I’m if in the arms of the staff, especially in open kitchen environs. Of course, if both can be achieved… like a meal I just had in British Columbia; the table was indoors, yet almost on the backyard patio, with floor-to-ceiling windows wide open. Huge fan of places with roll-up garage doors for this reason.

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner?

I’ve had the same two things for breakfast and lunch for over a decade: coffee & smoothies. Somehow, I never grow tired of that eating rhythm. Alas, dinner is my meal to break ranks, to eat creatively. I immensely enjoy a slow burn, good conversation, wine, company… things that are generally better sans sunlight.

5. Appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, dessert, drinks?

I’m a small plate fan all the way, so I don’t really see these distinctions. I’ll take a version of each, at any time during a meal.

6. What meal or food experience changed your approach to cooking and eating?

All hail the mighty Vitamix. When I discovered the art of blending, my whole food world changed for the better. To be able to pack so many flavors, ideas, nutrients into one incredibly edible form is brilliant.

7. Recipe?

Almond milk, acai, blueberries, banana, mango, kale, flax and chia seeds, cacao, dates: blend until creamy. Top with chopped avocado, prickly pear extract, shredded coconut, cashews, goji berries, local honey.

Kerry’s Unblended Parfait Variation

2 large avocados
½ cup cacao powder
10 Medjool dates, pitted, soaked in hot water for 15 minutes
1/3 cup chia seeds
2 cups almond milk (any milk or yogurt of your choice will work)
2 tablespoons maple syrup, local honey or agave nectar
variety of toppings: berries, chopped fruit, seeds and nuts, coconut flakes

In a food processor, blend together the avocado, cacao powder and soaked dates. Slowly add the soaking water from the dates as needed to keep the mixture moving. Set aside. In a bowl, whisk together chia seeds, almond milk and maple syrup. Refrigerate for 10 minutes, whisk again, and let sit in the refrigerator until the chia has absorbed the liquid and the pudding is thick, about an hour.

Once the cacao pudding and chia pudding are prepared, gather a variety of toppings: berries, dried fruit, chopped nuts, granola, etc. Layer the puddings and toppings in individual serving containers (wine glasses are nice, small jars, ramekins or tea cups). Have fun and experiment with a variety of flavors and textures. Enjoy immediately or keep in the fridge for quick breakfast options during the week!

Suds for Sun Sounds

September 11, 2014 | Jon D Auria

When the temperatures are hot during the summer – and into the fall – months in the desert, few things beat enjoying the taste of a delicious beer on a warm day.

Well, that is unless you’re enjoying sampling a number of different beers in the company of thousands of friends and people from your community and all in the name of a worthy cause. In this instance, the cause is Sun Sounds of Arizona and the event is the Great Tucson Beer Festival.

Colorful characters populate the annual Great Tucson Beer Festival.
Photo: ©2011 Rachel Seelen/Urban Abstrakt Photography/courtesy Sun Sounds

In its 28th year, Sun Sound’s Great Tucson Beer Festival is again taking place at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 E Ajo Way, on Saturday, Sept. 27 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. for early bird entry and 6 p.m. for general admission. Offering attendees a selection of over 150 beers on tap to sample, plus a diverse, mouth-watering array of food from local restaurants and a number of fun activities and live music, Sun Sounds is expecting their biggest and best festival to date.

“This is something that we look forward to hosting every year, as it brings so many people from our community together to support a cause that we’re very passionate about,” says Sun Sounds Tucson Station Manager Mitzi Tharin. “We’re lucky to have so many people return to the event each year, but already this year 51% of the people who have bought tickets so far are brand new, which is exciting for us. We want everyone to enjoy themselves and have a fun time and hopefully it raises awareness for the service that we offer.”

Founded in Phoenix in 1979 by Dr. Frank Kells, Sun Sounds created a Tucson branch in 1985 where they provide spoken versions of written text that covers everything from newspapers, magazines, books and all forms of media to those who cannot read print due to visual disabilities. By providing over 2,000 radios to visually impaired Tucson residents and allowing them to stream the content over the internet, Sun Sounds has helped over 15,000 Tucsonans stay up on the news and their favorite books while truly enhancing their quality of living.

“The service that we provide is so important because when someone is unable to read on their own, it can really devastate people. So to bring them spoken versions of printed words really changes their lives and makes them feel like they’re no longer disadvantaged in that aspect,” says Tharin. “We read a wide spectrum of programs that can be chosen on our guide to satisfy everyone. We offer fiction, non-fiction, news, magazines, westerns, dramas, comedies and pretty much anything someone would want to hear. And they get a human voice, not a synthesized voice, which makes a big difference.”

The annual beer festival helps the organization tremendously, as they generate over two thirds of their yearly budget by putting on this event. In a truly win-win situation, the attendees are treated to a night full of fun, excitement and dancing, as the band Eighties and Gentlemen will be performing music from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. The audience can also partake in a variety of games including horseshoes, static steer roping, beep ball and many others. And it all will take place in the beautiful setting of Kino Sports Complex.

“This is the second year that the Sun Sounds organization will host its annual beer festival at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium and we couldn’t be happier to have them and to be a part of their fundraising event,” says Kino Sports Complex Marketing Manager Sallyann Wassmuth. “They put in so much work and planning to make it fun and entertaining for everyone and there is a real social element to the event all centered on the beer and food sampling from local breweries and restaurants.

“And most importantly, Sun Sounds puts a tremendous effort into promoting a safe, responsible event. They offer designated driver tickets and partner with the Holiday Inn just around the corner where the hotel provides shuttle service to and from the event. Cab Service is also available. They are really conscientious about providing responsible options to everyone,” Wassmuth adds.

For designated drivers, there will be plenty of free parking in the accompanying lots as well as non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy. And while this is a mellow evening of fun, this event is entirely tailored for adults and no one under 21-years-old will be granted entry. General admission tickets are available online or through Plaza Liquors, Thunder Canyon Brewery and Sun Sounds for $45 and VIP tickets are also available for $85 which gives you early entry to the event as well as access to VIP benefits.

“It’s a win for everybody because attendees have such a blast and it helps to sustain what we do for the entire year. It’s so important to us to keep the momentum going with this event,” says Tharin. “The entertainment will be really good and that’s always a favorite of the crowd. You’ll get to sample a lot of food and try different beers that are unique and seasonal and all while being around a lot of really great people.”

The event is Saturday, Sept. 27, with doors at 6 p.m. Kino Sports complex is located at 2500 Ajo Way. For more information visit AZBeer.com or call (520) 296-2400.

Food complements the bevy of beer offerings at the Great Tucson Beer Festival.
photo: ©2013 Rachel Seelen/Urban Abstrakt Photography/courtesy Sun Sounds

A Long Plan for the Short Seasons

September 10, 2014 | Brandon Merchant

Autumn is a wonderful time to be a vegetable gardener in the southwest. It is a time of reflection as we look back joyfully on our successes of the past summer and take note of our failures and how we may improve upon them next year. It is also a time of transition and anticipation of the coming fall planting season as decaying squash and melon vines are soon replaced with the bright greens and deep reds of the fall garden.

Brussels sprout
Photo: Eric Hunt via commons.wikimedia.org

For some of us this transition will be met with feelings of frustration and anxiety when we come to the realization that poor planning has left us with two bad options; either pull out an otherwise productive and healthy plant to make room for cool season crops or delay planting until later in the fall, which will limit the time cool season crops have to establish themselves before their growth slows with the shorter days and cooler temps.

If this sounds familiar, know that you are not alone. Because of the short planting window we have both in the spring and in the fall – and the limited size of most backyard gardens – this is one of the most common situations for new Tucson gardeners. This short planting window makes planning ahead one of the keys to a successful vegetable garden.

To give you an example, I once ordered a variety of Brussels sprouts not realizing the seeds were shipping from Canada. By the time they reached my mailbox almost a month later, the prime planting time was over and I got very little production from an otherwise very productive variety. Had I ordered those seeds well ahead of time, and got them in the ground at the right time, the harvest would have been much larger.

Organic gardeners have long relied on a variety of techniques that can be useful when attempting to plan ahead for the next growing season. One of these techniques, succession planting, involves dividing your garden into separate sections and spacing your plantings out throughout the growing season. By spacing your plantings out in this way, you guarantee that you’ll never have to harvest too much of any one crop at a time and you’ll always have space in your garden for the next season’s crops which means you’ll never have to yank an otherwise healthy plant out of the ground just to make room for new varieties.

Another effective technique that can maximize the use of limited garden space involves the grouping of plants by either different varieties or different maturity dates. The idea is that if you can plant a fast maturing crop in close proximity to a slow maturing crop you can get more production out of the same amount of space. This is a concept known as interplanting and it is very effective at making use of otherwise useless garden space. For example, you can plant radishes in the space surrounding a newly planted cabbage or broccoli plant. The fast maturing radishes will be harvested long before either plant begins to inhibit the growth of the other. In some cases, a second planting of radishes could even be planted before the cabbage reaches maturity.

Much of the success in gardening is often attributed to a nutrient rich soil, or a particular blend of fertilizers. While these factors can play a vital role in the outcome of your garden, proper planning and preparation are just as important if you wish to have a garden that produces high yields year after year. Setting pencil to paper now, long before seeds touch soil, is the best way to ensure that your garden will continue to be productive while also preventing you from having to make a choice between two bad options.

Brandon Merchant is the proprietor of Southwest Victory Gardens. Visit his website at SouthwestVictoryGardens.com.

Sidecar Serves Mindful Mixed Drinks

July 26, 2014 | Craig Baker

sidecar_1 Lead barkeep Luke Anable has thought carefully about everything on the menu at Sidecar, the newest 900 square-foot concept bar by Tucson restaurateur Ari Shapiro. Working with fellow Wilko mixologist, Starr Herr-Cardillo, Anable custom-crafted each house recipe and hand-selected every bottle on display behind the bar in the newly renovated space in the Broadway Village shopping complex. As a result, he can tell you the life story of each product from soil to shelf.

“All the language is there to meaningfully talk about any product the way people talk about wine,” says Anable of his spirit-selection process. He believes the dialogue that has developed amongst wine connoisseurs—like conversations about where and how something was made—should be employed when talking about beer and liquor as well. “When you add the history layer on top of the cocktails and the culinary layer of mixing flavors, I think that’s a really rich and powerful way to think about what we’re doing here.”

Shapiro, who is consistent with Sidecar in his efforts to “bring Tucson artisan concepts that have an emphasis on craft and health,” worked with partners Page Repp and Rick McClain of design firm Repp + McClain to fully remodel the corner space in what has been called one of Arizona’s oldest shopping complexes. The red brick has been whitewashed, giving the inside of the 1939 Josias Joesler building the smell of fresh paint. The concrete floors are newly stained; deep-buttoned, lime-green banquette benches line the walls underneath the large, south-facing windows; a large 3-D piece by artist Nick Georgiou decorates the space between the windows. The tables feature polished wood surfaces. Natural brown leather accents and warm pendulum lights give the otherwise-industrial space all of the charm of a cozy after-work escape.

Shapiro lives nearby and commutes to Sidecar by way of a fixed-gear bicycle. According to Shapiro, all of his restaurants—which include popular smoothie stop Xoom Juice, Downtown coffee hub Sparkroot, and the wood-fired pizza joint, Falora (just two doors down from the new bar)—have been built on concepts that addressed the owner’s personal culinary cravings. Sidecar is Shapiro’s neighborhood bar, and it’s a place that he hopes mid-town Tucsonans will also “be able to call their own.”

Though it has all of the makings of a hip Downtown club, Sidecar’s intimate environment can only accommodate about 70 people at maximum capacity, including the tiny outdoor patio—an effect, Shapiro points out, that makes an afternoon at the bar feel “like you could be in your living room.”

Sidecar maintains a staff of only four to five, both in the lounge and behind the bar, lending a much tighter-knit vibe between the employees and their patrons, versus the high-octane pace of Downtown on a Friday night. Anable says he “appreciate(s) being able to take a little more time and be a little more patient” with each drink he mixes at Sidecar. The easier pace also means more opportunity to chat with his customers and provide them with a little bit of cocktail education during their experience, he says.

The opening week of operation brought with it a steady flow of customers; a promising start to the business’ first summer—a season which, due to the loss of about 50,000 UA students to their various hometowns, can make-or-break a new Tucson restaurant. But Shapiro’s goals for the space stretch far into the future, which is why he went for a “timeless” appeal when contemplating Sidecar’s aesthetic.

As for getting the word out, the presence of both Sidecar and Falora in a complex of shops that have traditionally been retail-only has meant plenty of media attention for the new watering hole. Other than that, Shapiro plans to keep his advertising efforts to a minimum, hoping that word-of-mouth alone will allow future patrons to “discover” the space for themselves. Those that wander in even by accident will surely not be disappointed.

In sentiments no doubt shared by his employer, Anable says of his position as (perhaps) Tucson’s most mindful cocktail master, “Knowing that everything you push across the bar has a reason for being there—that’s meaningful.” If social drinking can have a greater meaning than an hour-or-so of revelry, this is where you’ll find it.

Sidecar is located at 139 S. Eastbourne Ave. (off of Broadway Boulevard, just west of Country Club Road), and is open from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4 p.m.-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Call 795-1819 for more information.