Friday, October 26th, marks the 7th anniversary of one of Tucson’s signature events – The World Margarita Championship. With Tucson being “the center of the universe” for Agave Spirits, this exciting annual event exemplifies the culinary soul and spirit of Tucson, much of which has been influenced by our southern neighbor, Mexico.
The World Margarita Championship takes place this year at the Tucson Museum of Art located in downtown Tucson, from 6-9pm. Over the years, the event has continued to grow from its first year at Cuvee Bistro where 100+ guests crowded into the bar, to increasingly larger venues including the patio at Maynard’s Market and Kitchen, and now this year to the grounds of the Tucson Museum of Art where over 1000 guests can comfortably attend and enjoy the event.
The 2012 World Margarita Championship will feature 16 mixologists including 15 from Tucson Original member restaurants, and one from Mexico, all competing for the Judges Award and the People’s Choice Award using tequila provided by Tequila Penasco, Patron, Sauza, Avion, and el Tesoro.
The action begins at 6pm when the first two mixologists take to the demonstration stage to create their version of the classic margarita for the panel of judges. Throughout the evening, guests are invited to sample all 16 margarita entries as well as food from 13 Tucson Original restaurants. Votes submitted by attendees will be tabulated at the end of the evening to determine the winner of the 2012 People’s Choice Award.
The Margaritas:
2011 winners- La Fuente ( Judge’s Award) and Marinaterra Resort and Spa (People’s Choice Award) are among the 18 competitors who will compete for the 2012 Championship awards:
Acacia Real Food & Cocktails, Agustin Brasserie, Boca Tacos Y Tequila, Bella D’Auria Restaurant and Bar, Chad’s Steakhouse and Saloon, Cushing Street, Dakota Cafe, Harvest Restaurant, Jonathan’s Cork, Bluefin/Kingfisher Bar & Grill, La Fuente Restaurant, Lodge on the Desert, Marinaterra Resort & Spa, Noble Hops Gastropub, Renee’s Organic Oven, Tequila Factory, The Hog Pit and The Parish Gastropub
The Food:
Tucson Original members Acacia Real Food & Cocktails, Arizona Inn, Bella D’Auria Restaurant and Bar, Cafe 54, Casino del Sol Catering, Chad’s Steakhouse and Saloon, Frankie’s South Philadelphia Cheesesteaks, Harvest Restaurant, Jonathan’s Cork, Bluefin/Kingfisher Bar and Grill, La Fuente, Magpies Gourmet Pizza, Noble Hops Gastropub, Pastiche Modern Eatery and Rocco’s Little Chicago, Tanque Verde Guest Ranch will serve up margarita – friendly dishes throughout the evening .
The Judges:
Jennifer English: A pioneer in culinary broadcasting, winner of both James Beard and Gracie Allen awards, a leading flavor trend expert in the country, and a Tucson treasure. A co-founder of the World Margarita Championship™ Jennifer is a highly respected authority in the world of cocktails. She recently completed the definitive book on The Manhattan Cocktail for the University of Kentucky press and is the Vice President of the New Orleans Culinary & Cultural Preservation Society which produces the Tales of the Cocktail event annually. She is host of the BOTTOM’S UP! radio show that broadcasts weekly.
Edie Jarolim is the Contributing Dining Editor for Tucson Guide, the Tucson editor for the Zagat Survey, and has written about food and spirits for a variety of national magazines, including Imbibe, Sunset, and USAirways. She wrote about touring the tequila estates and distilleries in Jalisco for National Geographic Traveler, and she is the author of the Complete Idiot’s Travel Guide to Mexico’s Beach Resorts, which required a lot of margarita sampling to research.
David Tyda runs a multitude of food-related endeavors including the punchy food blog EATERAZ.com, “SIPS Magazine” for Alliance Beverage Distributing Company, and a slew of successful food festivals, including the Arizona Taco Festival, Tucson Taco Festival, and the Arizona BarbecueFestival. He is currently the Golf Clubhouse Restaurant Editor for “AZ Golf Insider” Magazine, and a contributor to the Food Network’s new food blog, CityEats.com. To do all this, Tyda requires a steady diet of beer, wine, and cocktails, which is why he’s a perfect judge for this competition!
Kim M. Bayne – Kim M. Bayne: An accomplished author and writer, Kim has focused on business, marketing, technology and social media. In 2011, she expanded her writing portfolio to include the culinary scene. She is now the U.S. Southwest Correspondent for Food Network Canada’s Eat St. blog (http://eatst.foodnetwork.ca/blog/label/kim-bayne), and founder and creator of Street Food Files (@streetfoodfiles). Kim lives in Tucson, Arizona where she loves to “chase” local gourmet food trucks on nights and weekends.
Joseph Blair – one of Tucson’s home grown sports stars whose years as a Wildcat under coach Lute Olsen, led him to a successful career as a professional basketball star for many years. An avid home cook and mixologist, Joseph is an aficionado of all things southwest including margaritas. He is also the founder of the Blair Charity Group whose goal is to create and support programs that address the priorities of the Southern Arizona community, while still helping to strengthen the non-profit sector through collaboration and consultation.
Rita Connelly – Rita Connelly writes about food, wine, cocktails all things culinary. Her work can be found at gayot.com, the Tucson Weekly and on her Facebook page, The Well-Fed Foodie. Her relationship with tequila goes back to the days when she had to use a fake I’d to get into bars. She’s excited about all the good food things that are happening in Tucson.
Robert Plotkin: An expert in the field of mixology and beverage management, with over 30 years of industry experience and writing for trade publications including Sante Magazine, Cheers, Beverage Dynamics, State Ways Magazine, Restaurant Hospitality, and Wine & Spirits International.
Admission to the World Margarita Championship is $45 per person in advance ($60 at the door on day of the event). Prior to Friday, October 25, tickets may be purchased on line at www.tucsonculinaryfestival.com or by calling 520-304-6717.
Information provided to Zocalo by the Tucson Culinary Festival.
The Sun Link Tucson Streetcar project team reopened Congress Street from Toole Avenue to Scott Avenue this afternoon (Friday, Oct 26) to bicyclists and motorists. The reopening of Congress Street – to a single westbound lane – allows for better access to businesses along this stretch of Congress. A detour route is still in place on Toole Avenue for motorists wanting to access the west side of downtown. This milestone marks an additional significant step in completing Tucson’s largest construction project in the City’s history.
The Food Conspiracy Co-op will mark the completion of its store remodel with a Grand(er) Opening celebration on October 20. The celebration will feature live music, a proclamation by Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, free food, kids’ activities, prizes, and a sale for Food Conspiracy Co-op owners.
Lulu’s Shake Shoppe opens downtown on Saturday 13th at 5pm, just off of Congress Street, between Hub and Playground on the parking lot side.
This Thursday, October 11 at 4pm, the Luis G. Gutierrez bridge at Cushing Street will open for the first time, to bicycles and pedestrians only. Located near the Riverpark Inn on the west side frontage road just south of Congress St, the bridge will be open next year to automobiles and will become a vital link in the 3.9-mile modern streetcar project, making it the first multi-modal bridge in Arizona.
Poet Rebecca Seiferle was selected by Mayor Rothschild as the new Tucson Poet Laureate, at a reception held at the Tucson Pima Arts Council offices (TPAC), last week.
Kidical Mass is a national grassroots movement designed to provide an organized, safe, and fun family bike ride through city streets and it’s back in Tucson by popular demand. On Saturday, October 6th at 10am participants will gather near Himmel Park Library before pedaling over to The University of Arizona, looping around Old Main, and returning to Himmel Park for ice cream and other treats.
Food Truck Friday gears up as the weather cools down. Thirteen local food trucks amass into the Bookmans Grant parking lot to bring local foodies their mobile meals. Bookmans invites Tucson’s culinary connoisseurs to whet their palettes with yummy local fare from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 at Bookmans Grant, 1930 E. Grant Rd.
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