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Tucson Meet Yourself 2011
October 14-16
Downtown Tucson |
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| Greetings!
It's one of those times in the year where we have too many choices to make in Tucson - festivals, sporting events, concerts, and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors abound with the arrival of fall weather! It's no less true than with culinary choices - going into the next weekend is Tucson Meet Yourself, Zoocson - Feast for the Beasts!, and if you want to take a day trip, the Willcox Wine Country Fall Festival. There's great patio dining throughout the city, and new eateries are opening, such as BrushFire BBQ on the eastside. Also, the farmers' markets have gone to winter hours this month, and with the weather being cooler, are an opportunity to both enjoy the outdoors and some locally grown produce, prepared foods, and food trucks. So get out and enjoy a taste of Tucson this week!
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Tucson Culinary Festival
Judging and Event Updates 
Judges/Special Guests
Tucson's own John Fina, graduate of Salpointe Catholic High School and University of Arizona, and standout football player, as well as an offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals, will be the weekend's emcee. Fina, himself a chef, last year was one of the guest judges on the Travel Channel's Food Wars, which featured the Sonoran hot dog in a "food war" between Tucson's El Guero Canelo and BK's Carne Asada & Hot Dogs (which BK's won).
Jill DeGroff, artist and author of Lush Life, Portraits from Behind the Bar - a collection of saloon sketches
Michael Rosen - prolific author, illustrator and chef
Linda West Eckhardt- award winning American culinary writer, author of 18 books
 | | Mary Alice Kellogg |
Mary Alice Kellogg- award-winning travel/food/features writer, editor, whose credits include Bon Appétit, NY Times, Newsweek, Glamour and more. During the Reserve Tasting, the Monica Flin Award for 2011 will be presented to Mary Alice Kellogg for outstanding work in showcasing the Tucson culinary scene in numerous nationally published articles over her career.
Event Updates
Joining John Fina in emcee duties at the World Margarita Championships will be Matt Russell of On the Menu Live.Competitors Boca, Bushi, Cup Cafe, Jonathan's Cork, Kingfisher, La Cocina, La Fuente, Lodge on the Desert, Maynard's, Pasco, Pastiche and Sol Casinos will be joined by mixologists from across the border - La Roca and Mayan Palace - both from Sonora, Mexico. Each competitor has been assigned one of seven tequilas in a blind draw. Sponsoring products are Patron, Corralejo, Sauza Hornitos, Sauza Tres Generaciones, Cabo Wabo, Avian, and Milagro.
Dan Marries, KOLD Anchor, will share emcee duties with John Fina as they follow the exciting action at the Copper Chef Challenge and BBQ on Sunday, October 30 from 11am to 3pm. The popular family event will feature a great afternoon of food, beverages, kids cooking demos, pumpkin painting, live music and 5 fast paced throwdown challenges throughout the day:
Throwdowns:
- Mac and Cheese - Pasco vs Brushfire
- Pancakes - Hungry Fox vs Bluefin
- Brisket - Hog Pit vs Acacia
- Hotdogs - Frankie's vs Tavolino
- Wings - Rocco's vs Risky Business
- Tacos - Boca vs Janos
In the main event, Chef Ryan Clark, Exec Chef at Lodge on the Desert challenges current title holder Chef Addam Buzzalini, Exec Chef at Maynards Market & Kitchen, in the 6th Annual Copper Chef Challenge in an exciting competition using Certified Angus Beef and of course, the secret ingredient (given to the chefs on the day of competition).
Tickets can be purchased on line at www.tucsonculinaryfestival.com- special pricing available for weekend and group packages.
For additional details, and activity schedules for each event visit the online Program
http://www.vacationfun.com/ebrochures/tucsonculinary/ibrochure/festival.html?id=1692
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Openings, Closings & More
Openings BrushFire BBQ, 7080 E 22nd, 520-867-6050, 11 am to 9 pm, opened today  Hummingbird Cafe, 7002 E Broadway, 520-731-2233, breakfast and lunch. Opened last week. A menu item of note is the trout and 2 eggs, with corn fritters and biscuit for $8.99 Thai China Bistro, 5121 E Grant, 520-325-5185. Opened recently. Same ownership as Thai China Siam, 5849 N Oracle Closings Jimmy's American Bistro, 8235 N Silverbell, Marana, 9/29 Expanded hours Biscuits Cafe, 7026 E Broadway, a popular breakfast spot, now open 7 days a week. Monday - Saturday 6:30 am to 2 pm, Sunday 7:30 am to 1 pm |
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Upcoming Events
Culinary, Restaurant & Food Festivals in Tucson & Southern AZ
Coming up this week: Tucson Meet Yourself, Beers and Bikes, Zoocson - Feast for the Beasts!, and more.
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First Look: BrushFire BBQ
Serious BBQ comes to Kolb & 22nd
As I was finishing today's newsletter, I noticed that BrushFire had opened at 22nd & Kolb. So I ran over there to have lunch and hopefully report some good news. 
Good news it is! The restaurant is spacious, with generously spaced seating, full bar, and a meeting room that is available for small groups and events. For the first day, everything seems to be running well - my pulled pork sandwich came to me in about 7 minutes, properly prepared and delivered with the ordered sides and toppings.
This BrushFire location is a welcome alternative to the mostly fast food chains that are in the neighborhood. BrushFire is open 11 am to 9 pm. |
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Farmers' Markets
Community Food Bank Farmers' Markets announces new winter hours for the following markets:
- Santa Cruz River Market at Mercado San Agustin, Thursdays 3 to 6 pm
- El Pueblo Market at El Pueblo Park, Saturdays 9 am to 12 pm
Tucson Farmers' Markets also has new winter hours for their markets:
- Jesse Owens Park, Fridays, 9 am to 1 pm
- Oro Valley Town Hall, Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm
- The new market at Maynard's, Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm
- St. Philip's Plaza, Sundays, 9 am to 1 pm
The Tucson Farmers' Markets makes great use of Twitter to keep followers informed about market happenings and what's available on the day of market. They also have a nice newsletter - subscribe at their website. |
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Media Round-up
News & blog articles from around the Web
Las Cazuelitas must improve safety or close, Arizona Daily Star, October 5
Acacia's mashed potatoes rock, Arizona Daily Star, October 6
Got shrimp?, Tucson Weekly, review of Restaurant Sinoloa, October 6
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Your comments about this newsletter are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Denis Fabbrini
Editor
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