Tucson Culinary Festival
Event Updates  The 9th Annual Tucson Culinary Festival, sponsored by the Tucson Originals restaurant group, will be held this October 27th through 30th. Here is some additional information heading into the event later this week that will help you plan your tasting itinerary. World Margarita Championship
Competition Schedule:
6:40 pm Boca vs. Jonathan's Cork using Patron Tequila
6:50 pm Cup Café vs. Bushi using Corralejo Tequila
7:00 pm Kingfisher vs. Mayan Palace using Sauza Hornitos Tequila
7:10 pm La Cocina vs. Pastiche using Cabo Wabo and Espolon Tequilas
7:20 pm La Fuente vs. Pasco using Avion Tequila
7:30 pm Maynard's vs. Conelas using Milagro Tequila
7:40 pm Sol Casino vs. Lodge on the Desert using Sauza Tres Generaciones Tequila Reserve & Grand Tasting
Here's a sample of what you can expect to see at the tastings Saturday night, October 29: Reserve tasting: Bluefin - baked oysters rockefeller Bushi - sesame chicken, tofu nuggets, california rolls, las vegas rolls Feast - charred hanger steak, crawfish etouffee Janos Restaruant and Downtown Kitchen - pork belly sliders and ibarra cakes with squash, honey whip cream, prickly pear syrup, caramalized apple and micro greens Kingfisher - smoked salmon and rice Le Rendezvous - salmon quiche Magpie's Gourmet Pizza - pizza samples Maynard's Market and Kitchen - choucroute garnie with mustard Pastiche - butternut squash ravioli with fennel cream sauce and pecan bread pudding Tavolino - chicken and vegtables Venice Restaurant and Pizzeria - meat balls with sauce and sausage, pepper and onions
 | | Renee's Organic Oven beef slider |
Grand tasting: Boca - boca balls, chipotle mashed potatoes Brushfire BBQ - baby ribs, beans, slaw Bushi - sesame chicken, tofu nuggets, california rolls, las vegas rolls Chad's - prime rib Dakota Cafe - BBQ Pork Delectibles - Southwest penne blackened chicken Ecelctic cafe - Sonoran meatballs Feast- charred hanger steak, crawfish etouffee Frankies-cheesesteaks and cheese Harvest Moon - chicken lo mein and vegetable fried rice Hotel Congress/Cup Cafe - brisket sandwich with pickled onion La Fuente - chicken in creamy cilantro sauce Lodge on the Desert - pork belly tacos and slaw Lotus Garden - green beans with fish sauce and vegetable fried rice Magpie - pizza samples Mama Luisas - baked ziti and sauages and peppers Noble Hops - pork belly sandwich Renee's Organic Oven - beef sliders with mozzarella tomato pesto Ric's Cafe - crab cakes with garlic aioli Tucson Tamale - tamales V Fine Dining - mussel curry with brown rice and thai chili peppers Vero Amore - meatballs and sauce Tasting Highlight Renee's Organic Oven: Caprese Burgers on homemade organic foccaccia, local grass fed beef topped with fresh mozzarella and local tomatoes, pesto mayo and basil. This slider will be offered on Renee's appetizer menu after the first of the year. Renee's newest creation won the top award at the Yelp Has An App For That 2011 appetizer competition earlier this summer. All I can say after trying one last week while shooting the above picture is: Renee, this burger really should be offered as a regular entree! And please don't make us wait until January!
And what I'm hoping for at this year's event...
is that Jonathan's Cork will once again have their almond rocca at the tastings. If you've never had it, it's culinary crack. They only make it during the holidays, and I've been in withdrawl since my stash ran out last January. I will take a baggie to the festival in anticipation that they will have it there, and try to smuggle enough out to last me until the Cork starts selling it, hopefully, next month. I'll have to get my wife to take one of her bigger purses... | 
