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Chow
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Chow Your Valentine's Day Plans Involve Waffles
Posted by Dan Gibson on Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 12:00 PM
While the idea of non-alcoholic champagne is offensive to me, it's nice to have a diverse number of options regarding Valentine's Day. I should be able to serve my romantic dining duties and get smothered hash browns.
No news yet on whether any Tucson locations will participating, but I'll keep you updated.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Chow A Very Good Idea: The Neighborhood Chef
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM
There is a wonderful melding of art and cuisine happening in Tucson.
When I spoke to David Aguirre of Dinnerware Artspace last year he said the creativity of many local artists extended beyond the studio and into the kitchen, and he saw it as a great way to help artists supplement their income while developing another creative talent. His idea was to buy a food truck so those artists could have a mobile kitchen with which to express themselves. The truck was purchased and used at one event that I know of. It should also be noted that Aguirre is heavily involved in and a huge supporter of the local food-truck movement at large, and that the Food Truck Round-Ups benefit Dinnerware Artspace.
Dinnerware Artspace also shares a physical space with the new Borderlands Brewing Company, which has been steadily gaining momentum since opening its doors a few months ago.
Now Aguirre is once again delving into the culinary side of things with a new event called Neighborhood Chef. The first one is loosely scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, at Ralph's Gas Station on the corner of South Fourth Avenue and 19th Street, in Armory Park, and will feature cuisine by Jamie Castro of food truck Jamie's Bitchen Kitchen. There will be music and maybe live art performances. Aguirre, good man, you are a genius.
It should also be noted that a group of artists associated with Aguirre also hold amazing underground supper clubs. The underground supper club is a concept that is big in other places, but hasn't really taken off here. They typically include multi-course meals, sometimes with copious amounts of good wine and libations, in intimate and sometimes unusual settings. My prediction is that this will be the next hot thing to hit the Tucson dining scene. Actually it's sort of happening already, but very few people know about it because it is, well, underground. So far we've got a couple of them we can tell you about, but more are in the works. You can click over here and here for more on those.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Chow You Should Go to the Youth Farm Project Event on Saturday
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 12:00 PM
This is one of the greatest flyers I’ve seen in a while. I decided to focus on this awesome flyer after writing a full page about how the kids in the Youth Farm Project are heroes for trying to make America stronger and better. I really do believe that, but I didn’t want to scare anybody with my doomsday prediction that it will be obesity that bankrupts this country through massive health-care costs and lost work hours, so just look at the flyer and the gleeful look on that kid's face and think happy thoughts.
Disaster averted, but seriously, you should go to this event. These kids have made a bunch of art and videos expressing what they’ve learned about how farming can make this city better. There will also be food, and it’s free.
The event takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Dragonfly Gallery at 146 E. Broadway Blvd.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Chow / Just Plain Dumb This Is Not How to Propose
Posted by Dan Gibson on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 1:00 PM
I get what Pizza Hut is doing with this $10,010 proposal package (and I'm helping, I suppose, by writing about it), but what's frightening is that someone will probably actually take them up on the offer. So, if you're not terribly bright, don't understand women at all, and have a little over $10k to burn, email Pizza Hut now!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Chow New: Brewd
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 12:00 PM
The new café Brewd is open at 39 N. Sixth Ave, right across from the Ronstadt Transit Center. The coffee served there is roasted by Tucson's own Adventure Coffee Roasters and we hear the scones aren't bad, either.
If you like live jazz, they've got that as well. More on that over here.
Chow The New Sir Veza's Taco Garage Is Open
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 8:56 AM
The culinary world snickered when Ray Flores said he was opening a garage-themed taco shop at exactly the same moment the recession had the entire country collectively soiling its economic trousers. Sir Veza's Taco Garage ended up being a hit though, enabling Flores to open another Tucson location and a super-high-profile spot at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The new location of Sir Veza's opened Sunday at 220 W. Wetmore Road, and we hear from the architecural firm that designed it that the interior is something else. That stands to reason being that the same firm handled the creation of HUB Restaurant and Ice Creamery, Playground an many more hot restaurant concepts around Tucson and beyond.
I guess we can chalk another one up for the Flores and his crew, who established El Charro (and maybe the chimichanga) back in 1922 and have been running strong ever since. Don't forget that Flores is also one of the people spearheading the effort to have the chimichanga declared the state food of Arizona, which would add another historical achievement to the family's already impressive portfolio.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Chow Like Fresh Veggies? Consider U-Pick Tuesdays
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Of all the things going on in this city, one of my favorites is the Tucson Village Farm. Lots of places talk about trying to help our kids eat healthier, but the unbelievably dedicated people behind the outfit are actually doing it, and with very good results.
A good chance to check out what the place is up to is U-Pick Tuesdays, when you can buy the produce the place grows in an effort to teach kids where their food comes from. The event takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. You can read a little bit more about it over here.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Chow Even the Heart-Shaped Box is Made Out of Chocolate
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Love is one of the finest things on earth, and you can buy it with chocolate this time of year.
Now, the quality of the love you receive post-Valentine's Day is not directly proportional to the quality of chocolate you bring to the bartering table, but there is a correlation. With this in mind I direct you to the mighty Sabino Artisan Chocolates at 10110 N. Oracle Road.
I'm not sure what's impressed me more in recent weeks, the store's bacon-covered chocolate or the bon bons that come in a heart-shaped box made out of chocolate. For a better look at all of that and a little jaunt through the chocolate-covered galaxy the store's owners call home, check out their newsletter right here.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Chow Now Serving Lunch: Something Sweet Dessert Lounge
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 11:00 AM
This has been going on for a while now, but it's still worth noting: Something Sweet Dessert Lounge at 5319 E. Speedway Blvd. now serves lunch, and there's even deviled eggs!
Long a desserts-only destination, Something Sweet spread its wings with offerings other than desserts after it's near-death experience last year and has been trucking along ever since. In my book, the fact that they stayed open was the feel-good food story of 2011 and I feel very fortunate that Something Sweet ended up sticking around.
You can look at the lunch menu here.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Chow Coming Soon: Cinco de Mayo Mexican Restaurant and Seafood
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 8:55 AM
The only thing we've been able to find out about this new restaurant Cinco de Mayo at 3535 E. Fort Lowell Road is that it will serve seafood and Mexican food, and that a liquor license is currently pending. The sign says it will open very soon but it was too dark when we stopped by to get a good look at the interior.
The building used to be home to a Las Cazuelitas location - it closed last June - and I'm pretty sure it was a place called La Buena Cocina before that. We're still trying to get in touch with the owners and will be back when we learn more.
