Desert Rain Café
The Tohono O’odham Community Action project has opened an eatery
called Desert Rain Café in Tohono Plaza on Main Street in Sells.
Much of the menu takes its inspiration from ancient cooking traditions,
and a number of the ingredients help naturally control diabetes, a
disease especially prevalent among the Tohono O’odham. How cool is
that? Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday; (520)
383-4918; www.desertraincafe.com.
Paso Robles Wines
California’s Paso Robles region is a winemaker’s dream. Situated in
the lush countryside between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the area
has a particularly long growing season with warm days and cool nights,
which is nature’s recipe for top-notch wine grapes. Head over to
Pastiche Modern Eatery (3025 N. Campbell Ave.; 325-3333) at 6:30 p.m.,
Friday, May 15, and try some of the region’s wines for $5. Space is
limited.
Zin, Blues and BBQ
May is National Barbecue Month, and one smoking way to celebrate is
Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort’s Ninth Annual Zin, Blues and BBQ
event from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, May 17. A barbecue buffet and zinfandel
wine-tasting highlight the event, which also features live music by
Grams and Krieger, and the Stefan George Duo. $50; reservations are
required. The resort is located at 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. Call
529-3500 for reservations or more info.
Asian Sandwich Deli Closed
The Asian Sandwich Deli, which opened in 2005 at 1710 E. Speedway
Blvd., has closed.
Cheap Eats
There is a positive side to this stinking recession (for diners, at
least): Many eateries are offering serious discounts to get through the
thin summer months. One such deal is the lunchtime “recession buster”
being offered by Little Anthony’s Diner (7010 E. Broadway Blvd.;
296-0456). Stop in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday,
and get a hamburger or cheeseburger, a side dish, a drink and dessert
for $6.
Fill ‘Er Up!
The T6 Filling Station (2500 E. Fifth St.; 798-1200) is now serving
beer, says owner Jay Tolkoff. Tolkoff initially planned to open the
eatery with Nimbus man Jim Counts, but is forging forward on his own.
The conversion of the back of the eatery into a bar is underway and
should be completed before long, Tolkoff said.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2009.