New: Rice House

Rice House has opened at 54 W. Congress St. It’s owned by longtime Tucson restaurateur Junting Lei and serves standard Thai and Chinese food from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There’s no alcohol yet, but we hear a liquor license is pending. Call 622-9557 for more information.

Mercado San Agustin

We’ve got more details about the food-related businesses going in at the new Mercado San Agustin at 100 S. Avenida del Convento, near Interstate 10 and Congress Street. Kira Dixon-Weinstein, the mercado’s executive director, says southside bakery legend La Estrella (5266 S. 12th Ave.) is opening a location there. Taqueria El Pueblita, a small taco shop specializing in food from southern Mexico, will also call the market home. Peter Wilke—of B Line and Wilko fame—is opening a market, and other shops selling local honey and Sonoran snow cones are in the works. An Argentinean restaurant called Casa Marita Restaurante Argentino is scheduled to open early next year, and the market’s commercial kitchen will allow small-time food operations to get into the game with minimal startup costs; mercadosanagustin.com.

Now Open: Mr. Head’s Art Gallery and Bar

Mr. Head’s Art Gallery and Bar has given us yet another reason to spend our hard-earned money drinking downtown. The combined gallery and bar is now serving dozens of beers on tap and a selection of spirits from noon to 2 a.m., daily, at 513 N. Fourth Ave. It’s the brainchild of Micah Blatt, who owns Fathead Glass, a custom-glass shop adjacent to the bar. Blatt also fixed up the patio area and the surrounding landscaping, and was so busy running back and forth between his businesses when we called that he didn’t have time to talk. Check the place out on Facebook for more information.

Shout-Out

Oliver Ray, owner of the new Café Aqui at 1317 S. Sixth Ave., is one generous guy. While buying a pound of coffee at the new microroastery, I mentioned that I volunteer at the Casa Maria soup kitchen a few blocks away. Ray didn’t hesitate before asking if the kitchen needed coffee—and donating an enormous bag of beans. There was never any mention that I was a food writer, and Ray’s actions were meant to be anonymous. Now that is the sort of thing one likes to see around the holidays.

This article appears in Dec 23-29, 2010.

9 replies on “Noshing Around”

  2. Explain yourself, Gurnemanz. Do you know that Mr. Ray has an issue with this being printed? Or are you just throwing stones?

  3. “and Ray’s actions were meant to be anonymous.” This is what Adam Borowitz reported. If Mr. Ray wanted anonymity then it would seem to be disrespectful and unethical to write about his gracious and charitable act. The issue is simply that Mr. Ray, according to the story, did not want to be publicly acknowledged. No stone throwing here, simply an observation. I believe that the Weekly embarrassed Mr. Ray by publicizing an action that was meant to be private.

  4. He never asked that his donation be kept anonymous. What I should have said is that he donated it to me straight away and without expecting any return whatsoever for his generosity. He said he wanted to help the homeless people he saw walking in front of his shop, and told myself and several other people in attendance that he wanted to help in any way he could. Am I only to report what I see when everybody knows I’m collecting information for my column?

  5. You people all have way too much time on your hands… the guy gave beans in a generous moment, Mr. Borowtiz simply shared the generosity by acknowledging it….nicely done. For the rest of you cranks, why don’t you go out there and volunteer some of your holiday time and make the world a nicer place….

  6. Does anyone have any suggestions on what will be open besides the resorts on Christmas Day? I just called two Chinese restaurants that will not be open. Thanks!!!!

  7. Not only was there nothing wrong with the columnist giving a shout out to the owner of Cafe’ Aqui, but it was kind of him to do so. I hope he continues to share heartwarming stories about what is going on in our community.

  8. SecretlyCanadian: The Cup Cafe is open on Christmas (breakfast and a prix-fixe deal at night). The new Elle is open from noon to 8 p.m. The restaurant at Lodge on the Desert is open pretty much all day Christmas day. Lotus Garden and Pastiche Modern Eatery will be open, too.

Comments are closed.