It's What's Shakin'
The World Margarita Championship starts at 6 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 25, at the Tucson Museum of Art, and 19 of the Tucson Originals restaurants will be offering chow to go with tequila concoctions created by 15 mixologists. The attendees get to sample all of the drinks and food, and also vote for the People's Choice Award margarita. The World's Greatest Margarita will be decided by an esteemed panel of judges, which includes (shameless self-promotion alert!) the Tucson Weekly's own Rita Connelly and yours truly. Tickets can be purchased before the event at tucsonoriginals.com. They're $60 at the door. The Museum of Art is at 140 N. Main Ave.
New Dishes at Acacia
Acacia Real Food and Cocktails, 3001 E. Skyline Drive, has revamped its menu, which had remained pretty much intact since the restaurant moved to Skyline from St. Philip's Plaza. Chef Albert Hall's inspiration comes from his favorite places, including the Pacific Northwest, California's wine country and the Southwest. Hall is a stickler for using only the freshest, local ingredients, and it shows in his new dishes. The new menu include things like buttered lobster with warm brioche and Saint-André, bacon-onion-pine nut and fingerling hash, seasonal salads, and new pizzas and flatbreads made in a newly purchased oven. Pair the new dishes with newly created cocktails or a local craft beer from the rotating selection. You can check out the new menus at acaciatucson.com.
More Mex Coming
Totopos Mexican Grill is close to opening a second location at 2475 S. Harrison Road. Totopos (think Los Betos on steroids) offers the standard tacos, burritos and quesadillas as well as some higher-end dishes such as pescado empanizado (breaded fish and greens) and rib-eye ranchero. For more information, go to totoposmexicangrill.com. Rancho Rustico has also opened a second location, at 9165 E. Tanque Verde Road. Folks who have eaten at the original restaurant at 8270 S. Houghton Road here swear by the place.
A sign at the former I Love Pho location at 2513 N. Campbell Ave. says "Tacos Urbano coming soon." More information to follow when it becomes available.
