Thai One On
There's a new Thai restaurant in the Rita Ranch area: Sa-Ing Thai Cuisine, locally owned by Tony Wong. Sa-Ing serves traditional Thai food cooked by chefs with 20 years of experience and is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday at 9136 E. Valencia Road, 663-5955.
Rolling Coffee Thunder
Stop by the Fry's on Oracle Road and First Avenue in Oro Valley Monday through Saturday mornings, and you can't help but notice a most cherry-looking 1952 Studebaker truck with the slick Elixer logo on the door. Renee Wold discovered the truck in someone's backyard, and though it had been idle for 20 years, it started immediately. That was all the karmic energy Wold needed. Elixer uses Raging Sage roasted coffee, and her specialty drink is chillixer, a blended frappe nonfat milkshake. Elixer will also drive over to your special events. Contact: 245-6498
Atkins-Friendly Mexican Dining
Check out a couple of the items on El Parador's enticing menu: char-broiled chicken breast topped with tomatoes and grilled green chiles (smothered with cheese and avocado slices), and adobo dry-rubbed salmon with cilantro-Chardonnay sauce, both served with steamed vegetables in herb butter. Fajitas sans tortillas are always an option. 2744 E. Broadway Blvd, 881-2808
Bar Hopping
At the Saddlehorn Saloon, bartender and chef Eddie makes a mean basket of buffalo wings with his own special brand of spicy sauce, soon to be bottled under the label Arizona Flying Buffalo Sauce. He also creates awesome fried calamari that is so good, chefs near and far want the recipe. Eddie, however, is saving his money and his recipe for the day he opens his own sports bar. Starting April 5, wings are 20 cents each (in house) every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at 6300 E. Tanque Verde Road, 722-9253.Factoid: Buffalo chicken wings originated in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, N.Y. Let's get famous, Tucson: What about inventing Old Pueblo patties or Tucson thighs?
