New: The Tasteful Kitchen
A gourmet vegetarian restaurant called the Tasteful Kitchen has opened at 722 N. Stone Ave. Sisters Sigret and Keanne and Thompson—who also own the catering business Thompson's Tasteful Events—say the restaurant seats just 22 people, and that everything offered is vegetarian or vegan. The restaurant offers a "Tasteful Tapas" menu with items in the $5 to $10 range, as well as a $25, four-course vegetarian feast with a juice-paired salad course. Hours: 5 to 9 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday; and 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Call 250-9600.
Mother Hubbard's Cafe
"I've taken some of the greasiness out of the spoon," says Kelzi Bartholomaei, who bought Mother Hubbard's Restaurant at 14 W. Grant Road last year. She also changed the name to Mother Hubbard's Café and added a load of new items to the menu. There are dishes made with hatch chiles, unique burgers, corned beef brined in-house and four kinds of homemade sausage. There are also freshly baked pecan-cinnamon rolls and biscuits on most days. Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday; 623-7976.
Mardi Gras Grub
Dove of Peace Lutheran Church, 665 W. Roller Coaster Road, holds its annual Creole-style brunch after the Mardi Gras French Quarter Jazz Mass at 11 a.m., Sunday, March 6. This year, food includes red beans and sausage, as well as king cake, and all proceeds from the donation-only event benefit Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest's behavioral-health program. Seating is limited to the first 300, and it typically fills up fast; 887-5127.
Bluefin Seafood Bistro, 7053 N. Oracle Road, and Kingfisher Bar and Grill, 2564 E. Grant Road, offer special Fat Tuesday menus on Tuesday, March 8. Expect crusted catfish, gumbo, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, and other favorites. Live music will be featured, as will $5 hurricane cocktails.
The Great Irish Cook-Off
Cooks from some of Tucson's top restaurants will compete to see who makes the best Irish fare at the Great Irish Cook-Off, from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, March 6, at Maynards Market and Kitchen (400 N. Toole Ave.). A suggested donation of $10 to the annual St. Patrick's Day parade will get you tastes of Irish stew, corned beef, soda bread and Irish desserts. Attendees also get to vote on the winner; 545-0577.
