Tucson Events and thing to do

We are passing the latest information about the Tucson Culinary Festival.

This event has always been one of our Favorite Events of the year!

 

"Tucson Originals, a group of local, independently operated restaurants, will hold its fifth annual Tucson Culinary Festival Oct. 4-7.

Though many of the events are pricey (the Reserve Tasting is $145 per person), some are more affordable (the World Margarita Championship at Cuvée World Bistro is $20). With that in mind, we've split the schedule into "For a Taste," for less expensive events, and "For a Splurge," for the more expensive ones. Plenty of tickets at all levels and packages still are available.

All but the margarita competition are at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive. For details, go to the festival Web site, tucsonculinaryfestival.com, or call 488-8601. Proceeds also benefit Community Food Bank and New Beginnings for Women and Children.

 

 

WORLD MARGARITA CHAMPIONSHIP: Cuvée World Bistro bartender Shelley Moe (shown at left, with Cuvée chef-owner Mitch Levy) defends her title against Tucson Originals bartenders Jon Tokar (Cup Café), Jeffrey Hughes (Jonathan's Cork), Johnny Smith (Terra Cotta), Richard Epling (Rio Café), Sasha Sanchez (El Charro Café), Rodney Bellnup (Chad's Steakhouse & Saloon), Angela Davidson (Red Sky Cafe and Catering) and Maria Jose Mazon (Papagayo Mexican Restaurant). Those attending the competition may sample the eight finalists' entries. When: 8-10 p.m. Where: Cuvée, 3352 E. Speedway Blvd. Price: $20 per person

LOBSTER ROLLS & BLUEBERRY BUCKLE SEMINAR AND LUNCH: Jennifer English, founder of the Food and Wine Radio Network, host of "Sunday Brunch" (2-4 p.m. Sundays on KVOI-AM 690) and owner of Flavorbank, discusses how regional American food defines a sense of place. She'll also prepare New England Lobster Rolls and Blueberry Buckle, which attendees may wash down with fresh lemonade or Stella Artois beer. When: noon-1 p.m. Where: Loews' Kiva Ballroom Price: $50

 

STIRRED AND SHAKEN SEMINAR: Tony Abu Ganim, host of the Fine Living Network's "Raising the Bar: America's Best Bar Chefs,"(on Cox Digital Cable channel 134) will teach a one-hour class on cocktail recipes, techniques and tips for creating "your own signature drink." (In top left photo Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup at last year's seminar.) When: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Where: Loews' Kiva Ballroom Price: $35

 

 

RESERVE TASTING: A selection of 30 to 40 boutique wines, including limited production reserves and rare wines seldom offered by the taste will be paired with specially prepared appetizers from Tucson Originals chefs. When: 7-10 p.m. Where: Loews' Canyon Café Price: $145

 

GRAND TASTING: Features more than 30 Tucson Originals chefs sharing their signature dishes, plus tastings offered by more than 80 wine and spirit purveyors (the complete list is on the festival Web site). Several chefs and cookbook authors, plus the producer of one mixology CD, will be available to chat and sign copies of their products (provided at a discount by Barnes & Noble, Inc.) (Details below.) In addition signature wine collections will be offered in silent auction. Where: 6-9 p.m. Where: Loews' Grand Ballroom Price: $85

 

Authors and the works they'll sign at the Grand Tasting include several Tucsonans: • Janos Wilder (of Tucson's Janos and J Bar) "Recipes and Tales from a Southwest Restaurant"

• Donna Nordin (Tucson's Terra Cotta) "Contemporary Southwest: The Café Terra Cotta Cookbook"

• Carolyn Niethammer (of Tucson) "The Prickly Pear Cookbook"

• Judith Baigent (Tucson's Culinary Concepts) "The Culinary Concepts Cookbook"

• Ann Rogers (founder of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, a five-day culinary and cocktail celebration held annually in New Orleans), signing copies of Jennifer Adams' "Mixing New Orleans"

• Mary Garland (of Sedona) Amanda Stine "Sharing the Table at Garland's Lodge"

• Barbara Pool Fenzl (Les Gourmettes Cooking School in Phoenix) "Seasonal Southwest Cooking: Contemporary Recipes & Menus for Every Occasion."

• Tony Abou Ganim (of Las Vegas, host of the Fine Living Network's "Raising the Bar: America's Best Bar Chefs")"The Modern Mixologist" DVD

"MARC EHRLER AND FRIENDS" BUFFET BRUNCH: Ehrler, a French master chef, Tucson's Loews' award-winning corporate chef and Loews Ventana Canyon's executive chef, shares some of his and his chef friends' favorite dishes at a multicourse buffet brunch. Among his chef friends attending are Frédéric Robert, a master patissier (pastry chef) and executive pastry chef at Wynn Las Vegas; Tim Buckingham, executive chef and owner of Buck's Grill House in Moab, Utah; Frédéric Lange, a French master chef and chef-owner Lavender Restaurant in Green Valley; and Philippe Bertineau, executive chef of Payard Patissierie & Bistro in New York City. Music will be provided by Tom Walbank and Arthur Migliazza. During the buffet's dessert course, the Copper Chef Challenge will be held. (Details below.) When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Loews' Canyon Café Price: $65 "