“To an outsider, Tucson’s star turn may be a bit of a head scratcher,” states yesterday’s New York Times feature “Tucson Becomes an Unlikely Food Star.”

It’s a conversation I’ve had countless times regarding the UNESCO designation, which many mistakenly believe is primarily tied to Tucson’s restaurant scene. That’s not to say we don’t have amazing chefs and restaurants doing great things. It’s just a lot more comprehensive than that.

First, take a look at UNESCO’s mission:

UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

And here’s UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network mission:

…the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) aims to strengthen cooperation with and among cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of sustainable development as regards economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects.

The article mentions many well known Tucsonans and businesses, such as Edible Baja Arizona, along with its editor and published author Megan Kimble, Pizzeria Bianco, Janos Wilder, Barrio Bread and owner/baker Don Guerra, and author Gary Paul Nabhan.

For a deeper look at the City of Gastronomy designation, check out Megan Kimble’s piece in Edible Baja Arizona, “Tucson Designated “UNESCO World City of Gastronomy.”

Read the New York Times article in full here: Tucson Becomes an Unlikely Food Star

[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10335″]