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What
Sweet Charity Dessert Challenge
When
6 p.m., Fri., Nov. 18
Where
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
7000 N. Resort Dr.
More Info
SAACA Sweet Charity Dessert Challenge
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SAACA, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, is joining forces with Loews Ventana Canyon Resort to host a dessert and cocktail challenge. The event will benefit therapeutic art programs.

The event is considered the largest dessert competition in Southern Arizona. The challenge will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 18.

Guests will have the opportunity to sample pastries, cocktails, and beer from over 20 different vendors, and will cast their votes for their favorite creations in the competition.

In previous years, awards were given to the Chocolate Caramel Bomb from Splendido at Rancho Vistoso, pumpkin s’mores from JW Marriott Starr Pass, and organic cotton candy from Fluff It Up.

The event sold out last year, so make sure to get your tickets soon. Admission is priced at $45 per person. Proceeds support SAACA’s Creative Arts Therapy Program for veterans and retirement communities.

The following vendors will be competing at the event:

• Casino Del Sol — Chocolate Snack Attack Fruit, Mangonada Upside Down Cake
• Dragoon Brewing Company — Dragoon IPA, American IPA, Barrel-aged The Cuatro Bourbon Barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout
• Fermented Tea Company — MochaBucha, Prickly Pear Kombucha
• Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery Bistro — Pumpkin Trifle Parfait
• GRINGO grill + cantina — Chocolate Tamale with fruit pico de gallo
• Hacienda del Lago — Kickin’ Cactus Cocoa Cocktail, Drunken Cookie Dessert
• HighWire Lounge — Vodka Gummi Bears, Caramel Apple Pearl Shot
• JW Marriott Starr Pass — Spice of the Night rum, Yuzu Fruit Crumble
• Loews Ventana Canyon Resort — Short & Stout milkshake, Smoke & Chocolate
• Mama’s Hawaiian BBQ — Bourbon Pecan Bar
• Nothing Bundt Cakes — Bundtini
• [POPPED] Artisan Popcorn — Gingerbread Artisan Popcorn, Lemon Chiffon Artisan Popcorn
• RA Sushi Restaurant — Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch
• Rigo’s Restaurant — Ponche Calientito Cocktail, Cotton Candy Bubbles with champagne
• Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain — Peppermint Panna Cotta, Frozen Pumpkin Pops
• Roger Clyne’s Mexican Moonshine Tequila — TBA
• Spendido at Rancho Vistoso — Baked Yule Log
• SpunLight Cotton Candy — Chocolate Salted Caramel, Aztec Chocolate
• Table of Elementz — The Road to Hana Dessert Chocolate & BBQ
• The Melting Pot — Ode to Mole Rojo Cocktail, Bananas Foster Chocolate Fondue
• Three Wells Distilling Company — Mt Lemon Gin, Sonoran Copper

The event will also offer a raffle and silent auction featuring gift certificates, dessert-themed items, and artwork.

The Sweet Charity Dessert Challenge began five years ago to highlight the culinary talent of Tucson’s bakers, chefs, students, and mixologists.

SAACA says, “the event has pushed our local culinary partners to their absolute creative maximum capacity, and re-inventing how we know the art form of dessert to ever be again.”