From Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1, the Agave Heritage Festival is making its way back to Tucson with a four-day event at multiple locations around town. Todd Hanley, who is the festival director and CEO of Hotel Congress and Maynards, is pumped — to say the least — about the festival’s comeback.
“We are thrilled to continue bringing attention and awareness to Tucson and Southern Arizona through the lens of this truly amazing and resilient agave plant in the form of a four-day festival,” said Hanley.
One of those big events, which can also be seen as a grand finale, is the Agave Heritage multi-course dinner happening at Maynards from 6 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 1.
This mammoth multi-course meal features mezcal cocktails and samples that set out to capture the true essence of how to pair the agave spirits with food. Executive chef Brian Smith is collaborating with Aaron DeFeo, who’s a mixologist, James Beard Nominee, owner of Little Rituals in Phoenix, and an Agave spirits expert.
Tickets are $167 per person and aside from the feast each attendee will also receive an authentic hand-crafted Jicara — a mezcal drinking vessel made from the gourd of the calabash fruit, and hand-crafted by artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico.
AGAVE HERITAGE DINNER MENU
Starters
- Chapulines (grasshoppers)
- Paired with the “Welcome Cocktail” Pleasure Island – Lime Leaf Vago Espadin, Rucolino Amaro, Martini and Rossi Rubino, Pomegranate, and Fresh lime
First Course
- Savory Churro – with herbs and queso
- Paired with a Mezcal Vago Mexicano pour
Second Course
- Grouper Ceviche – with avocado, cherry bomb chili, and passion fruit
- Paired with a Mezcal Vago Elote pour
Third Course
- Masa Gnocchi – with silki pak and carrots
- Paired with the Spirit Forward Cocktail – Vago Elote, Nixta, Maguey, Amaro Nonino, Celery, and Fennel
Fourth Course
- E&R Pork Belly – with mesquite-smoked 90-day corn, turnip, and mezcal barbecue
- Paired with a Mezcal Vago Special Release pour
Fifth Course
- Grapefruit Flan – with mesquite and mint
- Paired with the Agua Fresca Highball – Vago Espadin, Bonal Aperitif, Melon and Passionfruit soda, and citrus
Maynards is located at 400 N. Toole Ave. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hotelcongress.com.
To read all about the 2022 Agave Heritage Festival taking place on Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1, check out our article “2022 Agave Heritage Festival: Four days of mezcal tastings, dinners, music & more.”
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
