It’s that time of year again. The birds are chirping, the sun is scorchin’, and the dishes are taking shape at the midtown restaurant that’s known for its annual tour.

Kingfisher Bar & Grill’s 2022 Summer Road Trip, which is a culinary journey through different regions of the U.S., begins on Wednesday, June 1 at 4 p.m.

It’s wild to think that Kingfisher has been hitting the road — in a culinary sense — for 29 years. It’s a road trip that doesn’t require much travel. It’s an excursion that dodges the awkward pit stops at tourist traps and not-so-clean restrooms. It’s the annual celebration of signature dishes from across the country.

The first stop this summer is the Southwest menu from Wednesday, June 1 – Saturday, June 11.

Each regional menu is created by one of Kingfisher’s executive chefs, Jim Murphy, Jeff Azersky, and Fred Harris, which is offered in addition to the regular Kingfisher menu. Also, to add a cherry on top, pastry chef Marianne Banes will be serving up a delectable dessert creation for each leg of the trip, and the talented bar staff is standing by to create a perfectly paired cocktail.

The Southwest menu is the first stop on the 2022 Summer Road Trip with a menu presented by chef Jim Murphy from Wednesday, June 1 – Saturday, June 11.

SOUTHWEST MENU

Appetizers

• Seafood Albondigas – seafood meatballs, spicy shellfish tomato broth, fresh cilantro, and rajas
• Baked Gulf Oysters, “Rocky Point” – cilantro pinenut pesto, house reposado Tequila, and Cotija cheese

Entrees

• Grilled Achiote Rubbed Guaymas Shrimp – corn chalupa, charro beans, shredded lettuce, cabbage slaw, pickled vegetables, avocado crema, and Cotija cheese
• Venado Guisada – roasted Venison Stew, dried cascabel chile, poblanos, tomato, chicken stock, carrots, potato, garlic, fresh oregano, salsa fresca, and a flour tortilla

Dessert

• Ibarra Chocolate Flan – with Mexican wedding cookies and whipped cream

Southwest Cocktail

• The Sonoran Spritz

2022 Summer Road Trip Schedule

If you can’t hop on during this first road trip, there’s going to be plenty more to attend throughout the season. Here is the rest of the schedule happening at the midtown restaurant:

• Pacific Northwest (Tuesday, June 14 – Saturday, June 25)
• Down South (Tuesday, June 28 – Saturday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 19 – Saturday, July 23)
• Great Plains/Midwest (Tuesday, July 26 – Saturday, August 6)
• Back East (Tuesday, August 9 – Saturday, August 20)
• California/Hawaii (Tuesday, August 23 – Saturday, September 3)

The restaurant, which offers a gathering of regional influences, seafood dishes, grilled meats, and poultry entrees, is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Tuesday – Saturday.

Kingfisher Bar & Grill is located at 2564 E Grant Rd. For reservations call (520) 323-7739 and visit kingfishertucson.com for more information.