Here’s a look back at what the Tucson Foodie team enjoyed the most in August. Also, not only are these reminders of the dishes we ate, but they can also be a guide for your own decisions on what to eat here in Tucson.
We broke open this orange wine courtesy of Nossa Imports. It’s literally made from the skin of oranges. It’s a beautiful blend between a dessert wine and an amaro. Anything you get from Nossa is high quality and 100/10 recommended.
The Cubano at Ermanos was all that and a bag of chips. Awesome portions, great flavor profiles — the Cubano was well balanced with the pickles, the cheese, and the protein. Oh, and their beer selection pairs nicely with just about anything on their menu.
The Iron Chef dinner at Dante’s Fire, celebrating chef Ken Foy’s victory for the second year in a row, featured peanut butter as the secret ingredient. It is hard to know which dishes will turn up on the restaurant’s regular menu, but everyone at the dinner requested — nay, demanded! — that all of them be incorporated, from the “eat dessert first” Peanut Butter Blueberry Semi Fredo with Churro Tortilla Chips to the Peanut Butter Mousse with Chantilly Cream (dessert #2), and the risotto with tempura shrimp and pan-seared pork loin in between.
Beaut Burger’s latest special, The Banh V, just made it to the permanent menu, and I couldn’t be more excited.
One stop that I always default to has to be Midtown Vegan Deli due to their always delicious delights that steer me away (get it?) from my usual meat-centric tendencies. As I placed my order for a sandwich one afternoon, I noticed a single cookie left sitting on the counter titled Campfire Cookie. It was big — as if a chocolate chip cookie ate another chocolate chip cookie before hitting the gym. It was the best decision I made that month. The Campfire Cookie is chunky, funky, glorious, and packed with ooey gooey marvels while at the same time being 100% vegan. When I get this thing, I tend to eat it in silence, alone, with one candle lit and my eyes closed. Not too sure how you do your cookie-eating rituals but now you know mine. Thank you, Midtown Deli, and thank you, Campfire Cookie. You are my new best friend.
Whenever Whiskey Del Bac announces a seasonal or special release, I set my notification alarm with the same impatient anticipation as most kids do with Christmas. In August, Del Bac offered up their Normandie single malt whiskey, named so as it was aged in French Calvados brandy barrels. When that email arrived saying my order was ready for pickup, I literally dropped everything that I was doing, raced down to their retail shop hitched right behind the distillery, and mirthfully grabbed my amber-hued comrade and brought it to its forever home. Now, I have been a huge fan of Del Bac’s whiskey for quite some time, and on account of their sommelier, it is advised to include one ice cube in the tumbler for the essence of the tipple to take effect. Normandie exploded on my tongue with a grand sweetness, most likely from those brandy barrels, with hints of pepper, citrus, and caramel. An absolute wonder to sip and savor. Much like the Campfire Cookie, which pairs very well with the Normandie release by the way, I tend to drink this in relative darkness with maybe an old Tom Waits album creaking in the distance as the cat stares up at me while I slip into a grinning boozy bliss.
This birria burrito from the Birrieria Las Chicas food truck is now one of my favorite burritos in Tucson. They’re fairly new and park at Casa Video often.
Doughbird has great pizza, wings, and drinks… but honestly, my favorites on the menu fell under the appetizer section of the menu. The Brussels sprouts are sweet, spicy, and crunchy all at the same time and there’s enough to share. The Truffle Cheese Bread, conversely, is gooey, rich, and savory, and gets even better when dipped into the housemade marinara with which it comes.
Linguini with white clam sauce from Dolce Vita to-go. The mussels are just there as an accent. Outstanding! Tucked in the corner are Irene’s Crispy Fried Zucchini. Her food is truly some of the best in town.
With an anniversary, a birthday, and a new restaurant opening we’ve eaten well. For starters, we lunched at Wildflower and I had a tender steak and a sweet side of roasted corn (don’t forget those Bars of Sin dessert).
Then the soft opening at CORBETT’S (my money is on them being a huge success,) Hummus, Roasted Turkey Sandwich, Hi Corbett Burger, and the soft serve ice cream.
The corn poblano soup at The Monica.
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