Five-Course Vegan Wine Dinner at The National (MENU)

March 14, 2025

By Matt Sterner

The city has been poppin’ lately with special dining experiences — monthly R&D dinners, beer pairing competitions, VIP vegan pop-ups, etc.

Coming up on Thursday, March 20: an exclusive five-course vegan wine dinner at The National, 98 E. Congress St.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., and in the darkly lit dining area between the cafe and Wooden Tooth Records, Chef Christian Padilla will serve a seasonal menu paired with wines curated by local wine guru Josh Osteen.

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“Some of the dishes on the menu will be locally sourced — nopal, tartar, squash, carpaccio, a beet agua chile,” said Padilla. “And, a special vegan dessert curated by our local baker.”

“I’m just very excited to share with you some perfectly paired wines — animal-friendly — for every single course,” Osteen added. “Looking forward to seeing you!”

Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased online.

Vegan Wine Dinner Menu

First Course

Nopal Tartare – blue corn crackers, poor man’s caviar, and jalapeño dust
Paired with Müller-Ruprecht – Orange Resiling

Second Course

Squash Carpaccio – coconut matcha, pickled Fresno chile. micro cilantro, and citrus cashew crema
Paired with Elvio Tintero – Rosato

Third Course

Beet Agua Chile – peach ju mint, sorrel, chiletepin, and cucumber
Paired with Tâcherons – Chardonnay

Fourth Course

Mushroom Birria Relleno – almond queso fresco, black garlic bread crumbs, and pickled red onion
Paired with Upwell – Pinot Noir

Fifth Course

Mexican Mocha Mousse – tofu-based, cayenne, espresso, dark chocolate
Paired with Abbondanza – Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo

Dinner dining area at The National (Photo by Hannah Hernandez)

Get your tickets soon because seating is limited!

National is located at 98 E. Congress St. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit eventbrite.com.

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Article By

Matt Sterner

At 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.

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