Chef Kenneth Foy joins Tanque Verde Ranch as executive chef

Kenneth Foy, who closed his Dante's Fire restaurant on Grant Road last month after 13 years, has landed at Tanque Verde Ranch as the historic east-side dude ranch's new executive chef. The ranch announced the hire Aug. 26 on Facebook. Foy steps into a role that carries significant visibility: Tanque Verde Ranch hosts private chef dinners, holiday buffets, and events for resort guests year-round from its property at 14301 E. Speedway Blvd., nestled against the Rincon Mountains near Saguaro National Park.

"We are thrilled to welcome Ken Foy as our new Executive Chef," the ranch wrote. "Ken brings an incredible passion for food, hospitality, and creating memorable dining experiences."

Thirteen years of independent restaurant work in Tucson

Foy spent more than a decade building Dante's Fire into one of midtown Tucson's most recognized independent restaurants. He opened the Grant Road spot in 2011 and ran it through multiple rebrands, eventually operating it as Dante's Kitchen + Cocktails. Throughout that run, he hosted a Summer Whiskey Dinner Series, multi-course R&D dinners that let guests sample new dishes directly with the kitchen, and scratch-cooking menus that drew on locally sourced ingredients.

Dante's Fire closed July 19, 2026. Foy cited an upcoming building remodel and the ongoing Grant Road widening project as the reasons. In his farewell message, he told customers the team would continue through Tucson Catering Company and Solana Spanish Villas. The Tanque Verde Ranch hire extends that next chapter sooner than many expected.

A decorated competitive record

Foy's time at Dante's Fire earned him a consistent run of recognition across Tucson's food community. He won Iron Chef Tucson in both 2022 and 2023, one of three chefs to win the competition in back-to-back years. At the SAACA World Margarita Championship, he took People's Choice, Best Menu Sample, and Judges' Choice honors in both 2022 and 2023. The Arizona Daily Star named him Best Late Night Eats in 2017, and Tucson Weekly recognized him for Best Party in Your Mouth in 2013. The Cooking Channel also featured his cooking in its Late Nite Eats: Tucson Edition episode in 2017.

Originally from New Jersey, Foy has spent his career in Tucson and says he developed a deep connection to the desert. Outside the kitchen, he builds furniture through woodworking and attends concerts with his family.

A ranch with deep culinary history

Founded in 1868 as a cattle operation, Tanque Verde Ranch has accommodated guests for nearly a century. The ranch became a recognizable piece of Tucson pop culture when it served as a filming location for the Nickelodeon show "Hey Dude!" in the early 1990s. Its culinary programming has expanded steadily in recent years, including six-course chef dinners with wine pairings, holiday buffets, and special event menus that highlight Sonoran Desert ingredients.

Foy's competitive background and 13 years of independent restaurant experience signal a complementary direction for the ranch's dining program.

Tanque Verde Ranch is at 14301 E. Speedway Blvd. Reservations can be made by calling (866) 413-3833 or at tanqueverderanch.com.