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‘Grills Gone Wild’ Rib Cook-Off Competition This Saturday At Independent Distillery

Jan 18, 20162 min read

What
Grills Gone Wild VI
When
Sat, Jan 23, 2pm
Where
Independent Distillery
30 South Arizona Ave
More Info
grillsgonewildaz.com

Five amateur backyard barbecue competitors will duke it out this Saturday, January 23 at downtown’s Independent Distillery at 30 South Arizona Avenue (Johnny Gibson’s Downtown Market courtyard) to benefit Youth On Their Own, a local nonprofit dedicated to educating homeless teens.

The event, Grills Gone Wild VI, will feature barbecue samples, bourbon tastings, pulled pork, and chicken sandwiches. Competitors include Paul Edwards from local food blog Tucson Eats Dinner; Nova Home Loans’ (and reigning champ) Rich Hillman; Insight Homes’ Rodney Miller; Realtor Edward Moore; and John Lesko.

A number of local personalities will judge the contestants, including KOLD‘s Dan Marries, KIIM FM‘s Brett “Porkchop” Miller, Tucson Foodie‘s Adam LehrmanIndependent Distillery founder Donald Northrup, and event organizer and distillery partner Jobe Repola, who’s also the local branch manager of Movement Mortgage.

“This all started in my backyard and has just grown,” said Repola. “I really look forward to being able to sample everybody’s ribs and all the little tidbits they put out, like Hillman’s tri-tip and Paul Edwards’ banana pudding. Lesko, who is new to the contest this year says he’s got a killer Texas brisket.”

General admission tickets for the event are $29 and include entry and a plate of food. VIP tickets are also available for $49 and include entry, a plate of food, two drinks, sampling of the contestant’s ribs and other items, as well as special seating near the grilling action. Tucson Foodie fans can receive ten percent off the ticket price by using the promo code “NBD.”

Repola says he’s happy to be able to give back with the event.

“The future of our society is today’s youth. The better job we do at educating our less advantaged, the better.”

For more information, including tickets, visit grillgonewildaz.com.

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@Tucsoncityofgastronomy opens the fifth annual @Pueblosdelmaiz Festival with Sabores del Pueblo on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6–9 p.m. at Tucson GastroPark.

Five local chefs will serve creative Tucson-inspired dishes alongside craft beer, wine, and bacanora tastings:❤️

• @chefjosetucson
• @vindiola.claudia
• @nick_avram 
• @dcsanner 
• @travisgarypeters 

🎶 Hey Bucko! will provide live music

Tickets are available in @tucsoncityofgastronomy’s bio. Tucson Foodie Insiders save 15% with code INSIDERS.

Proceeds support free programming throughout the Pueblos del Maíz Festival.@Tucsoncityofgastronomy opens the fifth annual @Pueblosdelmaiz Festival with Sabores del Pueblo on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6–9 p.m. at Tucson GastroPark. Five local chefs will serve creative Tucson-inspired dishes alongside craft beer, wine, and bacanora tastings:❤️ • @chefjosetucson • @vindiola.claudia • @nick_avram • @dcsanner • @travisgarypeters 🎶 Hey Bucko! will provide live music Tickets are available in @tucsoncityofgastronomy’s bio. Tucson Foodie Insiders save 15% with code INSIDERS. Proceeds support free programming throughout the Pueblos del Maíz Festival.
Tucson’s barbecue options range from food trucks to full-service dining rooms. Some focus on classic Texas-style plates with butcher paper and simple sides. Others experiment with fusion dishes that blend barbecue with Mexican and Southwestern flavors. This variety gives diners plenty of options, whether they want a quick lunch or a sit-down meal.

This guide highlights barbecue restaurants across Tucson. More on Tucsonfoodie.com🔥Tucson’s barbecue options range from food trucks to full-service dining rooms. Some focus on classic Texas-style plates with butcher paper and simple sides. Others experiment with fusion dishes that blend barbecue with Mexican and Southwestern flavors. This variety gives diners plenty of options, whether they want a quick lunch or a sit-down meal. This guide highlights barbecue restaurants across Tucson. More on Tucsonfoodie.com🔥
LAST CALL!

It’s the final day of @Sonoranrestaurantweek (September 13, 2026)! There’s still time to enjoy the great eats and deals across Tucson. Take a look at the menus on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw. 

Tag the restaurants that you loved the most! Thank you to everyone for being part of this incredible week.

Produced by Tucson Foodie 
Presented by @Visittucson 

#sonoranrestaurantweek #tucsonLAST CALL! It’s the final day of @Sonoranrestaurantweek (September 13, 2026)! There’s still time to enjoy the great eats and deals across Tucson. Take a look at the menus on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw. Tag the restaurants that you loved the most! Thank you to everyone for being part of this incredible week. Produced by Tucson Foodie Presented by @Visittucson #sonoranrestaurantweek #tucson
@Tortillaschiwas is currently in its soft opening at 914 N. Grande Ave. in Barrio Hollywood, inside the former Grande Tortilla Factory.

Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant.

Tortillas Chiwas is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5–10 pm with 38 seats. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

Photos by @tortillaschiwas 
Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

#tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews@Tortillaschiwas is currently in its soft opening at 914 N. Grande Ave. in Barrio Hollywood, inside the former Grande Tortilla Factory. Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant. Tortillas Chiwas is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5–10 pm with 38 seats. Reservations are available on OpenTable. Photos by @tortillaschiwas Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews