Meet the Finalists for the Tucson Cocktail + Perfect Bite Challenge

Tucson City of Gastronomy (TCOG) has selected the finalists for the 2024 Tucson Cocktail + Perfect Bite Challenge!

The event is this Sunday, November 10 from 5 – 7 p.m. at St. Philip’s Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave. Tickets are $65 per person, including cocktail samples, bites, and live entertainment from local DJs.

In this annual fundraiser event for the nonprofit TCOG, the “Perfect Bite” is a new category co-sponsored by Tucson Foodie. Tucson Originals is also a returning event co-sponsor.

This year, five mixologists and five chefs will compete with original creations to win the title of Tucson City of Gastronomy Cocktail of the Year or Perfect Bite of the Year and get their names on trophies they will keep — at least until next year’s contests. 

A Cocktail Showdown

Last year’s Cocktail of the Year winner Kelsey Clounch (The Parish) will defend her title with a new cocktail Sister Lost Soul, made with Whiskey del Bac Classic, aged sotol, and nine flavorings. Kelsey’s 2023-winning cocktail Manzanita at Midnight was featured as the signature cocktail for all events at the historic Fox Theater during the month of December that year. 

The 2022 winner Alfredo Aguilar (Zio Peppe) is also back, and confident that his To the Max cocktail made with premium corn whiskey and corn liqueur, plus housemade black walnut bitters and other flavorings, has the magic to retake the title. 

Hacienda del Sol is represented again this year by the Taqueria Old Fashioned, co-created by Stephen Kozlowski and Roy Asher. Inspired by Sonoran street food, the Del Bac rye washed with birria and pineapple-Maggi syrup evokes a michelada. 

New to the fray this year is Chef Maria Mazon (BOCA) of Food Network fame, finalist of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef,” and two-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southwest region. Her Pineapple Express brings a smooth mezcal to the party along with fresh pineapple and Tajín. 

Another newcomer is Chef Bob Kowalske, a newly selected Tucson Chef Ambassador. His Tucson Sunrise is a new twist on the classic Tequila Sunrise, with mezcal and Mission Garden quince as local touches. 

Who has created the “Perfect Bite?”

The new Perfect Bite competition showcases some nationally famous local chefs, including Maria Mazon (see some of her accolades above). Her Corn Sope with puerco verde and beans is topped with avocado-tomatillo salsa and edible flowers.  

Tucson Knife Fight co-founder Chef Michael Elefante (Mama Louisa’s) is bringing to the competition an hors d’oeuvre-sized taste of his Sonoran White Wheat Gnocchi made with Calabrian chili bacon jam comes with sauteed Brussels sprouts and local oyster mushrooms, and is topped with house-made ricotta, pickled onions, and pecan and almond brittle. 

Chef Travis Peters, the 2017 Iron Chef Tucson winner, frequent Food Network competitor, and one of the first Tucson Chef Ambassadors, is locally known for his inventive dishes. His Sonoran street food-inspired Fermented Elote will be local corn fermented with onion, garlic, and habanero chile, topped with local goat queso, charred corn ash crema, chef Peters’ artisan hot sauce, fresh cilantro, and lime.   

The Gourmet Girls Bistro & Bakery chefs (and new Tucson Chef Ambassadors) Susan Fulton and Mary Steiger will be competing with their Sonoran Supper — a savory roast corn and piñon flan, topped with chili threads garnished with fig and pomegranate relish, a sweet and spicy jalapeño-prickly pear drizzle, and a mesquite shortbread.

The fifth finalist in the Perfect Bite competition is Mateo Cancio, Chef de Cuisine at Hacienda del Sol, and also a new Tucson Chef Ambassador. His Tortilla de Camaron is a fluffy fried shrimp and hemp seed patty topped with nopalitos and birria, garnished with avocado crema, queso fresco, and fresh cilantro. 

Get Your Tickets ASAP

As in previous years, winners are determined by attendees voting for their favorite.

This year, there will be a total of $3,000 in cash prizes awarded to the winners and runners-up. DJ Desert Island will also be playing a mix of hip-hop, soul, garage rock, and yacht rock (yes, it’s a thing).

The event is this Sunday, November 10 from 5 – 7 p.m. at St. Philip’s Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave.

You can still get tickets here!

Learn more about Tucson City of Gastronomy at tucson.cityofgastronomy.org.