Core, A Sonoran Grill opens Nov. 17 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana. The steakhouse draws on Sonoran Desert ingredients and flame-grilled cooking, according to a press release.
A steakhouse set against the Tortolita Mountains
Core sits against the Tortolita Mountains, about 40 minutes northwest of Tucson. The restaurant takes a contemporary approach to Southwestern dining, focusing on the growers, makers, and culinary traditions of the Sonoran Desert, the release stated.
The menu follows the seasons; flame-grilled preparation runs through the dishes, and seasonal plates apply familiar techniques with Sonoran flavors. The release said the experience reveals Southern Arizona gradually through flavor, texture, wine, and design.
Menu highlights
The release names these dishes and drinks:
Beef: Lomo Ranch beef in filet mignon, New York striploin, rib-eye, T-bone, and tomahawk cuts
Wagyu: Australian Westholme Wagyu New York striploin and American Mishima Wagyu bone-in rib-eye
Starters: Ora King salmon crudo, Pacific Kumiai oysters from Baja California’s Guerrero Negro Lagoon, chicken liver parfait, and roast bone marrow
Seasonal dishes: Pacific halibut and spaghetti “queso e pepe” with local cotija cheese and Sonoran-spiced pepper butter
Desserts: Horchata tres leches with tamarind ice cream, and mango, lime, and Tajín sorbet
Cocktails: The Sonoran Candy and the Contraband
Wine with a Southern Arizona focus
The wine program puts greater emphasis on emerging wine regions in Southern Arizona. It also includes selections from growing regions outside the state, the release says.
The chef’s approach
Executive chef Hamish Allison said the restaurant ties its menu to the surrounding landscape.
“We are letting our seasonality and landscape guide the menu and the experience,” Allison said in the release.
He said Southern Arizona has “extraordinary character,” from what grows there to the people who produce it. The team wants the freedom to share “the desert’s larder and stories in an authentic and evolving way,” he said.
About the resort
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain has 253 guest rooms and suites. It also has a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and 26 miles of trails. The resort holds a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating and a Michelin Two Key distinction.
