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Foodie Events from Dec. 15 – 21: Holiday tea, champagne & a Chinese-Sonoran feast

Foodie Events from Dec. 15 – 21: Holiday tea, champagne & a Chinese-Sonoran feast

Dec 15, 20224 min read

It’s the last weekend before Christmas! If you’re not spending it wrapped up with holiday shopping, check out some of the local events happening around town.

Photo by Jill Wellington
Photo by Jill Wellington

To name a few, there’s Holiday Tea at the Loews Ventana Canyon, S’mores night at Borderlands Brewing, and champagne tasting at Tap & Bottle North — that’s just for Friday!

Keep on reading to see what else could be in store for your weekend. Also, shameless plug for the Tucson Foodie and Maynards Presents – A Chinese Sonoran Christmas Feast on Tuesday, December 20. We’d love to have you join!

It’d be impossible to round up all of the upcoming events, so don’t forget to check out our Events Directory for a full list of upcoming Foodie events.

HOLIDAY TEA AT LOEWS VENTANA CANYON

Thursday & Friday, December 15 & 16 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Loews Ventana Canyon, 7000 N. Resort Dr.

Details are a bit limited, but Loews Ventana Canyon is hosting its Holiday Tea in their Cascade Lounge. There’ll be a delightful three-course holiday-inspired tea menu and champagne along with a live harpist in Cascade Lounge.

Cost: $65 per person. Select from morning or afternoon seating.

YAY BUBBLES! TICKETED TASTING AT T&B NORTH!

Friday, December 16 from 5 – 8 p.m.
Tap & Bottle North, 7254 N. Oracle Rd.

Sample 15 sparkling wines from around the world! Tap & Bottle will be pouring Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Lambrusco, Pét-Nat, and more. Small bites will be provided by Holy Focaccia to accompany the wine flights.

Tickets will have timed entry: 5 – 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Cost: $49 includes tax and tip and 15 pours. Purchase your tickets here.

S’MORES NIGHT SATURDAY

Saturday, December 17
Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave.

Borderlands is hosting a S’mores Night on their patio on Saturday. They’ll be supplying graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows, and fire pits! Enjoy some s’mores with your friends and family. By the way, S’mores pair well with their Award-Winning German Chocolate Cake Porter.

Cost: $10 which includes your very own s’mores kit.

Quince Cooking Workshop with Carolyn Niethammer

Saturday, December 17 from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The Mission Garden, 946 W. Mission Ln.

Spend some time learning how to cook with quince with Carolyn Niethammer, local food writer and jam expert.

This class will cover the basics of making quince jam and using quince in other sweet and savory dishes. You will also learn the origins and history of quince trees and fruit and their use through the centuries. The techniques you will learn for making quince jam are transferable to other fruit jams.

The class will give you:
  • Recipes for jam, and baked goods
  • A small jar of jam to take home
  • Enough quince fruit to make a batch of jam at home
  • Refreshments include a quince empanada and a slice of quince torte

Cost: $60. Purchase workshop ticket here.

GLUTEN FREE SHORTBREAD & CIDER FLIGHT

Saturday, December 17 from 1 – 7 p.m.
Bawker Bawker Cider, 400 N. Fourth Ave.

Join Bawker Bawker for a “sweet” evening with the Gourmet Girls. They’ll feature a flight of three shortbreads with delightfully paired ciders (3.5 ounces), including:

  • Orange Spice Warm/Slushie – Pear & Fig Shortbread (GF)
  • Bengal Spice Cider – Mesquite Pecan Pumpkin Seed Shortbread (GF)
  • Pumpkin Cider – Pumpkin Cranberry Shortbread (GF)

Cost: $20. Reservations are highly recommended as they are limited to 50 flights.

This event is gluten-free. 

MR. BING’S SUPPER CLUB PRESENTS THE HOLIDAY GALA

Sunday, December 18 from 5 – 8:30 p.m.
Savoy Opera House, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd. #22

Take a magical journey to a swingin’ time that pays homage to Andy Williams and Bing Crosby Christmas specials. You’ll be transported to yesteryear with world-class entertainers Katherine Byrnes, Brian Levario, Chach Snook, and Crystal Stark at the majestic Savoy Opera House in Trail Dust Town.

The intimate evening will be filled with singing, dancing, and comedy.

Cost: $85. Buy your tickets here.

TUCSON FOODIE AND MAYNARDS PRESENTS: A CHINESE SONORAN CHRISTMAS FEAST

Tuesday, December 20 from 5 – 8:30 p.m.
Maynards Market & Kitchen, 400 N. Toole Ave.

 Chef and artist Feng-Feng Yeh (the brainchild behind the Chinese Chorizo Festival) will be partnering with local Indigenous chef Rusty Ramirez to bring us a special Chinese X-mas dinner.

The dinner will be focused on Chiltepin’s native culinary heritage to the southwest while exploring how it can be utilized to evoke Chinese cuisine. This union of Indigenous and Chinese cuisine will tell an intersecting story of the resilience of the peoples of Tucson.

Fun stuff:
  • Peking Duck demonstration by Forbes Meat Company
  • Hand Pulled Noodles demonstration by Chef Feng-Feng Yeh
  • Large selection of vegan and GF-friendly dishes
  • Wine pairing (optional)
  • Gift bag

A truly can’t miss kind of evening!

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Article written by:

Addie Ibarra

Addie Ibarra

More about Addie

Addie Ibarra, native Tucsonan, is a fierce lover of adventure, travels, and food. Addie has her Masters in Legal Studies and hopes to one day apply that towards helping people (and animals) around the globe, while traveling and tasting along the way. So far she’s hit 4 continents and counting!

You’ll likely find her on a patio sipping wine with her 4-legged best friend, Spaghetti.

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José Contreras, chef and owner of @Ameliastucson, is headed to New York City to cook alongside chef Alam Méndez of Washington, D.C.‘s Apapacho Taqueria for a collaborative dinner at the James Beard Foundation’s Platform at Pier 57.

The Aug. 11 dinner will celebrate the culinary traditions of Sonora and Oaxaca through a multi course menu centered on heirloom corn, traditional masa, and coastal flavors. Guests will also enjoy a cocktail reception, Mijenta Tequila pairings, and a Q&A with both chefs. The event begins at 6:30 pm at @Pier57.nyc. Tickets are $210 for dining table seats and $250 for the chef’s counter, and are available now at Jamesbeard.org.

Congratulations to @Chefjosetucson on another incredible milestone!🎉

Read @Jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

#tucsonaz #tucsonnewsJosé Contreras, chef and owner of @Ameliastucson, is headed to New York City to cook alongside chef Alam Méndez of Washington, D.C.‘s Apapacho Taqueria for a collaborative dinner at the James Beard Foundation’s Platform at Pier 57. The Aug. 11 dinner will celebrate the culinary traditions of Sonora and Oaxaca through a multi course menu centered on heirloom corn, traditional masa, and coastal flavors. Guests will also enjoy a cocktail reception, Mijenta Tequila pairings, and a Q&A with both chefs. The event begins at 6:30 pm at @Pier57.nyc. Tickets are $210 for dining table seats and $250 for the chef’s counter, and are available now at Jamesbeard.org. Congratulations to @Chefjosetucson on another incredible milestone!🎉 Read @Jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonaz #tucsonnewsItalian Week starts today, and we’re sharing this sweet video of @Spaghettioftucson doing what she did best: bringing smiles to everyone around her.

Our hearts are with her family today. We’ll love you and miss you forever, Spaghetti.❤️‍🩹🐶Italian Week starts today, and we’re sharing this sweet video of @Spaghettioftucson doing what she did best: bringing smiles to everyone around her. Our hearts are with her family today. We’ll love you and miss you forever, Spaghetti.❤️‍🩹🐶Italian Week starts today and runs through July 19 as part of 12 Weeks of Foodie Summer!🍝

Support Tucson’s classic and modern Italian restaurants, then upload your receipt at summer.tucsonfoodie.com for a chance to win weekly prizes and the grand prize at the end of August.

🎉 Week 5 Winners
• Libby: $50 North Italia gift card
• Keely: America’s Best Mexican Food Festival tickets
• arts_primacy_2c: 4 Cool Summer Nights passes
• Donita3000: $20 Ghini’s French Caffe gift card
• Nancy & Gabriella: $100 Visa gift cards

Italian Week Deal: @reneestucson is offering buy one, get one 50% off (equal or lesser value) for dine-in or takeout. Just mention you’re a Tucson Foodie fan. Exclusions apply.

🏆 This Week’s Prizes
• $50 @fentonellispizzeria gift card
• $100 Visa gift card
• $75 @carusositalian gift card
• $20 @ghinisfrenchcaffe gift card
• $50 @miramontetucson gift card
• $50 @localetucson gift card
• @desertmuseum passes 

More details in bio!Italian Week starts today and runs through July 19 as part of 12 Weeks of Foodie Summer!🍝 Support Tucson’s classic and modern Italian restaurants, then upload your receipt at summer.tucsonfoodie.com for a chance to win weekly prizes and the grand prize at the end of August. 🎉 Week 5 Winners • Libby: $50 North Italia gift card • Keely: America’s Best Mexican Food Festival tickets • arts_primacy_2c: 4 Cool Summer Nights passes • Donita3000: $20 Ghini’s French Caffe gift card • Nancy & Gabriella: $100 Visa gift cards Italian Week Deal: @reneestucson is offering buy one, get one 50% off (equal or lesser value) for dine-in or takeout. Just mention you’re a Tucson Foodie fan. Exclusions apply. 🏆 This Week’s Prizes • $50 @fentonellispizzeria gift card • $100 Visa gift card • $75 @carusositalian gift card • $20 @ghinisfrenchcaffe gift card • $50 @miramontetucson gift card • $50 @localetucson gift card • @desertmuseum passes More details in bio!The Mercado District is one of Tucson’s best places to eat, drink, shop, and stroll, all in one stop.🐶❤️

Home to Mercado San Agustín, the MSA Annex, The Monier, and the upcoming Bautista development, there’s always something new to explore. Grab a bite, browse local shops, enjoy the open-air courtyards (they’re dog-friendly!), or hop on the free Sun Link streetcar, which stops right at the Mercado. 

MERCADO SAN AGUSTÍN:
@agustinkitchen 
@seiskitchen 
@prestacoffee 
@laestrella_tucson 
@dolcepastellocakes 
@zumitosjuicebar 
@santacruzriverfm 

MSA ANNEX:
@decibelcoffeeworks 
@kukai___ 
@bosburger__ 
@hidden_hearth 
@rolliestucson 
@westbound_tapandbottle 

THE MONIER:
@wholeslvcepizza 
@81barbersofficial 

Share your favorite stops with us!
More details on Tucsonfoodie.com 

#tucson #tucsonfoodieThe Mercado District is one of Tucson’s best places to eat, drink, shop, and stroll, all in one stop.🐶❤️ Home to Mercado San Agustín, the MSA Annex, The Monier, and the upcoming Bautista development, there’s always something new to explore. Grab a bite, browse local shops, enjoy the open-air courtyards (they’re dog-friendly!), or hop on the free Sun Link streetcar, which stops right at the Mercado. MERCADO SAN AGUSTÍN: @agustinkitchen @seiskitchen @prestacoffee @laestrella_tucson @dolcepastellocakes @zumitosjuicebar @santacruzriverfm MSA ANNEX: @decibelcoffeeworks @kukai___ @bosburger__ @hidden_hearth @rolliestucson @westbound_tapandbottle THE MONIER: @wholeslvcepizza @81barbersofficial Share your favorite stops with us! More details on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucson #tucsonfoodieTwo days at @Hiltonelcon felt like the ultimate staycation. Between the pools, hot spring and cold plunge, water slide, yoga, live music, complimentary bike rentals, and their nostalgic “Summer Rewind” experience, there was always something to do. We never left the resort. 

The highlight at their on-site restaurant, Epazote Kitchen & Cocktails, was the Pollo Con Rajas - perfectly cooked chicken over a rich creamed poblano, onion, and corn mestizaje. And if you’re at their Sundance Café for breakfast, get the pozole. It’s made from a family recipe that became such a guest favorite it earned a permanent spot on the menu. 

Although El Conquistador licenses the Hilton brand, it’s owned and operated by a local company. The culinary team sources much of its meat and produce from Arizona. 

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or just looking for an incredible dinner with Catalina Mountain views, this spot is worth adding to your list. 🌵🌞 

#tucsonaz #tucsonfoodieTwo days at @Hiltonelcon felt like the ultimate staycation. Between the pools, hot spring and cold plunge, water slide, yoga, live music, complimentary bike rentals, and their nostalgic “Summer Rewind” experience, there was always something to do. We never left the resort. The highlight at their on-site restaurant, Epazote Kitchen & Cocktails, was the Pollo Con Rajas - perfectly cooked chicken over a rich creamed poblano, onion, and corn mestizaje. And if you’re at their Sundance Café for breakfast, get the pozole. It’s made from a family recipe that became such a guest favorite it earned a permanent spot on the menu. Although El Conquistador licenses the Hilton brand, it’s owned and operated by a local company. The culinary team sources much of its meat and produce from Arizona. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or just looking for an incredible dinner with Catalina Mountain views, this spot is worth adding to your list. 🌵🌞 #tucsonaz #tucsonfoodieHow many receipts have you sent in for NEW-TO-ME week?💛

From July 6 through July 12, upload your receipt from ANY local business at summer.tucsonfoodie.com for a chance to win weekly prizes and earn entries toward the 12 Weeks of Foodie Summer grand prize drawing at the end of August. 🔗 in bio. 

ANY LOCAL SPOT COUNTS. 

WEEK 6 WINNERS
Here are the winners from Happy Hour Week:
* Libby wins a $50 gift card to North Italia
* Keely wins a ticket to America’s Best Mexican Food Festival
* arts_primacy_2c wins a four-pack of passes to Cool Summer Nights at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
* donita3000 wins a $20 gift card to Ghini’s French Caffe
* Nancy wins a $100 Visa gift card
* Gabriella wins a $100 Visa gift card 

PRIZES
This week’s prize pool includes:
* Salsa, Taco, and Tequila Challenge tickets
* $100 Visa gift card
* @eljefecatcafe pass
* $20 @ghinisfrenchcaffe 
* @desertmuseum passes

Presenting sponsor: @visittucson
Presented by: @bbb_so_az • @510southtucson • @azwinecollectiveHow many receipts have you sent in for NEW-TO-ME week?💛 From July 6 through July 12, upload your receipt from ANY local business at summer.tucsonfoodie.com for a chance to win weekly prizes and earn entries toward the 12 Weeks of Foodie Summer grand prize drawing at the end of August. 🔗 in bio. ANY LOCAL SPOT COUNTS. WEEK 6 WINNERS Here are the winners from Happy Hour Week: * Libby wins a $50 gift card to North Italia * Keely wins a ticket to America’s Best Mexican Food Festival * arts_primacy_2c wins a four-pack of passes to Cool Summer Nights at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum * donita3000 wins a $20 gift card to Ghini’s French Caffe * Nancy wins a $100 Visa gift card * Gabriella wins a $100 Visa gift card PRIZES This week’s prize pool includes: * Salsa, Taco, and Tequila Challenge tickets * $100 Visa gift card * @eljefecatcafe pass * $20 @ghinisfrenchcaffe * @desertmuseum passes Presenting sponsor: @visittucson Presented by: @bbb_so_az • @510southtucson • @azwinecollective

Tag us @TUCSONFOODIE in your food adventures!