Look, I know it’s rough seeking out new and amazing food. You go to the same places over and over again. There are a handful of options, of course, but if you’re like me, you’re always looking for something new, delicious, and that you haven’t tried before and, if possible, somewhere you haven’t been before.
I’m willing to bet you haven’t tried Primo.
For starters, this isn’t just “hotel food.”
Primo began in Rockland, Maine, opened by (now) two-time James Beard award winning chef Melissa Kelly. I was able to spend a little time with her and some of the Primo team on a semi-recent visit when I tagged along with the crew for a day trip out to Sleeping Frog Farms. Even in Tucson, where she spends a small fraction of her time, Kelly maintains relationships with farmers and ranchers. Of course, Kelly isn’t in the restaurant for the day to day, but resort Executive Chef Danny Perez – you know, the two-time Tucson Iron Chef winning one – is, along with Primo’s Chef de Cuisine Roderick LeDesma.
I won’t go into all of the accolades Primo in Maine has racked up. (For more info visit primorestaurant.com.) Suffice to say that she had enough of a reputation that Marriott reached out to her to inquire about any interest in opening a Primo at one of their resorts. Essentially she told them she’d be game as long as it can be done her way, which is with a heavy focus on fresh and local ingredients.
Now that you know a wee bit about Primo’s background, I have two things to say. One, you should eat there, regardless of if they’re running any kind of promotion or special. It’s just that awesome, special, and delicious. And two, they actually are beginning a promotion.
Starting Saturday, September 10, Primo, located inside the JW Marriott Star Pass, will offer a three course prix fixe menu, in addition to the regular menu. Options include a choice of one of two starters as well as one of two entrees, and a single dessert.
Each month the prix fixe menu will feature a different theme. September’s theme is “chile.” Sleeping Frog brought over a bunch of chiles and Primo’s own farm located on the resort grounds also produced an abundance. Future prix fixe themes might include butternut squash, pumpkin, sunchokes, and pears, depending on what is most readily available.
Dinner is $45 per person and an additional $15 for guests interested in the wine pairing.
September Chile Theme Prix Fixe Menu at JW Marriott Star Pass’s Primo
Primi
Choice of:
- Octopus Terrine with hatch chile coulis, and herb salad paired with Chateau St. Michele “Eroica”, Columbia Valley ‘13
- Last of the Summer Corn Soup with charred corn, fresno, mint, and cre?me fraiche paired with Viognier, Cass by Lood Kotze, Paso Robles ‘13
Secondi
Choice of:
- Calabrian Chile Linguine with sweety drop peppers, tomatoes, garden basil, parmigiano reggiano paired with Rosso, Masseria Surani “Ares” Puglia ’12
- Squid Ink Chitarra with baby octopus, chiles, tomatoes, and blistered shishito peppers paired with Rosso, Masseria Surani “Ares” Puglia ’12
Dolce
- Chocolate and Calabrian Chile Ice Cream Bar with cre?me anglaise, candied jalapeno, whipped cream, mint paired with Croft Distinction Port
For more information, including reservations (which are highly recommended) visit primotucson.com.
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