While most food festivals are great, the food always tastes better when it’s free.
Main Gate Square is hosting the second annual Main Gate Square Culinary Challenge, jam-packed with food tastings, drinks, and entertainment, from 7 – 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Marriott Tucson University Park Hotel.
This year’s free event is extra special with Tucson Foodie’s head honcho, Adam Lehrman, hosting the battle between Main Gate Square’s best chefs and bartenders.
After trying samples, you’ll have the option to vote for your favorite restaurant, but the real winner is your stomach after it’s been filled with bites from all over Main Gate Square.
The Nathaniel Burnside Trio is also joining the party with a performance, on top of other prizes and entertainment.
Main Gate Square Culinary Challenge Participants
- Americano Mexicano
- The Buffalo Spot
- Caffe Luce Coffee Roasting Co.
- Campus Candy
- The Dutch Eatery & Refuge
- Espresso Art Café
- The Fix, Arizona’s Mac n Chz Headquarters
- Frog and Firkin
- Fuku Sushi Tucson
- Gentle Ben’s
- Geronimo Restaurant
- Illegal Pete’s
- Jimmy’s Pita & Poke
- Kababeque Indian Grill
- Tucson Marriott University Park
- No Anchovies!
- Panera Bread
- Sinbads
- Starbucks
- Woops
- More to TBA soon
This year’s judges include:
- CJ Hamm of Saguaro Corners
- Vanessa Bechtol of Visit Tucson
- Mark Whittaker of Tucson Weekly and the Tucson Home Skillet blog
- Andi Berlin from the Daily Star and This is Tucson
- Greg Hundt, retired owner of the former Mutts restaurant
If you’re worried about parking, don’t be. The Tyndall Ave. Garage is free on Saturdays, and the Main Gate Square is right along the Tucson Streetcar’s path.
Main Gate Square is located at 841 E. University Blvd. For more Main Gate Square Culinary Challenge information, call (520) 622-8613 or visit maingatesquare.com.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
