If you appreciate local food beyond flavor, don’t miss on Marana’s newly-created food tour.
“The Marana Gastronomy Tour program represents the spirit of the UNESCO Creative City designation,” said Dr. Jonathan Mabry, president of the Tucson City of Gastronomy nonprofit organization. “The tour provides a journey that illuminates the unique flavors and peoples, past and present, of the Sonoran Desert.”
Each tour guides guests through ancient archaeological sites and exclusive tastings of creative interpretations of ancient Sonoran wild foods. This includes tastings of Bean Tree Farm gourmet wild foods, Catalina Brewing Company’s craft beer made with wild foods, and a multi-course small plate tasting with a cocktail at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.
Additionally, the tours will go back 1,000 years in food history with University of Arizona Emerita Professor and Arizona State Museum curator Dr. Suzanne Fish to Hohokam archaeological sites that she has studied for decades.
“Most people don’t know this area as being one of first places in North America where agriculture was practiced 4,000 years ago,” said Laura Cortelyou, Tourism and Marketing Manager for the Town of Marana. “Marana has rich cultural resources and is still a farming area[…] The knowledge, talent, and creativity that is showcased on the Marana Gastronomy Tour, makes a one-of-a-kind experience.”
Marana Gastronomy Tour Schedule (more dates to be added in February – April)
- Friday, December 1, 12:30 – 6 pm
- Friday, December 15, 12:30 – 6 pm
- Friday, January 12, 12:30 – 6 pm
- Friday, January 19, 12:30 – 6 pm
For more information and to purchase a tour, visit discovermarana.org.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
