Since taking over the menu in 2022, Chef Jacqueline “Jacki” Kuder has been adding her own spin on what’s coming out of the kitchen while incorporating ingredients that have made Tucson nationally and even globally recognized.
Locally, Kingfisher has been one of the city’s favorite seafood restaurants for years. Just this month, they won “Best Seafood Restaurant” and “Best Central Restaurant “in Tucson Weekly’s annual “Best Of” roundup.
On Tuesday, October 22, Chef Kuder and the team dropped its latest Fall/Winter menu at 2564 E. Grant Rd. We popped our heads in there the other day and got a sneak peek of this season’s delights.
“Celebrate the sub-100 degree autumn weather and savor the flavors of fall… and of course, the return of the Warm Cabbage Salad,” they shared.
Here’s a visible tour of what Kingfisher has going on in the kitchen right now.
Fall/Winter Menu Highlights
Winter Salad
Roasted fennel and butternut, radicchio, oranges, gorgonzola, spiced pecans, shallot maple vinaigrette (GF)(V)
Salmon
Six-ounce grilled salmon fillet, lemongrass coconut red curry, watercress, roasted beets, rice pilaf
Steak
10-ounce grilled beef bistro tenderloin (teres major), black pepper rosemary crust, mustard cream sauce, grilled asparagus, roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Whole Grilled Fish
Rotating selection, one pound-plus, bone-in, head-on, hazelnut romesco, crispy leeks, grilled asparagus, roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Duck Confit
Bone-in confit of duck leg & thigh, brandy-cherry compote, crispy shallots, roasted beets, herbed lemon saffron pearl couscous
You can check out the full Fall/Winter menu online — just one of the many menu renditions folks have come to admire about Kingfisher over the years.
In 1993, longtime friends and chefs Jeff Azersky and Jim “Murph” Murphy opened Kingfisher with the vision of bringing fresh seafood to the desert. In November 2022, Chef Kuder and Ted Burhans took over the restaurant, giving Jeff and Murph the chance to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
Kingfisher is located at 2564 E. Grant Rd. Reservations are highly recommended, so give them a call at (520) 323-7739 or visit kingfishertucson.com.
Tucson Foodie Insiders
Kingfisher is also a Restaurant Partner, meaning that Tucson Foodie Insiders can score $40 off their bill once a year (not valid toward ticketed events).
For $20 a month, Insiders get a stack of cash vouchers to local restaurants worth over $5,000, free tasting events at local restaurants every month, access to members-only monthly dinner series with local chefs, discounts on events, and monthly mixers with other members. Learn more and join!
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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.
