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Local food, brews at Desert Museum’s “Sonoran Harvest: Taste the Desert”

Local food, brews at Desert Museum’s “Sonoran Harvest: Taste the Desert”

Oct 21, 20193 min read

Arizona wildlife tastes the desert every day, so why not join ’em?

Sonoran Harvest: Taste the Desert at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will feature a wide range of activities and culinary treats from 6 – 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 16.

You’re not literally tasting the desert. In fact, you’ll learn about the foods found in the Sonoran Desert and then use those skills to incorporate them into your daily life.

There’s also going to be a friendly competition happening at the museum. Some of the local chefs from popular food trucks and restaurants will be battling to be crowned the Sonoran Harvest Champion. The chefs are required to use ingredients of the desert, much like prickly pear and mesquite, and attendees will get to vote for their favorite.

Ticket prices vary, so choose what best suits you. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum members get $5 off any of the following tickets.

Sonoran Harvest: Taste the Desert Tickets

  • Food Only Tickets include ($35) – tastings from local restaurants and small samples from the Chef’s Competition
  • Food and Alcohol tickets include ($50) – tastings from local restaurants, small samples from the Chef’s Competition, 2 drink tickets, and 4 samples from local breweries
  • VIP Food Only tickets include ($60) – Early entry at 5:00 p.m., reserved parking, a complimentary prickly pear lemonade, an up close experience with our furry and feathered friends, tastings from local restaurants, and samples from the Chef’s Competition
  • VIP Food & Alcohol tickets include ($90) – Early entry at 5:00 p.m., reserved parking, a complimentary bottle of wine from Rancho Rosso Vineyards (valued around $20), a complimentary Prickly Pear Wheat beer from Borderlands Brewing Company, an up close experience with our furry and feathered friends, tastings from local restaurants, samples from the Chef’s Competition, 2 drink tickets, and 4 tastings from local breweries
  • Tequila Tasting tickets include $25 – A special guided tasting with tequila expert, Jesús García. Sample fine tequilas and enjoy chips and salsa

When you’re not stuffing your face, don’t forget to check out the animals/residents of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, admire the stars, listen to live music, mingle with community partners, and more.

In addition, local pumpkin sculptor, Matt Harper, will be carving a pumpkin into a desert animal. Matt was recently featured on Food Networks show “Halloween Wars.”

Matt Harper and Beth Townsend on Halloween Wars
Matt Harper and Beth Townsend on Halloween Wars (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

Sonoran Harvest: Taste the Desert Schedule

  • 6:30 p.m. – Tequila Tasting (45 minutes)
  • 7 p.m. – Animal Enrichment
  • 7:30 p.m. – Tequila Tasting (45 minutes)
  • 7:30 p.m. – Pots, Pillowcases, Blenders & Blowtorches (30 minutes)
  • 7:45 p.m. – Animal Enrichment
  • 8:30 p.m. – Sonoran Supermarket Talk (30 minutes)
  • 9 p.m. – Animal Enrichment

Participating Restaurants and Food Trucks

  • August Rhodes Market
  • Batch Cafe & Bar
  • Casino Del Sol
  • Ciao Down
  • Craft Culinary Concepts
  • Fat Noodle
  • Gap Kitchen
  • Geronimo’s Revenge
  • Mad Batter Bakery
  • Prep & Pastry
  • Welcome Diner

Participating Breweries & Distilleries

  • Borderlands Brewing Company
  • Button Brew House
  • Catalina Brewing Company
  • Crooked Tooth Brewing Company
  • Harbottle Brewing Company
  • Town Under Black Distillery

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 N. Kinney Rd. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit desertmuseum.org.

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Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At 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.

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Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant.

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Photos by @tortillaschiwas 
Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

#tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews@Tortillaschiwas is currently in its soft opening at 914 N. Grande Ave. in Barrio Hollywood, inside the former Grande Tortilla Factory. Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant. Tortillas Chiwas is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5–10 pm with 38 seats. Reservations are available on OpenTable. Photos by @tortillaschiwas Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews
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This weekend’s hours are Saturday from 2pm to midnight and Sunday from noon to 10pm. Featured in this video is the Chilte(penis) martini special, made with chiltepin vodka, agua de chiltepin, and pickle juice, available until they sell out.🍸

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Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

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🎟️ Doobie members: $110
🎟️ Non-members: $150

The exact location will be emailed to ticket holders before the event. Membership is available during checkout.

🔗 in bio

MENU

COURSE 1 / AMUSE-BOUCHE 
*“Yu-Tang Crab Ain’t Nuthin To F*** Wit!*
-Goat/C.R.E.A.M. Cheese Crab Rangoons
-Taki Powder
-“Yu-Tang” Sauce (Yuzu Sweet & Sour)
-Orange Ash
-Green Onion Curls

COURSE 2 / APPETIZER 
*Purple Haze Carne Asada Frites*
-Smoked Coffee Guallijo Tri-Tip
-Melted Oaxaca
-Savory Avocado Mousse
-Purple Potato Shoestring Frites
-Heirloom Tomatoes
-Pickled Onion Powder

COURSE 3 / PALATE CLEANSER
*Agua-CHILL-e Slushie”* 
-Cucumber Serrano Granita
-Caramelized Chamoy Bowl
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COURSE 4 / MAIN ENTREE 
*Sonoran Dog(ish) Tarte Tatin*
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-Refried Beans
-“Bolilo Style” Tarte Crust
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-Cherry Tomatoes
-Smoked Chile Guero

COURSE 5 / DESSERT
*Gansito à la Mode*
-Chocolate-glazed gâteau,
-Strawberry confit,
-Toasted marshmallow mousse,
-Mexican vanilla semifreddo
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Photo by @dalton.voss 
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Velvet Cowboy’s grand opening is Oct. 16, with upcoming events including drag brunches, DJs, and live music.🪩 

“Opening this place feels a little surreal. To now have a space where we can bring together coffee, food, art, booze, and all the weird things we love feels like a reflection of how far we’ve come.” —Tyler Melo 

Photos courtesy of @_velvetcowboy 
Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

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