What
The Tucson 23: A Mexican Food Festival
When
6 p.m. Saturday, June 18
Where
The Arizona Ballroom at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa
More Info
The Tucson 23: Mexican Food Festival Facebook event page and saaca.org.
If you’ve ever lived in Tucson and then moved away, one of the first things you’ll miss is the abundance of quality Mexican cuisine. As it turns out, the highest concentration of these eateries is located within a 23-mile area including South Tucson, downtown, and lower midtown. For a chance to indulge in a wide variety of Tucson’s beloved Mexican restaurants, visit The Tucson 23: Mexican Food Festival this Saturday, June 18.
Tickets include food samplings, cocktail and beer samplings, and food demos and education. Other activities include a photo fun booth with special themed props and live artist demonstrations such as the Dia de los Muertos Face Painting by Ruth Spies and Etienne Boeuf, an interactive art project where all event attendees can participate.
If you want to spoil your father for Father’s Day, raffle baskets feature travel packages, culinary tours, staycations, restaurant gift cards, and more. Original artwork is also available for sale.
Entertainment will be provided by Mariachi Mexteca and Ballet Folklorico La Paloma.
The Tucson 23: Mexican Food Festival Participating Restaurants and Featured Menus
- Blanco Tacos & Tequila – Machaca beef tacos – Chipotle Sauce, Roasted Habanero Salsa, Onion, Cilantro, and Cotija “Esquites” Grilled Mexican Street Corn – Cilantro, Lime, Cotija Cheese, paired with a Mexican Chocolate Cake
- BOCA Tacos y Tequila – Selection of gourmet salsas and chips
- Calle Tepa – Carnitas tacos, with handmade corn tortilla topped with salsa verde
- Crossroads Restaurant – Sonorense paired with Chicken fajitas, Red chile mini chimi, Rice, Beans, Chips & homemade salsa
- Dish for Dosha – Raw juice unsweetened aguas frescas
- El Charro Café and Charro Steak – Five chile pork carnitas and a featured Mexican steak dish
- El Cisne – Camarones Adobo – Gulf Shrimp sautéed in an Adobo marinade, wrapped with avocado
- Fermented Tea Company – Prickly Pear Kombucha – White tea with chamomile, hibiscus, rose hip, and prickly pear. Tropical Kombucha- Black tea, sunflower and safflower petals, passion fruit, and mango. Cuatros Amigos – Blend of four teas with jasmine
- Gringo Grill + Cantina – Chorizo and queso fresco empanadas
- La Estrella Bakery – Traditional Mexican Pan Dulce, Empanadas (various fillings), Cochitos (gingerbread cookie), Pan de Huevo (traditional Mexican pan dulce), Chimichangas (fruit filled), Revolcadas, Orejas, Churros
- La Fresita Restaurant – Horchata, Jamaica “hibiscus” paired with Mini Chimis, Rolled Tacos, signature Enchiladas, Rice, Beans, Birria Chicken and Beef Fajitas
- La Parilla Suiza – Beef and chicken alambre tacos – Diced sirloin or chicken breast sautéed with bacon peppers and onions served on a flour tortilla
- Marisco’s Chihuahua (Grande location) – Shrimp ceviche, made with a variety of house spices and vegetables.
- Molina’s Midway Restaurant – Red Chile Tostada- Small red chile meat and bean tostada topped with lettuce. Chips and Hot Sauce
- Pasco Kitchen & Lounge – Chili infused cocktail paired with a fresh Ceviche, tomato sangrita
- Penca Restaurante – Fried corn tortilla achiote-braised pork grilled pineapple green salsa cilantro
- Rigo’s Restaurant – Chile beef in red sauce, chips & hot salsa Sevada, paired with Mexican agua fresca
- Reforma Cocina y Cantina – Pork Belly Taco – Flour tortilla, flat grilled pork belly, diced onions, sesame seed, green cabbage, salsa negra
- Seis Kitchen and Catering – Watermelon Cucumber Aqua Fresca with Al Pastor street taco
- Sonoran Sno-Cones – Shaved ice Raspados, topped with fresh fruit pieces. Mango, Strawberry, Coconut
The following participants will provide libations:
- Bohemia
- Dos Equis
- Roger Clyne’s Mexican Moonshine
- Sonoran Sno-Cones
- Tecate Michelado Diablo
- Tito’s Vodka
- Fermented Tea Company
Tickets for the event are priced $45 per person. Children ages 3 through 18 are half-off at the door.
For more information, visit the Tucson 23: A Mexican Food Festival Facebook event page and saaca.org. To purchase tickets, visit saaca.thundertix.com.
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.
