Dining Out

New variations on beef and beer, pumpkin and pies transform local menus

October, with its record breaking heat, is finally past. With a promise of cooler weather in Southern Arizona, local restaurateurs are beginning to think about dishes that make the most of fall’s bounty. At Gusto Osteria on Tucson’s east side, where owner Gus Gerson rules the kitchen, the focus… Read more »

Tucson named world city of gastronomy

Tucson was named America’s first UNESCO City of Gastronomy last year. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Creative Cities program — established in 2004 to promote cooperation between cities for “sustainable urban development” — has 116 member cities, and on Dec. 11, 2015, Tucson became one of… Read more »

Pumpkin dishes with panache among fall delights at local eateries

Cooler weather isn’t the only thing Tucsonans can look forward to this fall. Local kitchens are heating up with all new menus and pumpkin-flavored treats galore. Gourmet Girls’ Susan Fulton says she and co-owner Mary Steiger “are in our full pumpkin mode.” The gluten free bakery is offering pumpkin… Read more »

Local chefs dish on menus, comfort foods and childhood memories

ALFONSO GOURMET OLIVE OIL & BALSAMICS St. Philips Plaza, Suite #40 • 4320 N. Campbell Ave. 441-9081 Plaza Escondida • 7854 N. Oracle Road • 638-5000 www.alfonsooliveoil.com Tom Alfonso, co-owner Do you have a secret menu item? All of our extra virgin olive oils are certified kosher and have… Read more »

Eat Local: Hot pizza, cold beer and other pleasures

Good food and drink are among life’s best simple pleasures — especially when you’re talking about pizza baked to perfection or a cold brew shared with friends. Here are a few words about some of Tucson’s best purveyors of gustatory bliss. Fresco Pizzeria & Pastaria Mat and Britnee Cable,… Read more »

Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink

TYLER FENTON, chef/co-owner Tyler Fenton, at 25 years old, is a primarily self-taught restaurateur. He loves to experiment with new ingredients, both in the kitchen and behind the bar. As a result, his menu at Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink remains dynamic as Tyler constantly strives for culinary perfection.… Read more »

Tavolino Ristorante Italiano

MASSIMO TENINO, owner/chef Born and raised in Northern Italy, where he learned his cooking skills from his mother and grandmother, Massimo Tenino came to the United States in 1993 and spent the next years developing his culinary style in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 2003, he moved to… Read more »

Ghini’s French Caffe

CORALIE SATTA, owner/chef Born in Marseille, France, Coralie Satta began helping her mother and grandmother in the kitchen at the age of 2. At the age of 14, she worked as a pantry chef in Tucson and later worked at a private dinner club in Vermont. Returning to France,… Read more »

The Rice Bowl

BILLY and CASSANDRA RAHN, chef/owners Husband and wife team Billy and Cassandra Rahn have both been in the food service industry for over 15 years, both with experience in multiple fast food and casual dining restaurants. After completing her B.S. in hospitality management from Northern Arizona University, Cassandra joined… Read more »

Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro

MARY STEIGER and SUSAN FULTON, chef/owners Mary Steiger started cooking as a child and by the time she was 7, knew she wanted to be a baker when she grew up. Susan Fulton came from a family with a passion for food and always fantasized about owning a restaurant.… Read more »

Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizzeria

ROCCO DiGRAZIA, owner/chef Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Rocco DiGrazia’s first job was in a neighborhood pizzeria but he learned to “really cook” from his grandmother and later at Tucson’s Café Terra Cotta. Missing Chicago-style pizza after moving to Tucson, he began to experiment at… Read more »

Maynards Market & Kitchen

ANTHONY COLUCI, executive chef Chef Anthony, a Boston native, was previously sous chef of the Cup Café and chef de cuisine of Maynards Kitchen. In the kitchen since age 13, now with over 18 years of culinary experience, he’s excited to continue the tradition of serving award-winning dishes in… Read more »

Dining Out in Tucson 4.25.14

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From downtown to the Foothills: the best culinary temptations for spring

The patio at Bodega Kitchen & Wine

Tucson isn’t the left bank of Paris, but elegant ambiance, lovingly prepared Southwest and ethnic dishes, and spring outdoor dining all contribute to the tasty local restaurant scene. “Spring creativity came to me in a dream last week about drinks,” says Chef Coralie Satta, owner of Ghini’s French Café.… Read more »

Fall dining out: a cornucopia of pumpkins, fresh fish and cooking with love

Although we live in the desert, fresh fish has become a popular option on Tucson restaurant menus, as are more gluten-free dishes. Going with the flow of the latest food trends is key as area restaurants dive into fall. It’s pumpkin time at Gourmet Girls Gluten-Free Bakery/Bistro in Northwest… Read more »