I recently had the distinct pleasure of joining two travel writer friends of mine for dinner at one of Tucson's newest culinary hotspots, Harvest, located in Oro Valley. Let me preface the experience by saying that even before they opened the doors, Harvest was bound to be a success.  It's owned by the same gentlemen who own Hacienda del Sol and Zona 78. These guys know their food and wine, as does the co-owner, executive chef and other family members that oversee day to day operations. 

So, Harvest is a family affair. Love it! The restaurant's hook is that the menu features "carefully selected local, domestic and fresh ingredients." Love that too. So far so good! I couldn't wait to give it a go.

One of my dinner partners was a food critic and restaurant reviewer, and the other was a very well published travel writer/blogger. These girls know their food, and they're a tough audience to please.  But Harvest had us all pleased as punch and rubbing our bellies in delight and astonishment at how much we ate. We just couldn't stop, as everything was so good!  All that we ordered we ate family style so nobody would miss out on any flavorful experience.  So in the end, we three tasted:

• Handmade Gnocchi - harvest sausage, wild mushrooms, sunchokes, parmigiano-reggiano
• Harvest Empanadas - double check ranch organic beef, black mission fig, green olive and chimichurri sauce
• Classic Caesar salads - romaine hearts, oven dried tomatoes and white anchovy vinaigrette
• Cinnamon brined country pork ribs - roasted sweet potato, haricots verts, caramelized onions, grilled corn, cinnamon chili butter
• Lobster Mac'n Cheese - cellentani pasta, lobster fume, broccolini, tomato confit, leaf basil
• Harvest Brownie - coffee ice cream, cherry compote, caramel sauce

I told you we had a lot of food! I don't kid around when it comes to my culinary adventures. Even as a writer, I have a hard time putting this experience into words. It was amazing; a treat for the senses; and definitely a dinning experience I won't soon forget. Though we sampled just a few items, I'm absolutely positive everything else on the menu is just as delicious and fresh as what we tried.

I try not to pick favorites of anything. But, if I had to do so, I'd say that the handmade gnocchi was definitely my favorite item. In fact, I blush to admit that I've been back since this dinner with a friend, seeking specifically, that gnocchi!

If you're in Oro Valley, or heck, even if you're not, please make a point of heading to Harvest for lunch or dinner. They're open seven days a week.  Harvest absolutely hits the mark on every level: Food, atmosphere AND service. It's especially perfect for those of us who do everything we can to support local farmers, ranchers, and non-chain restaurants.

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Always a favorite restaurant of mine, Wildflower turned over a new leaf with a chic new look in one of the fastest remodels in Northwest Tucson. I had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with some colleagues during its re-opening to the public and I was very impressed with the experience.

To look around, you would be hard-pressed to believe that it is the same restaurant. The patio seating is a refreshing lime green against marble white and wrought iron fixtures. Inside, the space has been transformed to open up the indoor seating area into one large palace-style dining room with vibrant blues and greens splashed across the room lined with white walls, classy mirrors, and a French-styled kitchen façade. Even the bathrooms look like something out of a magazine!

The inviting atmosphere isn't the only draw. We were introduced to several new and exciting dishes on the menu that were equally delightful to the senses. The asparagus bruschetta appetizer was extremely popular, and it wasn't long before we polished it off. I was also pleased to see that the crispy calamari salad was still on the menu as it is a standing favorite of mine. The restaurant staff was very accommodating in our desire to share our entrées with each other, and they delivered pre-split plates with a sampling of the fish and chips, shrimp scampi, and cheeseburger sliders (with bacon!). Everything was very flavorful, and we showed our inner foodie sides as we compared each entrée. As per usual, I couldn't resist photographing the food.
A born sweet-tooth, I naturally have a separate stomach for dessert. Our waitress gave us a detailed explanation of the seasonal options. She endorsed the pumpkin bread pudding which we found delish, surprisingly due to the secret ingredient of French toast! It reminded me of an exotic pumpkin pie type of dessert complete with a toasted marshmallow, which got my taste buds excited for the autumn season and the promise of cooler weather soon.

It wasn't until we piled into the car and headed back to work that I realized how much the new look and flavors of Wildflower transformed the mood into one of relaxation and merriment. With so many new dishes to try, I will certainly be back for seconds. 

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