Historic Hotel Congress in downtown Tucson is one of my favorite places. Built in 1919, the building features the quaint details of turn-of-the-century architecture with a Southwestern twist that makes it quintessentially Tucson. I love the setting, plus the hotel offers a variety of distinct areas to enjoy a drink and grab a bite to eat--the Cup Café, Lobby Bar, and Tap Room. You can even catch up-and-coming bands play almost every night inside Club Congress.

Recently, I had the opportunity to join my coworkers for a little celebration at the Cup Café. We were treated to Sangria and a sneak peak of some items that will soon be appearing on the menu. We sampled duck tacos, a carrot salad with cumin and citrus dressing, and pork with a delicious demi-glace. The carrot salad was my favorite, but I have to admit that cumin is one of my favorite spices, and the salad had a robust cumin flavor. We also sampled some old favorites: quesadilla with spicy black beans; "Thompson automatics," which are shredded chicken and gorgonzola wrapped in an egg roll with a little bit of something that tastes like hot wing sauce; and "the heartbreaker," which is baguette slices with roasted garlic, brie, artichoke hearts, and apple slices.

If you haven't had the opportunity to dine at the Cup Café and enjoy the ambience of Hotel Congress, I would highly recommend it. The hotel is truly a part of Tucson's history, and is the location where the notorious gangster John Dillinger hid out before his arrest in Tucson in 1934. The recent Johnny Depp movie Public Enemy tells the story of Dillinger's capture, but if you take a tour down the hall located just off the lobby and adjacent to the Cup Café, you can see artifacts from the real incident. There are news clippings from 1934 that tell the story of his arrest, as well as photos of Dillinger and his gang, and a copy of Dillinger's very long rap sheet.

Next time you are in downtown Tucson, immerse yourself in the sweet nostalgia of a bygone era and enjoy a break at the Hotel Congress. There's a good chance that I will be doing the same.