The fall weather in Tucson is so incredible that my fiancé and I are always looking for fun things to do outdoors. We were already close to Downtown, so we decided to head down to Jácome Plaza to see what the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival was all about.

I was surprised to learn the festival was celebrating it's 36th anniversary and was disappointed we didn't have more time to peruse all the booths and watch all the performances. The festival wasn't just about it's amazing cultural food selections, but also included so many demonstrations, performances, shows, and even a local farmer's market, that it could be an all-day event for the whole family.

After watching some great banjo players at the Courthouse Stage we walked across Church Street, passing the bouncing low riders as they set up for their car show, and settled in to watch the Columbian Folklore dancers on the Youth Stage.  When they were finished, we browsed some of the local club booths and the farmer's market located at the downtown library's plaza.

Our stomachs telling us it was time to eat, we headed back to the Ethnic food area with a plan.  Being one-quarter Danish myself, I was excited to see the Tucson Danish Club had a booth so they were my first stop. Remembering how my mom made aebleskivers (basically spherical pancakes stuffed with fruit) I wanted to see how the Danish booth's compared.  These didn't have fruit in the middle, but rather some rasberry jelly on the side.  Still, not only was I pleasantly surprised with them, but I also got to chat with some Danes and signed up for their club's newsletter. Next, we found the Thai booth and shared a plate of chicken curry with potatoes and onions on a bed of white rice, and it was scrumptuous. Our bellies expanding but not yet full, we shared a tasty chicken sandwich (gyro) from the Persian Club and for dessert, we sipped on a bubble tea from the Vietnamese Alliance of Tucson Booth.

We were stuffed beyond capacity but managed to waddle over to watch a performance on the Martial Arts Lawn before heading back to our car. With all there is to see and do at the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival, I can see why it is a two-day event.  And it's cheap! Next year, we're planning on going both Saturday and Sunday to sample more of the great food and watch more of the interesting cultural performances. Heck, maybe next year I'll be in the Danish booth handing out aebleskivers myself!

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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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My fiancée, Trish, and I are lovers of theater and dry, English humor so when we found out that Monty Python's Spamalot was coming to Tucson's Music Hall, we jumped at the chance to see it.

We both work downtown and thought it would be great to have drinks and dinner before the show.  We spent a good amount of time just trying to figure out where to eat downtown, as the ever-growing list of restaurants were all very tempting. We finally settled on Ascolese's Italian Restaurant, located next to La Placita and within a very short walking distance to the theater.  We hadn't made reservations, but the staff was friendly and accommodating and sat us in a quiet corner of the bar area.  The service was good, and the huge entrees came out surprisingly fast!  Trish enjoyed cheese tortellini in a vodka sauce and topped with sausage, while I went with penne pasta in marinara sauce, also topped with sausage.  We were so stuffed after our entrees that we couldn't even think of dessert, though the choices were mouth-watering.

After dinner and a cocktail, we still had some time before the show, so we meandered around and finally settled on benches by the large fountain in front of the Music Hall.  It was opening night of Spamalot so there was a large, enthusiastic crowd gathered, all enjoying the mild evening as well as drinks being served outside. 

After watching a gorgeous Tucson sunset, the doors opened and we got swept up in opening-night excitement, finding our seats quickly and waiting for the show to start.  Finally, the lights dimmed and the crowd quieted as the first actors stepped onstage.  There is something magical about theater, and we were immediately pulled away from our daily routines and tossed happily into another world.  In true Monty Python style, Spamalot was witty, funny, and even a bit raunchy.  As the lights came back on, the audience gave the talented actors a standing ovation, and I for one wished the show had not ended. 

Blinking back into reality, Trish and I filed out of the theater and walked back to our car, with our sides aching and smiles on our faces.  It was really a wonderful evening downtown, and we will certainly do it again!

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On a holiday weekend last summer, my husband and I headed south for the annual Sonoita Rodeo, and made a side trip into Patagonia for lunch. Sixty miles south of Tucson, in the tiny town of Patagonia, the Velvet Elvis Pizza Company crafts delicious, unusual pizzas from fresh, house-made ingredients. The pie is fantastic, and the kicker - most of the menu options are healthy (or, not so unwholesome as your typical slice)!

Both the pizza and the red sauce recipes at Velvet Elvis are 70 years old, and originated in an Italian pizzeria in Brooklyn. But since 1998, chef and owner Cecilia San Miguel has made Patagonia the home of Elvis' tasty pies.

Velvet Elvis is a small adobe building just inside Patagonia city limits, decorated in earthtones, with a small garden patio out front. We ate inside, where the walls are colorful tributes to the Lady of Guadalupe, and diners seat themselves at large tables that sometimes require dining with another group - a great way to get to know your fellow diners!

In addition to serving pizza, Velvet Elvis also specializes in raw juices, fresh organic salads and vegetarian soups. We were definitely there for the pizza, but we started with a couple of glasses of Limonada Rosa - limeade made with freshly squeezed limes and hibiscus. It was brightly colored and tart, and incredibly tasty on a hot day.

The "Designer Pizza" menu was deep and really unique, with pies like "El Mariachi Blanco," topped with green chili and jalapeno cream sauce, capers, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, garlic and sundried tomatoes. The "Inca Quinoa Pizza" - which requires 24 hours notice to order, is a deep-dish work of art, with a quinoa-flour crust, fresh vegetables and cheese.

However, we settled on the "Pancho Villa" pizza - a concoction of Elvis' famous red sauce, house-made beef chorizo, fresh tomatoes, yellow onion, cilantro, fresh jalapenos, and asiago and mozzarella chesses. A word of warning for the weak of tongue - this is one spicy pizza! The fresh jalapenos are eye-wateringly spice and there's a few in every bite, but for those who like it hot, this pizza will leave you craving more. (You'll definitely need a refill or two on your limonada to put out the fire in your mouth, though!)

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano recently named Velvet Elvis Pizza Company an "Arizona Treasure," and I couldn't agree more. The next time you're headed to wine country, start out with a slice or two from Velvet Elvis.

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It had been five years or so since my husband and I had visited Bisbee, so when our friends Jody and Greg suggested a weekend jaunt, we were ready. We figured there wouldn't be much to do there but that didn't dissuade us from jumping at the chance. The thought of escaping the heat, if only for a day or two, trumped any concern over time on our hands.

We were already looking for lunch when we approached the Sonoita crossroads. Greg's exhaustive internet search had turned up a restaurant that was inexplicably - yet undeniably - closed. With a sigh we stopped for suggestions at Dos Cabezas Winery. We got one - Grasslands Café - and more. We left carrying a case of local nectar and four stemmed glasses that promised discounts at several wineries down the road. 

By the time we rolled into Bisbee it was late afternoon and the weather a pleasant 85. We checked into El Dorado Suites, an historic hotel overlooking Brewery Gulch and the "oldest continually operated bar" in Bisbee. It's a wonderful spot for families or couples traveling together: our suite featured two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bath and balcony. "Awesome," we all cooed as we unpacked and prepared for a walk around town.

Turns out, the second Saturday evening of each month is "Bisbee after Dark," the local gallery "walk." As we headed up the street, I realized Bisbee had changed a bit in the last few years: there were shops and galleries and stores and restaurants ... and they were open!  There was food and drink and musicians accompanying our evening stroll. This was a revelation ...and it was fun!

Thank goodness we had the presence of mind to make a reservation for dinner. Cafe Roka is one of Arizona's top 100 restaurants and it fills up fast. We finished up our gallery tour just in time to eat, and eat we did. We were seated and attended to immediately, even though the restaurant's three levels were all a-hopping. I had the artichoke and mushroom lasagna with three sauces. It came with appetizer, salad and sorbet, for $16.50 - memorable for its taste, price and the historic ambience. My dinner companions' dinner choices brought comparable amenities and aaahs.

We head back to the hotel and fall into bed. We need to be up and at ‘em by 9 to take the tour of the old Bisbee Mine. First it's breakfast at Copper Queen Hotel and then into our slickers for what turns out to be a private tour of the now-defunct mine. Early Sunday morning is the time to beat the crowds, we comment as we disembark, jostling the hordes awaiting the 10:30 tour. Our timing -- or is it luck? -- has been "spot on" all weekend.

As we head back to Tucson, we're already making our plans to return. There's the historic home tour and the 1,000 Stairclimb and the garden tour and the vintage wine tasting and the yoga festival and, and ... So much for time on our hands.

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My friend and colleague recently moved from Tucson to Denver (I know! There's no accounting for taste!). Like everybody else that knows her, I wanted to take her out to dinner one more time before she left and gave her a pick of any restaurant in town. Over the two years that I've known her, my friend and I have eaten at (literally) hundreds of Tucson restaurants. We have introduced each other to many new and exciting places that quickly became favorites. (After all, there are so many to choose from in Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Green Valley, etc.)

It was no surprise to me that she chose El Charro for our little celebration. It was, however, a surprise that she chose the new location in Oro Valley, rather than the downtown location which we had deemed a mutual favorite.

Neither of us had been to the new location but were very interested in checking it out. We were both very impressed with the ambiance. It's huge and beautifully decorated! The service was absolutely outstanding and the food; ahhh, the food was just as fantastic as it is in the downtown location. Luckily we were relatively successful at not filling up on the salsa and chips (which is quite a chore as the salsa is absolutely addicting). For dinner, my soon-departing friend had the Topopo salad and I had the Flautas Famosas. My friend even ordered a special little concoction for a dressing, which was presented to her perfectly. I, as usual, ignored my fork and knife and dove into my guacamole-sauce covered chicken flautas with my fingers. After all, flautas are finger foods, right?

After the salsa and chips, an amazing dinner, a couple of beers and margaritas, we decided not go be too gluttonous and order desert. (Was it too late to not be labeled gluttons?) 

This was indeed, a bitter sweet dinner, but one my friend and I will both remember. I'll miss our dinners and lunches together, but am so glad that our little celebration/commiseration dinner was so perfect in every way. Great company, food, service and ambiance; who could ask for more?

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Every Tuesday night in the summertime (until November) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the bar at Hacienda del Sol's "The Grill" opens up its enormous wine list to the public, free of charge.

What better way to kick back after work than to pull up a seat at the Grill while Hacienda's sommelier and director of wines, Dan McCoog, makes a few selections from The Grill's 2,000-plus wine list, and pops the cork for experts and novices alike?

The small bar at The Grill can get crowded on wine tasting nights, but the Terraza del Sol - a roomy outdoor patio adjacent to the bar area - catches the overflow. Wine tasters line up at the far end of the bar for a splash or two of McCoog's choices, and for a quick, easy-to-understand explanation of each pour.

On my last Tuesday night wine tasting, McCoog showcased four wines - three reds and one white. The crisp white - a 2006 California Sauvignon Blanc by Geyser Peak - was fruity with hints of melon, and made for a refreshing wind-down on a hot night.

The second of McCoog's selections was a smooth 2002 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, with traces of florals, plum and cherry. Third up was an Italian Barbaresco: A 2000 Castello Di Nieve "Santo Stefano." This Northwestern Italian wine was earthy, with deep flavors and a tannic finish. This was new to me and an amazing find I probably would've never tried on my own.

Lastly, McCoog poured a 2001 Napa Valley Meritage - Juslyn "Perry's Blend." This full-bodied red was fruity, woody and well balanced, and made a great end to a relaxing night of new wine.

To clear the palate between wines - or heck, to just enjoy - the bar and Terraza del Sol serves up a great selection of gourmet fare. From Prosciutto di Parma-wrapped Figs with Toasted Walnuts and aged Balsamic ($8) to Fois Gras Toast Points with Truffle Oil ($14).  

Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort
5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Rd.
Tucson, AZ  85718
(520) 299-1501
Free wine tasting: Tuesdays from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

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My husband makes "his" famous sweet potato quesadillas almost every time we have friends over. They are absolutely delicious! It wasn't until he'd made them about six or seven times that I caught him thumbing through the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum‘s Dining with the Desert Museum cookbook! Turns out, he'd gotten the recipe from the cookbook and was trying to pass them off as his genius idea! 

I asked him once for the recipe to give to a friend, and he was very hesitant to give away his secrets. But, because the recipe is in a cookbook, and I finally found this out, Ben gave me "permission" to print the recipe for all to see (even though he really didn't want to share it!).

Here it is:

1 medium red onion, diced
3 to 5 cloves garlic, crushed
1 to 3 jalapeno peppers, chopped (depending on how you want it)
2 to 3 medium sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
Olive oil
Large flour tortillas (best if you use the "real" flour tortillas you can buy in Tucson at any of our local Mexican restaurants. I vote for Tanya's, but everyone here has their favorites!)
1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese

Sauté onion, garlic, and peppers until onions are translucent. While sautéing, peel and grate sweet potatoes. Add sweet potatoes to the sauté. Add spices and continue sautéing until the potatoes just begin to soften (they cook quickly). Remove from heat. Heat a frying pan and add enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Warm tortillas over a flame (gas burner) to make them soft and pliable. Put about ½ cup sweet potato mixture on one side of the tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese and fold tortilla over (in half). Fry in pan until brown and crisp on both sides.

Can be served with sour cream and guacamole, but we like it with home made salsa. Wait, we like it with Ben's home made salsa ... I better thumb through Dining with the Desert Museum to see if he stole his famous recipe from there too!

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Tucson is a Mexican food town. It's really no surprise, since we're just an hour or so north of the Mexican border. Lucky for us Tucsonans, we get to experience some of the most authentic and fantastic Mexican food in the country, right in our own backyard.

There are hundreds of Mexican restaurants in town, and some have trouble standing out from the rest. But the margaritas and carne seca at Leo's Mexican restaurant have made a name for themselves among us Leo's devotees (warning: both are genuinely addictive).

It's not easy to find Leo's - it's literally hidden in a small strip mall on the southeast corner of Speedway and Rosemont - but once you do, they'll seat you quickly and get a menu in your hands in no time.

The first order of business is to order a house margarita. I'll be honest - I'm typically not a big fan of margaritas. I generally stick to wine and beer and shy away from the rest. But all it took was one of Leo's margs to make me change my tune. It's strong - one is plenty! - but it tastes fantastic, and it goes great with the most popular food item on the menu: carne seca.

Carne seca is dried beef flavored with garlic, lime and spices. It's typically served dry, but at Leo's the carne seca is moist, smoky, and incredible. You'll crave it in your sleep.

Every time I eat at Leo's, I get the same thing: A house margarita, and a carne seca cheese crisp with all the fixings (green chiles, fresh tomatoes and onions, cheese, guacamole and heaping bites of carne seca). If you ever give Leo's a try, I'd suggest starting with that.

Leo's Mexican Restaurant
5114 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 325-9180

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