Tucson, AZ – The Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT), a collaborative endeavor of over 3 dozen of Tucson’s best-loved and most-acclaimed chefs and food professionals, is thrilled to announce the return of their summer series of pop-up dinners for the first time since 2019.  With its own origin story, born out of Tucson’s designation at a UNESCO City of Gastromony, GUT is a creative collaboration of several dozen local chefs brought together to foster creative exchange, public engagement, and the elevation of Tucson’s local food scene.  Over the course of the next four months they will present four uniquely themed culinary events.

 

The first event on July 17th, GUT Goes to the Movies!, takes its creative  inspiration from the world of cinema.  Inspired by Hollywood blockbusters, cult-classics, indie hits and foreign films including Julie & Julia, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Tampopo, Big Night, and Ratatouille, the dinner features a five-course wine-paired menu with a welcome cocktail and hors d’oeuvres.   Guests should expect imaginative dishes ranging from classical haute cuisine to fanciful avant-garde executed by some of Tucson’s best chefs. GUT Goes to the Movies will take place at the Mountain Oyster Club at 6400 E. El Dorado Circle beginning at 6pm. and is open to the public. Cost per person is $90 (plus tax and gratuity). Reservations can be made at gutmovies.eventbrite.com. Space is limited.

 

Chef collaborators for GUT Goes to the Movies! Include:

Juan Almanza - El Rustico

Steven Bartels - Mountain Oyster Club

Drew Burk - The Coronet

Mat Cable - Fresco, Zio Peppe

Michael Elefante - Mama Louisa’s

Michael Estelle - Mountain Oyster Club

Nohemi Estrada - Eurest

Ken Foy - Dante’s Fire

Susan Tomber Fulton - Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro

Jay Garcia - Muncheez

Wendy Gauthier - Chef Chic

Brian Hagan - The Parish

CJ Hamm - Saguaro Corners, Mulligan’s

Dan Heady - Zio Peppe

Natalia Herrera- Mountain Oyster Club

Obadiah Hindman - Mountain Oyster Club

Sarah Lamberth - Noble Hops

Roderick Ledesma - Casino del Sol

Helen Mora - Culinary Dropout

Jerry Morgan - Chef Chic

Mateo Otero, Rollie’s

Travis Peters - The Parish, The Delta

Max Provost - Mountain Oyster Club

Devon Sanner - Zio Peppe

Mary Steiger - Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro

Noah Tellez - Mountain Oyster Club

 

Additional events are planned for August 21st, September 18th, and October 30th:

 

The Lost Restaurants of Tucson – August 21. For one night, GUT chefs will conjure up a little of the magic of some of Tucson’s iconic restaurants that have closed their doors for good.

 

 Right Here Right Now - September 18th will focus on the best ingredients farmed and foraged in the Tucson basin at the end of summer. Hyperlocal and seasonal foods will be the stars of the show for this evening.

 

 Culinary Legends of Tucson – October 30 - Benefitting the Tucson City of Gastronomy, the season finale will be a true showstopper.  GUT has enlisted the help of Carlotta Flores of the Sí Charro! restaurants, Jonathan Landeen of Jonathan’s Cork, Jim Murphy of Kingfisher, Donna Nordin of Cafe Terra Cotta, Janos Wilder of Janos and Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails, and Alan Zeman of Fuego!  The living legends who have made the Tucson food scene into the internationally recognized culinary hotspot that it is, will join forces with the chefs of GUT to create a dinner like no other.

 

Menus and ticket prices for each event will be announced. Tickets will be available to the public via Eventbrite.

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