
Tucson’s Savor Food and Wine Fest returns after COVID hiatus
If you were pining for an early admission VIP ticket to the Jan. 28 Savor Food & Wine Festival, you’re out of luck.
The last of the 200 VIP tickets sold last week.
General admission tickets ($100) are going fast, as well. As of last week, there were fewer than 75.
With more than 50 local wineries, breweries, distilleries, chefs and artisan food purveyors on the lineup, it’s easy to see why tickets were in hot demand.
Kate Marquez, executive director of the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance which hosts the event, said the location at the pristine Tucson Botanical Gardens also plays a role.
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“I think the place and the venue has so much to do with the experience that people have with enjoying the food and beverage,” she said. “I think the venue is one of the most important (aspects) because it really does add to the experience. It’s in the heart of Tucson at the Botanical Gardens.”
This is the eighth Savor festival and the first one SAACA has held since the pandemic put life on hold in March 2020. The event is a collaborative fundraiser for the nonprofit SAACA and its nonprofit partners, Tucson Botanical Gardens and Local First Arizona.
This year’s festival has an added feature: a pavilion of food trucks showcasing another aspect of Tucson’s culinary diversity that earned the city the first U.S. UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation in 2015.

The 2023 Savor Festival will feature more than 50 local wineries, breweries, distilleries, chefs and artisan food purveyors.
Admission to the festival includes samples from all of the participants, which range from creations by award-winning chefs Ken Foy of Dante’s Fire and Wendy Gauthier, executive chef of Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge; to a handful of rising artisan food purveyors including Bubbe’s Fine Bagels and Transit Tea, both of which launched during the pandemic.
“I had the idea around five or six years ago, but I just kind of sat on it,” said Manish Shah, who opened Transit Tea at 2645 E. Speedway with his partner Kristin Brakke in February 2021. “The concept has taken five or six years to evolve into what it is today. This is kind of like: What is the coolest thing I can do with tea, and that’s the question I was trying to answer. And this shop is kind of it. Snow cones? Are you kidding me? It is ridiculous.”
Maya Tea founder Manish Shah and his partner Kristin Brakke launched Transit Tea in February 2021.
Transit sources its teas from Shah’s 25-year-old Tucson company Maya Tea and shies away from anything artificial, with the exception of a sugar substitute used in a couple of sugar-free drinks. They blend the teas, served hot, cold, as a soda or a snow cone, with custom house-made syrups to create flavors that will harken to your past, from the Rainforest that tastes like an adult Hawaiian Punch with the addition of pineapple, dark cherry, strawberry and lime; to the Kaleidoscope, which uses watermelon and toasted almond to create the flavor of a watermelon Jolly Rancher candy.

The eighth Savor Food & Wine Festival is back on Jan. 28 at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
There’s also Brakke’s favorite: Solstice, which adds grapefruit, elderflower and lychee that will remind you of drinking a glass of Sauvignon Blanc wine.
“We’re kind of sneaky about it, I guess,” said the former sommelier. “Each one of the drinks has its own inspiration. We call it ‘new’stalgia instead of nostalgia because it will remind you of things you may not remember that you forgot.”
Brakke said they will offer up to four tea varieties and different flavored syrups during the Savor festival.
“I’m really excited about Savor,” said Shah, who sells his Maya teas all over the country.
The festival runs from noon to 3 p.m. at Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. VIP ticketholders can enter at 11 a.m., and no on under the age of 21 will be admitted.
For a complete list of participants, visit saaca.org.
Restaurants and bars that opened in the Tucson area in 2022
Oh My Chicken

Pictured are sweet chili chicken tenders from Oh My Chicken at Park Place Mall.
Park Place Mall Food Court, 5870 E. Broadway
Korean-style fried chicken
Website: Oh My Chicken
This new mall vendor serves some of the best fried chicken in Tucson
Mountain Mike’s Pizza

Mario Rosales cuts up a a pizza at Mountain Mike’s Pizza. The restaurant occupies the former Five Guys space at Oracle and Wetmore roads.
4362 N. Oracle Road
520-524-1700
Website: Mountain Mike’s Pizza
The restaurant is known for its 20-inch pies.
Pizzeria known for 20-inch pies makes Tucson debut
Muncheez

Aurelio, left, and Morgan Garcia prepare a customer order for Muncheez, set up outside Dragoon Brewing, 1859 W. Grant Road.
Outside Danny’s Baboqivari Lounge, 2910 E. Fort Lowell Road
Website: Muncheez
Aurelio and Morgan Garcia opened their food stand in September.
This new food stand serves two of our favorite comfort foods: burgers and tacos
Tran’s Fats

After years in the making, local foodie Jackie Tran has opened Tran’s Fats at Hotel McCoy.
Jackie Tran opened this food truck in November. It can be found at Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road, most of the time.
Check out Tran’s Fats website for other locations.
Tucson’s favorite foodie Jackie Tran just opened a food truck
Rollies Mexican food truck

Birria rojo tacos with melted cheese and spiced beef broth are all the rage at Rollie’s Mexican Patio.
Rollies Mexican Patio opened its second location with a food truck at the MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento, Nov. 1, 2022.
Website: rolliestucson.com
Tucson favorite Rollies is opening a food truck at the MSA Annex
Houlden’s Rise Above

Hannah Houlden is the owner of Houlden’s Rise Above. Her vegan pastries, which include turnovers, pop tarts, cookies and more, tend to sell out at Coffee Times Drive-Thru.
Owner Hannah Houlden opened this brick and mortar vegan bakery at 5029 E. Fifth St. this year.
The bakery is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until items are sold out. Houlden’s pastries can also be found at several coffeehouses around Tucson.
Mojo Cuban Kitchen and Rum Bar

Mojo’s venue was completely redesigned from the spot’s previous iteration as a Caribbean-themed nightclub, at 1929 E. Grant Road.
1929 E. Grant Road
Website: mojocuban.com
Mojo Cuban opened Oct. 30, 2022.
This new restaurant brings Cuban flavors to midtown Tucson
Tita Tita

Philip Rieff and Cody Webster are the masterminds behind Tita Tita, bringing Filipino food to Tucson.
Tita Tita is a pop-up restaurant serving Filipino food. Owners Philip Rieff and Cody Webster hope to open in a brick and mortar location in the future. Go to titatitaus.com to see where it will pop up next.
There’s a new spot serving Filipino food in Tucson, from lumpia to BBQ
The Cookie Plug
150 N. Campbell Ave.
Website: cookieplug.com
Cookies are baked fresh daily. More locations will open in Tucson next year.
Two Hands Corn Dogs

Corn dogs or cheese sticks can be covered in crispy rice puffs or potato cubes and drizzled with “dirty sauce” at Two Hands Corndog shop.
2786 N. Campbell Ave.
781-786-1193
Website: Two Hands Corn Dogs – Campbell (usakor.com)
Two Hands Corn Dogs opened its first Tucson location October 12, 2022. This unique eatery features seven Korean-style corn dog options, plus fries and elote.
Two more Tucson-area locations are in the works.
Rudy’s “Country Store” & Bar-B-Q

Construction continues on the new Rudy’s “Country Store” & Bar-B-Q restaurant, 2130 E. Ajo Way. The Texas-based company has three Phoenix-area Rudy’s locations and plans to open its Tucson location on June 21.
2130 E Ajo Way
520-908-7397
Wesbite: rudysbbq.com
Rudy’s specializes in all things barbecue from their popular brisket to smoked turkey breast, chicken, ribs and pulled pork. Meat is sold by the half-pound — ranging from $6.99 for sausage links to $10.99 for brisket — and sides are a la carte.
Texas BBQ chain Rudy’s opening Tucson location in June
Bonafide “Texplorer” Chet Garner, host of “The Daytripper” that explores all things Texas, learns how to cut a brisket like a pro from the Rudy’s “Country Store” & Bar-B-Q team.
Nattha’s Bann Thai Asian

Nattha’s Bann Thai Asian recently opened in the former Peking Palace, serving up Thai and Cantonese dishes including the pictured shrimp Pad Thai.
6970 E. 22nd St.
Website: Nattha’s Bann
By the Bucket

Tucson is getting its first By The Bucket takeout spaghetti shop this fall near Kolb and Tanque Verde roads.
2130 N. Kolb Road
(520) 771-6917
Website: www.bythebucket.com/
By the Bucket sells hot spaghetti to go in a bucket, meatballs, meatball subs, deserts and cold drinks.

By The Bucket’s kitchens are simple, with steamers for the spaghetti, warmers for the marinara and meatballs, and a toaster for the bread.
Eat spaghetti by the bucket at this Tucson restaurant coming soon
Peace, Love and Pops

A pedestrian walks past soon to be popsicle restaurant Peace, Love & Pops, 845 E. University Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz. on March 24, 2022.
814 E University Blvd
(520) 372-7805
Website: peaceloveandpops.com

A new popsicle shop — Peace, Love & Pops — will be going in at 845 E. University Blvd. The restaurant, which will feature fresh fruit popsicles as well as more inventive flavors, from regional prickly pear to cream-based popsicles with cereal, is expected to open in late April or early May.
Tooley’s Cafe

Tooley’s will reopen with the original breakfast and lunch menu that dates back to 1989.
299 S. Park Ave
Website: Facebook.com/TooleysCafe
The restaurant at 299 S. Park Ave. will reopen, after a six-year closure, on Friday, June 3, with the original breakfast and lunch menu that dates back to 1989.
Turkey tacos are back: After a six-year closure, Tooley’s Cafe is now open again
Texas Burrito Company

Texas Burrito Company is located at 1570 E. Tucson Marketplace Blvd.
1570 E. Tucson Marketplace Blvd
Suite 100
520-367-6050
Website: texasburritoco.com
This new restaurant on Tucson’s south side is run by Jason Scott, who incorporates his Texan roots and barbecue into traditional Sonoran food.
Ren Bakery and Espresso Bar

Ren Bakery and Espresso Bar opened in the former 8 Degrees Ice Cream & Cookies, an 1,100-square-foot space that already had an oven.
4320 N. Campbell Ave., #43
520-389-8926
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Baked goods from muffins and danish to scones and cinnamon rolls that are used in Ren Coffeehouse nearby, and of course, espresso.
Tanna’s Botannas

Marie and Buddy Lozano place their order at Tanna’s Botannas, 4426 S. Sixth Ave.
4426 S. Sixth Ave.
520-445-5875
Website: tannasbotannas.com
Spicy candies and snacks are on the menu.
Find spicy Gushers and other Mexican-inspired snacks at this food truck and soon-to-open shop
Squared Up Pizza

Squared Up Pizza uses fresh pepperoni and co-owner Mario Badali’s family recipe for Sicilian pies.
5870 E Broadway
520-519-2000
Website: facebook.com/squareduppizza
This pizza spot presents Sicilian pies like you get in New York. Their pies are in the traditional Sicilian square, with a thicker base and crunchy crust.
New pizza spot Squared Up brings a slice of Sicily (and New York) to Tucson
Frida’s Cafe

Frida’s Cafe’s Diego Rivera sandwich is a spin on a BLT, with a chile relleno instead of bacon, plus some avocado.
5526 E Grant Road
520-367-4711
Website: fridascafe.net
Menu items are inspired by the famous painter couple, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
The Monica

Chris Ahlers gets some work done in the main dining room near the retractable doors to the patio after lunch at The Monica, 40 E. Congress St.
40 E. Congress St.
520-645-1924
Website: themonicatucson.com
The Monica opened as an offshoot of El Charro Café. It is named for El Charro’s founder Monica Flin and includes a market along with the restaurant.
New restaurant The Monica, named after El Charro’s founder, is now open downtown
BoSa Donuts
6872 E. Tanque Verde Road
520-526-2341
BoSa Donuts serves more than donuts and coffee. You can get lunch there with sandwiches and other drinks.
Bun Dock Vietnamese Noodle
3225 N. Swan Road, Suite 111
520-274-7419
The restaurant specializes in Vietnamese Bún (Vermicelli Salad Bowls)
Cruda Mariscos & Oyster Bar

Server Lili Garcia brings drinks to the outdoor dining area in front of the new restaurant Cruda, 31 N. Scott Ave., Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 10, 2022.
31 N. Scott Ave.
520-207-0589
Cruda is the newest in a slew of opulent, Mexican-influenced restaurants across Tucson. It was opened by Danny Cordova in the space left when his first downtown venture, La Chingada, moved into the former location of the now-closed restaurant Cafe Poca Cosa.
Fullylove’s

Pictured is half of the V-Licious Vegan Burger and veggie chips from Fullylove’s now in Main Gate Square
994 E. University Blvd.
520-534-7896
This lunch to late-night munchies spot has classic and vegan burgers and sandwiches and sides and a considerable dessert menu.
Guadalajara Grille

Guadalajara’s in Marana has opened with the same classic Mexican dishes as its sister locations in Tucson.
5955 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive
520-296-4221
This Mexican restaurant at 5955 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive is the third location for chef-owner Seth Holzman, which include Guadalajara Grill Mexican, 4901 E. Broadway, and Guadalajara Grill Fiesta, 750 N. Kolb Road. It has the same menu of classic Mexican food.
This long-awaited Mexican restaurant has opened its doors in Marana
Midtown Vegan Deli and Market

Midtown Vegan Deli and Market wants to make veganism more accessible for all.
5071 E. Fifth St.
520-849-5553
Tanya Barnett started her deli and market out of a desire to make veganism more accessible — for meat eaters and die-hard vegans alike. She asked vegans what ingredients they needed to find and placed them on her first order.
This new restaurant and market aspires to be a one-stop shop for all kinds of vegan food
Ni Hao Tea
2800 N. Campbell Ave.
Ni Hao Tea, with this new location, serves Boba tea and smoothies.
The Century Room at Hotel Congress

Shana Oseran spearheaded the idea of opening a jazz club called the Century Room inside Hotel Congress’ former Copper Hall. The borderlands jazz and mezcal tasting lounge will open on Feb. 4.
311 E. Congress St.
520-622-8848
hotelcongress.com/family/century-room
Tucson’s only jazz club, The Century Room borderlands jazz club and mezcal tasting lounge, is in the former Copper Hall banquet space at at Hotel Congress.
This new downtown club will serve as a home for jazz in Tucson
The Delta

Owners of the newest downtown restaurant, The Delta. From left, Steve Dunn, Travis Peters and Bryce Zeagler hope to create a “libation and culinary thrill ride.”
135 S. Sixth Ave.
520-524-3400
The Delta officially opened on New Year’s Day. It is the downtown sister project of local favorite The Parish.
Tucsonans might recognize The Parish as a restaurant that transforms an Oro Valley strip mall into a shot of New Orleans. The Delta will feature the same Southern Hospitality it will be a bar with a grill menu instead of the Parish’s gumbo.
‘Rock star meets Southern belle’: Long-awaited restaurant The Delta is now open downtown
Bata

Bata takes up 6,000 square feet of the historic 1930s warehouse at 35 E. Toole Ave.
35 E. Toole Ave.
Website: batatucson.com
Bata is owned by Tyler Fenton, who, with two siblings, also owns Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink. The menu will consist of foods touched by fire, whether being grilled, charred, flame dried or burned (on purpose).
New restaurant Bata, from the owners of Reilly Pizza, brings a fire-kissed menu to downtown
Pacaws Wings & Things
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at [email protected]. On Twitter @Starburch