Looking for great Mexican in Tucson

Marisco Chihuahua is a good choice. They are all run by different family memebers. The one on Grande is, in my humble opinion. The best. Little Poca Cosa is only open for breakfast and lunch and takes cash only. Maico on 22nd near Park Ave recently got a good review but you have to sit outside on picnic tables. I have not tried it. Go to El Guerro Canelo on 12th Avenue for the Sonoran hot dogs and carmelos.

noshingaround in Southwest

Sonoran Hot Dogs in Tucson

I think they have been around for awhile. Sonoran hot dogs are one of those Southwestern mysteries.

Here's a bit of history
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Yum/Content?oid=98663

I have also had Sonoran Hot Dogs with crema and chopped poblano chilies.

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Where to find quinces in Tucson, AZ

You might try Tropical Market. They have some fresh produce. Tropical Market is located on Grant Road around Tork's but pushed back into that strip mall.

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Ices, ice cream, and gelato in Tucson?

Fratelli Brothers on the NW corner of Swan @ Grant has really good gelato and sorbet in a cool setting. It's like you're sitting in a friend who has great decor taste.

Frost is opening its 3rd location soon at La Encantada shopping center.

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Tucson C'hounds: Ventana, Anthony's, or Janos?

Janos is always good and if it's a special occasion you get the truffles and some extras. Ventana Room has Chef Mark Ehrler who won a James Beard award when he was in South Florida. I cannot remember if it's still 5 diamonds. Have never been to Anthony's. New restaurants include Jax Kitchen and Luna Bella (just opened). If you want Japanese tapas (the formal name escapes me) go to Ginza...by Kolb/Sunrise. I've eaten there three times and each time was a home run.

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Tucson Best Serious Sunday Lunch?

Loews brunch is upscale as is The Grill at Hacienda Del Sol Resort. Other places with brunches are Terra Cotta (3-course prix fixe) and Red Sky Cafe. Kingfisher has a nice lunch as does Montana Avenue.

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Eating L.A.

A few weeks ago, I asked for some suggestions where to eat great ethnic food in NoHo/Studio City area and received great suggestions. We ended up at Alcazar in Encino and the food was very good and somewhat different than the traditional middle eastern platter. We made a meal of hot and cold appetizers...the baba ganooj was smoky, the ground walnuts with pomegrante sauce divine, and the chicken livers with garlic lemon superb. So thanks for the food memories.

Other places that I ate at and recommend are Chichen Itza restaurant for Yucatan dining; Empress Pavilion for dim sum; Beach Cafe at Paradise Cove for wonderful seafood and an up close ocean view; Porto's Bakery for cafe con leche and Cuban savory/sweet pastries; Akasa for the uber hip food in Culver City-try the lamb burger sliders with feta cheese and tomato chutney and the chocolate hemp ice cream; and the Tapa Meze bar and grill in Manhattan Beach for the clams & Spanish chorizo and beautiful bastilla with shredded duck, roasted beets and grapes.

I love to have many tastes vs. an entree and L.A. is like a grand ethnic smorgasboard.

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What's open Christmas in Tucson?

This is what was open last year on Christmas Day.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Chow/Content?oid=104535

I suggest you read the Noshing Around column in the Tucson Weekly as that's a popular question and more and more people want to eat out on Christmas Day and not eat a multi-course buffet either.

Sabra, a kosher restaurant might be open. Several Chinese restaurants are usually open. Seri Melaka and Neo Melaka, Malaysian restaurants are always open on Christmas Day. And like someone else said, all the restaurant hotels.

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Tucson: Farmer's Markets/CSAs?

There are farmers markets around town. They don't have the produce like they do in Calif but there's more and more. There's the Old Spanish Trail farmers market on the eastside (Sat.) and the Santa Cruz River farmers market on the westside (Thursday) and St. Phillip's farmers market on Sunday and Oro Valley on Saturday. There's probably more especially from October thru April.

Tucson has their own CSA and you can pick up produce and sometimes cheese/meat there on Tuesday/Thursday/Friday. The produce is not organic but is grown without pesticides and you are always invited to meet the farmer. Trader Joes has a lot of organic produce and products.

There are many classes to learn about growing a garden or having a community garden. Here's an article about being a desert locavore in Tucson.

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Yum/Content?oid=113267

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Turkey Day in Tucson?

Lots of places will be serving Thanksgiving dinner fortunately most are not limited to turkey only.

It all depends on how much you want to spend.

The Cup Cafe in the historic Hotel Congress would be a good choice as would Pastiche Modern Eatery and if you want more upscale, think The Grill at Hacienda Del Sol Resort.

I recommend going to JBar for spicy southwest food with flair. Also take the family for Sonoran hot dogs in South Tucson for lunch (the original 12th Avenue location is better than the Oracle Blvd location). Jax Kitchen is new and reminds me of California. Go to Casa Vicente for Spanish food. Reservations are a must at CV; it's downtown across from the police station and very charming.

Check out my Noshing Around column from time to time or past for where to eat on Thanksgiving - http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Archives/index?author=oid:30434

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Tucson -Best low key great food?

That's a loaded question and low key is hard to define but here are some options...

Try Zivaz for really good Mexican food with a twist - http://www.zivaz.com

For Malaysian food - try Seri Melaka or Neo Melaka

Rocco's has the best pizza in a divey setting

Brush Fire BBQ is really good

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best fresh duck in Tucson?

Call 17th Street Farmers Market in Tucson. They have a lot of Chinese products and may have some or can get it. Check out http://www.treasureshidden.com

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NoHo/Studio City

I'm a former Angelino who will be visiting soon and another friend and I who now lives in the Bay Area want to take two people out to somewhat of a celebratory dinner in the NoHo, Studio City, Sherman Oaks area for dinner on a Friday night.

We can spend up to $25 a person plus drinks.

I would like a place that's not a chain and is not ear splitting but where we can have a really good ethnic meal like Middle Eastern, Thai-Calif, South American (not Mexican), Jap-Italian, Asian-Fusion, Indian, or Cuban-Chinese and have cocktails or at least wine/beer.

I am starved for some really good off-the-charts ethnic food.

Thanks

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