The Taste of Tucson cookbook features recipes from 16 local restaurant chefs in addition to my own recipes. These chefs have contributed to the culinary flavor of this town, winning awards and accolades in the process. I first met most of them while on photography and food writing assignment for various publications over the years, and they are a big part of why I wanted to create this book. Their creativity and dedication to their craft is truly phenomenal.
Tucson boasts hundreds of Mexican restaurants, more than I have seen anywhere else in this country. Part of the reason for this is that Tucson was part of Mexico for much, much longer than it has been part of the United States. Not all these chefs work at Mexican restaurants, but they have all been influenced, as I have, by our proximity to Mexico, by the community as a whole, and by local history and regional ingredients.
Daniel Contreras: El Guero Canelo
Suzana Davila: Cafe Poca Cosa and The Little One
Carlotta Flores and the Flores family: Si Charro Restaurants
Benjamin Galaz: BK Tacos
Don Guerra: Barrio Bread
Gary Hickey: Charro Steak
Amanda Horton: Desert Provisions
Bryan Keith: Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse
Teresa Matias and the Matias family: Mosaic Cafe
Maria Mazon: BOCA Tacos y Tequila
Isela Mejia: El Sur Restaurant
Travis Peters: The Parish
Janos Wilder: Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails
Patricia Schwabe: Penca
Bruce Yim: Hacienda Del Sol
The cover recipe for Taste of Tucson was developed and styled by Erika Mattson Munoz Seis Kitchen
P.S: If you live in Tucson please help these restaurants out and order take-out and delivery from them. If you live in the rest of the world many are available to do interviews and press.
