Celebrate this Holiday Season with Tucson Originals!

A round up of Tucson Originals’ offerings for the holidays:

Acacia

3001 E. Skyline Drive (Skyline and Campbell) Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 232-0101
Visit Acacia‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 4pm-9pm, offering a special a la carte menu with items such as: roast leg of lamb with red chimichuri and Beef Wellington, prices ranging from $7-$36. Reservations are suggested.

New Year’s Eve:
Featuring a four-course prix fixe menu and dancing! Dinner reservations begin at 4:30pm. Dinner is priced at $85/person ++ and includes a champagne toast. Live music provided by Ed Delucia starting at 5pm. Dancing begins at 9pm. Reservations are recommended.

Chad’s Steakhouse & Saloon

3001 N. Swan Road, Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 881-1802
Visit Chad’s Steakhouse & Saloon‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Enjoy a Christmas buffet with items such as: Turkey, Prime Rib, Ham, Salmon, Stuffing, and Green Beans. Cost is $24.95/person ++, $13.95/kids ++ 12 and under. Served from 11am-8pm.

New Year’s Eve:
Enjoy a New Year’s buffet with items such as: Turkey, Prime Rib, Ham, Salmon, Stuffing, and Green Beans. Cost is $24.95/person ++, $13.95/kids ++12 and under. Served from 11am-8pm

Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress

311 E. Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701
(520)622-8848
Visit Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Breakfast and will be served from 7am to 4pm (lunch begins at 11am) and Dinner from 4pm- 9pm.

Christmas Day:
Breakfast will be served from 7am – 1pm (lunch starting at 11am). Closed from 1pm-3pm. A special prix-fixe dinner menu will be served from 3pm-9pm. The cost of the prix fixe is $45/person ++. Reservations are recommended.

New Year’s Eve:
Breakfast will be served from 7am-1pm (lunch begins at 11am), closed from 3–5pm. A special prix fixe menu will be served for dinner with three seatings: 5pm, 7:15pm and 9:30pm, the cost is $65/person ++. Reservations are required, ask for Steve.

Note: a credit card will be taken to hold reservations. There will be a $35 cancellation fee 48 hours prior to the event. There will be a $65 no show fee, plus $5 per guest spots reserved.

New Year’s Day:
Breakfast will be served from 7am – 4pm. Closed from 4pm -5pm, and dinner will be served from 5pm -11pm.

Elle

2970 N. Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 327-0500
Visit Elle‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 11:30am-9pm,serving their regular menu along with some specELLES.

Christmas Day:
Open on Christmas Day, serving an elongated dinner service from noon to 8pm.

New Year’s Eve:
They will be serving their regular dinner menu from 4pm to 10pm with specials.

New Year’s Day:
Open New Year’s Day, serving lunch from noon-4pm and dinner from 4-8pm. They will be serving their regular menus along with specELLES.

Eclectic Pizza

7065 E Tanque Verde Road, Tucson, AZ 85728
(520) 886-0484
Visit Eclectic Pizza‘s website

New Year’s Day:
Open at 2pm, they will be offering a 12″ Medium pizza, an appetizer and a salad for $20.11 (Excludes supreme and specialty pizzas, not including tax and gratuity).

Feast

3719 E. Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 326-9363
Visit Feast‘s website

Feast will offer take-out dinners complete with reheating instructions. Bottles of wine and Champagne are also available for purchase.

Christmas Eve:
Open until 8pm and serving their regular menu.

Christmas Take-Out:
The Restaurant is closed. Christmas take-out orders must be placed by Tuesday, December 21st at 9pm and will be ready for pickup on Friday, December 24. Visit the website www.eatatfeast.com for the complete take-out menu.

New Year’s Eve:
Feast will be open and serving their regular menu beginning at 11am. Starting at 4pm, Feast will only offer their special New Year’s Eve prix fixe menu. The cost is $70/person ++, with an optional $35/person wine pairing. Reservations are recommended.

Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks

2574 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 795-2665
Visit Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 11am to 3pm

New Year’s Eve:
Open from 11am to 5pm

New Year’s Day:
Open from 11am to 5pm

Ghinis French Caffe

1803 E. Prince Road, Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 326-9095
Visit Ghinis French Caffe‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 6:30am-3pm

New Year’s Eve:
Open from 6:30am-3pm

New Year’s Day:
Open from 8am-2pm and serving breakfast all day! They will also be offering $1 off their recovery beverages Endurox, a revitalizing libation sure to cure your New Year’s hangover, and 2 for 1 Mimosa’s.

Jonathan’s Cork

6320 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson, AZ 85715
(520) 296-1631
Visit Jonathan’s Cork‘s website

New Year’s Eve:
Jonathan’s Cork will be open and serving their regular dinner menu along with specials. Dinner service begins at 4pm. Reservations are recommended.

Lodge on the Desert

306 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 325-3366
Visit Lodge on the Desert‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Open for breakfast from 7am-10:30am, lunch from 11am-2pm and dinner from 5pm-9pm.

Christmas Day:
Open for breakfast from 7am-10:30am, lunch from 11am-2pm and dinner from 5pm-9pm.

New Year’s Eve:
They will be offering a three-course prix fixe menu with choices, from 4pm -11pm. The cost ranges from $46-$60++; this includes a champagne toast.

Lotus Garden

5975 E. Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 298-3351
Visit Lotus Garden‘s website

Christmas Day:
Open from 11:30am to 10:30pm.

New Year’s Eve:
Open from 11:30am to 10:30pm

Mama Louisa’s

2041 S. Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ 85728
(520) 790-4702
Visit Mama Louisa’s website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 11am to 8 pm.

New Year’s Eve:
Open from 11am to 8pm.

Maynards Market & Kitchen

400 N. Toole Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 545-0577
Visit Maynards Market & Kitchen‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 11am to 3pm for their regular lunch service. “Grab n’ Go” items will be available in the market from 3pm to 4pm. Dinner service will be served from 4pm to 8pm, offering their regular menu with some additional specials. Each guest will receive a complementary glass of Egg Nog and a holiday amuse bouche.

New Year’s Eve:
Maynards will be hosting a Titanic-Themed New Years Eve Dinner. They are offering a 6 course prix fixe menu, with menu items inspired from an actual meal served on the Titanic. Cost is $85/person with an optional wine pairing available. They will also feature complimentary Champagne as well as live music. Dinner is served from 5pm-12am. After dinner guests can walk across the street to hotel Congress to watch the ball drop. Reservations are recommended.

Pastiche Modern Eatery

3025 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 325-3333
Visit Pastiche Modern Eatery‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 11:30am to 9pm.

Christmas Day:
Open from 4pm-9pm, serving a special Christmas menu.

New Year’s Eve:
Open from 11:30am to midnight, serving a special New Year’s Eve Menu.

Tavolino Ristorante Italiano

2890 E. Skyline Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 531-1913
Visit Tavolino Ristorante Italiano‘s website

Christmas Eve:
Open from 11am to 11pm, serving their regular menu.

New Year’s Eve:
Ring in 2011 at Tavolino with great food and good friends! Featuring a special four-course New Year’s Eve Menu for $75++ per person which includes a glass of Champagne. Three seating times available: 6:00pm, 8:00pm, and 10:15pm. They will also feature a reverse Happy Hour menu beginning at 10pm. Reservations are recommended.

Halloween Happy Hour and Food Drive at the Abbey

Halloween Happy Hour Offers Treats for Tucson at Soon-to-Open Abbey Eat + Drink

October 26, 2010 (Tucson, Ariz.) The Abbey Eat + Drink is treating Tucson to a taste of what’s to come at a special Halloween Happy Hour to introduce their new house brew – New Belgium Brewing company’s Abbey Belgian Style Ale. Guests can enjoy complimentary Abbey snacks and fun New Belgium giveaways during a happy hour on October 31, 2010 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm, or stay for dinner and sample The Abbey’s pre-opening limited menu.

To kick off the holiday season, Abbey owners Brian and Sandy Metzger are also collaborating with Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and Gadabout Salon Spas to host a Halloween food drive to benefit the Community Food Bank. Guests who bring two cans of food to the happy hour will be entered to win a grand prize of:

• Dinner for two at The Abbey Eat + Drink
• One night stay at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort (good until 10/31/2011)
• A Gadabout gift certificate for the Kolb/Sunrise location

“We’re excited to bring our unique brand of warmth, service and great food to yet another Tucson neighborhood,” said The Abbey owner, Brian Metzger, who with his wife, Sandy, also owns and operates Jax Kitchen on North Oracle Road. “What better way to introduce ourselves to the east side than to partner with some of our neighbors in an effort to provide food for hungry families.”

About The Abbey Eat + Drink
The Abbey Eat + Drink, opening with a full menu on November 2, 2010, offers distinctive American comfort food in a warm, neighborhood setting. The Abbey is the second eatery in Tucson owned by family restaurateurs Brian and Sandy Metzger, who also own and operate Jax Kitchen on North Oracle Road. Jax was named for the Metzgers’ youngest child, Jackson, whose older sister, Abbey, has been waiting patiently (most of the time) for a namesake of her own. The Metzgers conceived of The Abbey as an extension of their well-known local brand, which centers on exceptional food and personal service – creating an intimate atmosphere that invites guests to forget everything else for an hour or two and enjoy themselves. The Abbey is located at 6960 East Sunrise Drive, on the southeast corner of Sunrise & Kolb.

For more information visit The Abbey Tucson.

Media Contact:
Michelle Strier // Russell Public Communications // (p) 520-232-9840 // mstrier [at] russellpublic [dot] com

Copper Chef Challenge and Barbecue (2010 Tucson Culinary Festival)

Copper Chef Challenge and Barbecue (2010 Tucson Culinary Festival) takes place on Sunday, October 31, 2010 at Kiva Patio at Loews Ventana Canyon (7000 North Resort Drive Tucson, AZ 85750).

The Copper Chef Challenge and Barbecue is from 11 am to 1 pm. The cost is $25 per person and $10 for kids 12 and under.

Event Description: Join us for the chef challenge of the decade! Will Murph and Jeff of Bluefin and Kingfisher retain their title as they challenge a newcomer on dueling barbecues? Add two other surprise “throwdown” challenges to the mix, fabulous brunch, barbecue and cocktail offerings from Tucson Originals chefs, and you’ve got the perfect way to wrap up the weekend!

For more information, please visit the Tucson Culinary Festival website.

This announcement was received by email. To send us your events or press releases, please contact us.

Special Wine Events at Tavolino

You may have noticed from our tweets that we, at Upscale Tucson, are big fans of Tavolino Ristorante Italiano. The food is fantastic, the prices are just right, and the service is outstanding.

There are two exciting wine events coming at Tavolino that we would like to share with you. Massimo Tenino (owner of Tavolino) will be joined by his brother, Paolo Tenino (owner of Pietro Rinaldi Winery at Piemonte, Italy) to host the following two events:

• Wine Tasting. Wednesday, July 21st, 2010, from 6 pm to 8 pm. In this event, you will enjoy a selection of Pietro Rinaldi wines complemented with a variety of meats and cheeses from Tavolino’s Salumeria Bar. The price is $22/person.
• Wine Dinner. Tuesday, July 27th, 2010, at 6:30 pm. Enjoy 5 courses paired perfectly with Pietro Rinaldi wines. $75/person (tax and gratuity not included). Visit Tavolino Ristorante to view wine dinner menu.

Pietro Rinaldi wines are available at both events for a special discounted price. Call 531-1913 to reserve your space.

Tavolino Ristorante Italiano is located at Plaza Colonial, 2890 E. Skyline Drive (SW corner of Skyline and Campbell).

Firebirds Wood Fired Grills

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opened its doors at La Encantada in Tucson in 2003.

I went there for a special dinner not too long ago and absolutely loved the atmosphere, the service, and of course, the food.

The menu features great options, including salads, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, and steaks cooked on the wood fired grill. See Firebirds menu.

The ambiance is elegant, but relaxed and comfortable. Firebirds also features a bar area (the Firebar) with an indoor stone fireplace. The bar offers an impressive list of wine, martinis, margaritas, and cocktails.

Firebirds is located in La Encantada Shopping Center at 2985 E Skyline Dr, Tucson, AZ. For information, please call 520-577-0747.

P. F. Chang’s China Bistro

You may have been to or even love P. F. Chang’s China Bistro, but you may not know that it was founded in 1993 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

P. F. Chang’s offers a fantastic and delicious menu of American Chinese cuisine. In addition, a great list of gluten-free menu options is available upon request from your server. The P. F. Chang’s website is a wonderful resource, where you can view the menu, make reservations, and even get some delicious Chinese recipes.

Tucson has one P. F. Chang’s China Bistro location at River and Campbell (1805 E. River Road Suite 100. Tucson, AZ 85718). For questions, please contact P.F. Chang’s at (520) 615-8788.

P. F. Chang’s Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm. For a limited time, in Arizona locations only, you will get $2 off all appetizers and $2 off all specialty cocktails.

See you there!

Sullivan’s Steaks, Martinis, and Jazz

Sullivan’s Steakhouse has been an Upscale Tucson favorite for a long time.

In addition to their amazing steaks and seafood (see Sullivan’s Menu), Sullivan’s bar and the cigar-friendly patio feature live jazz entertainment seven nights a week.

The full bar offers high-end cognacs, single malt scotches, an incredible wine menu, and amazing martinis. Sullivan’s also offers a fully stocked cigar humidor.

Join me every Thursday night at my favorite Sullivan’s event: Swingin’ at Sully’s, featuring a half-priced entrees, $5 martinis, and more. See what’s happening at Sullivan’s other nights of the week.

Sullivan’s is located at 1785 East River Road, Tucson , AZ – 85718 (Map). View Sullivan’s hours of operation. For questions, please call (520) 299-4275 or email them at sullivans.tucson@steakco.com

Sur Real in Tucson

Sur Real is Tucson’s premier Latin American cuisine and is a new member of the Tucson’s Premier Restaurant Group Group.

Sur real offers great daily specials and fantastic happy hour deals (from Monday through Friday 3pm-6pm and 10pm-close).

It is so much more than a restaurant, though. At night (10 pm to 2 am), it transforms into a fun and upbeat atmosphere. On Friday, hopin’ DJ music sponsored by 92.9 The Mountain, featuring $5 Martinis and Caipirinhas and delicious appetizers to keep you going. Saturday is live Salsa music night dancing with Senor Q featuring $3 beer specials.

Sur Real is located at 3001 E Skyline Dr # 133, Tucson, AZ 85718-2145. Questions or Reservations? Call (520) 529-2644. Get more details including hours and directions.

Zinburger

A gourmet burger and fries experience; in fact, Zinburger is awesome!

The atmosphere is modern and upbeat. The food is delicious. Zinburger offers a great selection of gourmet burgers, salads, shakes, desserts. In addition, Zinburger offers a full bar, featuring a variety of 20 great wines.

See Zinburger’s Menu (in PDF format).

Zinburger is located at 1865 East River Road #101 Tucson, AZ 85718 (Map).

Phone is 520.299.7799

Hours:
Sundays through Thursdays, from 11 am to 10 pm
Fridays and Saturdays, from 11 am to 11 pm

Happy Hour occurs from 4 pm to pm every day!

See you at Tucson’s gourmet burger spot.

Avenue Coffee

Avenue Coffee has been one of my favorite new spots to enjoy some good coffee.

I met both Mark and Jenny, the husband and wife team, who own Avenue Coffee. They are both awesome, very friendly, and very committed to what they do.

Avenue Coffee offers all the great classical coffee drinks as well as many specialty and delicious coffee drinks. My favorite is The Monsoon (ice cream, espresso, chocolate, and peanut butter). Also, Avenue Coffee offers fresh-baked pastries every morning.

The atmosphere is upbeat and friendly, which is perfect for chillin’ with a friend or a good book. However, the noise level does not get out of hand, which is, coupled with the free WiFi, perfect for doing work.

Avenue Coffee is located at 2052 N. Campbell Avenue, 1 block north of Grant on the east side of the road. For questions, please call (520) 225-0437.

Please come and support this wonderful Tucson-based coffee shop.

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