Here’s my guide to 10 can’t miss Mexican inspired dishes in Tucson, Arizona. For the Food Network.
Tucson, Arizona, is famous for its Sonoran-style Mexican food. A college town located just 60 miles north of the Mexican border, and situated between Santa Fe and Southern California in both geography and style, Tucson boasts a truly unique regional cuisine.
In fact, Tucson has been designated the first U.S. City of Gastronomy by UNESCO, celebrating its unique regional cuisine, which is influenced heavily by the city’s proximity to Mexico and its location in the Sonoran Desert, where prickly pear, mesquite and chiltepin grow wild. Native American and Hispanic cultures mix with those of generations of settlers who moved to the Southwest looking for a new life.
Visit FoodNetwork.com to see my 35 can’t-miss Tucson dishes with a distinctly Sonoran-Mexican influence.
I’ve written and photographed a guide on what to eat in Arizona for the Food Network. “Grub in the Grand Canyon State: The Best Things to Eat in Arizona,” features 29 of the the most iconic dishes across the state.
Though Arizona is geographically and culturally diverse, there are many dishes that signify the state not only to its residents, but also to outsiders looking in. I photographed all of the food in Tucson with links to best places to find each dish in Phoenix, Scottsdale and the rest of northern and southern Arizona as well. Pictured above are bowls of white and red menudo. Below is the the combo plato from Cafe Poca Cosa. 
I know that a lot of people are concerned with food waste. Here is one little way in which you can reduce it. Save your dough scraps and turn them into one of the recipes that I developed (and photographed ) for my latest article for Food Network, which is appropriately titled, “10 Ways to Use Leftover Pie Dough Scraps.” Pictured above is my Scrap Pot Pie. Below are Pie Scrap Dessert Nachos and my Southern Style Scrap Turkey and Dumplings which are made entirely from Thanksgiving leftovers.
Tucson Lifestyle’s Home & Garden Magazine asked me to develop and photograph recipes featuring corn, beans and squash (AKA The Three Sisters), which are companion plants and staples of Sonoran cuisine.
You can check out the full article online starting on page 30: http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=321779
The recipes featured are: Three Sisters Pizza with Corn Masa Crust, Grain Bowl with Tepary Beans, Mexican Green Rice, Zoodles and a Fried Egg, Sweet Corn Paletas with Pico de Gallo Seasoning
I’m happy to have written and photographed my first feature article for Edible Baja Arizona Magazine that includes a bunch of my super easy summer recipes inspired by Sonoran food classics, including these baked Carne Asada Tostadas with guacamole and pickled red onions. Here’s the link: http://ediblebajaarizona.com/sonoran-101
Nothing says, “It’s party time” like beverages with fancy looking decorated rims! Dip, dunk and swirl your way to a festive holiday celebration with my 10 ideas for decking out your glassware for the holidays. The melting hard candy drink rim pictured uses the same technique as candy apples. It pairs well with whisky, bourbon or tequila cocktails. You can see more of my ideas and photographs at FoodNetwork.com.
A salty, spicy spice blend made with Vegetarian bacon bits line the rims of a Bloody Mary.
Toasted Marshmallow fluff rimming a mug of hot chocolate and topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips.
This non-alcoholic version of sangria incorporates grilled fruit for a smoky/spicy summer quencher. The contrast of the grill marks on the colorful fruit make for a stunning visual display, so be sure to serve this in a large glass pitchers or several smaller glass carafes.
“The most creative and inventive snacks are the result of mastering the art of improv” – me quoting me! Read the article I wrote for The Kitchn. The improv snack pictured is a bagel sundae topped with hot fudge, caramel sauce, popcorn, Raisinettes, whipped cream, cherries and of course sprinkles. There are also links to two original recipes I developed for The Kitchn’s Snack Week.
