If it’s been awhile since you’ve been to Main Gate Square, the Culinary Challenge taking place from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 29 in Geronimo Plaza will give you a chance to sample fare from new restaurants while also enjoying longtime favorites.
The event will showcase 24 Main Gate Square restaurants and cafes, with chefs from The Dutch Eatery & Refuge, Fuku Sushi, Gentle Ben’s, Jimmy’s Pita & Poke, Mutts, Pasco Kitchen & Lounge, & Red’s Smokehouse & Tap Room.
A Blind Coffee Tasting will feature Caffe Luce, Espresso Art, Starbucks, and a Blind Tea Tasting will include Panera Bread, Espresso Art & Scented Leaf.
Sample food or drinks from Bear Track U, Caffe Luce, Campus Candy, Cup it Up, The Dutch Eatery, Espresso Art, Frog & Firkin, Fuku Sushi, Gentle Ben’s, Illegal Pete’s, Jimmy’s Pita & Poke (newly branded Eat-a-Pita), Kababeque, Mutts, No Anchovies, Panera, Pasco Kitchen & Lounge, Pei Wei, Red’s Smokehouse, Sinbad’s Restaurant, Starbucks, The Fix, The Scented Leaf, Tucson University Park Hotel and Woops!Bakeshop. All samples are free.
For patrons age 21 and above (you will be carded at the entrances) there will be a No Host Bar with local craft beers and a variety of wines. Proceeds from the bar will benefit the Community Food Bank’s Caridad Kitchen that offers a culinary and job skills training program for low income or unemployed individuals.
Parking is free in the Tyndall Garage. If the weather’s bad, the event will be moved to the Tucson University Park Hotel.
Main Gate Square is located on University Boulevard between Euclid and Park avenues north to Second Street. Learn more at maingatesquare.com.
