Just over a month after opening as Tucson's first Creole restaurant, Sazerac Creole Kitchen & Cocktails in St. Philip's Plaza has a new name: SAZ Creole Kitchen & Cocktails.
The change comes after the folks at the Louisiana-based Sazerac Company sent a cease and desist order on Feb. 14 to owners Jam Culinary Concepts. Seems Sazerac, which owns Jack Daniels and Southern Comfort, trademarked the name Sazerac years ago, event though it's the name of a New Orleans cocktail that goes back to the mid-19th century.
Jam owner Suzanne Kaiser said their lawyer suggested immediately changing the name to avoid any legal action, which, given Sazerac's "deep pockets," would have been a losing proposition.
Kaiser, who owns Jam Culinary Concepts with her sons Aric and Joshua Mussman, said they decided on SAZ, which rhymes with jazz — the quintessential New Orleans soundtrack. The new name passed muster with their lawyers, she said.
SAZ is hosting Mardi Gras at the restaurant, 4280 N. Campbell Ave., from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28. At 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, and Tuesday, a pair of high school marching bands will play Mardi Gras tunes.
In addition to SAZ, Jam Culinary Concepts has a pair of Vero Amore pizzerias, Oro Valley's gastropub-inspired Noble Hops Craft Beer + Fine Fare and, coming in March, Twisted Tandoor at 4660 E. Camp Lowell Drive. The Indian restaurant is a project with Roop Singh, who late husband started Twisted Tandoor as a food truck.
