"Coaxing a vibrant food culture from this land of heat and cactuses an hourβs drive north of the Mexican border seems an exhausting and impossible quest. But itβs never a good idea to underestimate a desert rat. Tucson, it turns out, is a muscular food town," says the New York Times in another disbelieving article about Tucson being named a Unesco City of Gastronomy.
Also. Cactuses?
The Times' story goes on to reassure New Yorkers that Tucson's place on Unesco's list is more about our agricultural history and our connection to local crops than it is about the quality of our restaurants. (Note: The Times piece is right on the heels of a similar article in USA Today, titled "Chasing the sources in Tucsonβs budding food scene")
Commenter Karl from Melrose, MA summed it up for us: "Tucson's had a vibrant food scene for a long time, just not one designed to snare food tourism or writing. It's better that way."
