Viva La Local Food Festival Saturday
Viva La Local Food Festival is teaming up with Living Streets Alliance’s Cyclovia Tucson for what organizers are calling Tucson Tandem — a weekend of celebrating local food and five miles of car-free streets.
Viva La Local takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave., and Cyclovia is Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., connecting Tucson’s downtown near Armory Park to South Tucson.
The food festival is presented by Heirloom Farmers Markets.
Viva La Local features more than 25 restaurants serving $5 plates, plus more than 80 farmers market vendors, local beer and wine, and local bands. Admission is $6, and kids under age 12 enter free.
Living Streets Alliance is offering complimentary bike valet parking.
Restaurants include Mama Louisa’s, Queen Creek Olive Oil, Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue, Mother Hubbard’s, Gourmet Girls, Augustín Kitchen, Loews Ventana Canyon, JW Marriot, Café at The YWCA, Pasco Kitchen, Veg In a Box, Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks, Rod’s KC BBQ, The Twisted Tandoor, Snow Peas, Pastiche, Renee’s Organic Oven and Boca, among others.
Beer and wine provided by Iron John’s, Borderlands, Barrio, Sentinel Peak, Arizona Stronghold and Quench Distributing. More info at vivalalocalfoodfest.com
Mexican restaurant opens in Tucson Mall
Eat Fresh Mexican Food Raspados opened their second mall outpost at the Tucson Mall food court last week. It also has a raspados stand on the second floor of the mall.
The restaurant offers a full menu of Mexican entrees including burritos, tacos and sandwiches. It’s open during mall hours.
‘Primal Grill’ chef
to talk BBQ history
Steven Raichlen, who was here for the Tucson Festival of Books, returns to Tucson next Thursday for a lecture called “Up in Smoke: The History of Barbecue.” The talk is free and starts at 7 p.m. in room 100 in Social Sciences, 1145 E. South Campus Drive on the University of Arizona campus.
Raichlen has won five James Beard awards for his cookbooks. His 780- page book, “BBQ USA,” won the 2004 award for Tools and Techniques.
