The historical role of corn in the heritage foods of Tucson and the region takes the spotlight at a new monthlong cross-border food festival celebrating three North American Cities of Gastronomy.
The Pueblos del MaΓz festival kicks off May 5 in Tucson before moving on to San Antonio, and the Mexican cities of Merida and Puebla later in May.
Tucson opens the monthlong festival, which is apropos given we were the first American city to earn UNESCOβs City of Gastronomy designation in 2015. Ensenada, Mexico, earned its the same year, but Merida didnβt get its recognition until 2019, two years after San Antonio.
βMaize Traditions in Pueblaβ by AndrΓ©s Lobato, a photo exhibit will be at the Citizen Hotel on May 5.
Pueblos del MaΓz, produced by the nonprofitΒ Tucson City of GastronomyΒ with support from Pima Countyβs American Rescue Plan for funding tourism recovery, runs May 5-8 with events being held atΒ Hotel CongressΒ andΒ Fox Tucson TheatreΒ on East Congress Street;Β Mission GardenΒ atΒ 946 W. Mission Lane; andΒ San Xavier Co-op Farm, near the San Xavier Mission.
Events include a block party with street food, cooking demonstrations, a chef showcase dinner, live music, a film screening, a photo exhibit and educational activities. Below, find details on the events.
"The Pueblos del MaΓz" is a monthlong cross-border festival that starts in Tucson and goes to two Mexican cities and San Antonio.
May 5: Photographer/journalist Andres Lobatoβs βMaize Traditions in Pueblaβ photo exhibit will be on display at The Citizen Hotel, 82 S. Stone Ave., beginning at 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., will host a movie screening for Alberto CortΓ©sβ βMaize in the Times of Warβ from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; free. The film looks at the importance of corn and the dangers the crop faces for Mexican farmers. Producer Carlos Rossini and Cinema Tropical director Carlos Figueroa will hold a Q&A following the screening.
Also on May 5: a free digital presentation of "Tontitos y Bataretes: El MaΓz en Sonora," in Spanish with English interpretation from noon to 1:15 p.m.; and a Latin Jazz concert with Rafael Moreno from 9 to 11:30 p.m. at The Century Room,Β 311 E. Congress St.
May 6: Tucson City of Gastronomy will host the MaΓz Showcase, a bocadito dinner experience featuring some of Tucsonβs finest chefs at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
The dinner will feature 10 maΓz-themed small plates created by local award-winning chefs, restaurateurs and food artisans including Carlotta Flores of El Charro; John Martinez of Tito & Pep; baker Don Guerra of Barrio Bread; James Beard Award winning Chef Janos Wilder; Mateo Otero of Rollies Mexican Patio; Erika MuΓ±oz of Seis Kitchen; Borderlands Brewing chief brewer Ayla Kapahi; Kristel Johnson of Hub Creamery; and Adam Krantz of Monsoon Chocolate.
The cost is $50 per person and that includes admission to El TambΓ³ music festival at Congress. El Tambo Fest will include sets by Vox Urbana, El Santo Golpe and El TambΓ³ DJs. It starts at 9:30 p.m. and admission is $15.
The same day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a free event atΒ San Xavier Co-op Farm,Β 8100 Oidak Wog, presented in partnership with Southwest Folklife Alliance. There will be demonstrations of O'odham pottery, clay seed jars and huΓ± cecemait (corn tortillas), in addition to waila music and Indigenous food and artisans.
Also on May 6, attend a freeΒ lecture and discussion from Roberto Cintli Rodriguez, a professor in theΒ Mexican American Studies department at the University of Arizona. His research focuses onΒ maΓz culture and he has published a book called "Our Sacred MaΓz is our Mother: Nin Tonantzin Non Centeotl."Β The event runs 5-6 p.m. at The Century Room.Β
May 7: βPueblos del MaΓz Fiesta,β a free block party at Hotel Congress, runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Gertie & the T.O. Boyz, Los Hermanos Cuatro, Las Trillizas y Dulce and Native Creed will perform outdoors while Juan Wauters of Uruguay and Los Velvets of Nogales are set to perform inside at Club Congress. The party also will feature more than 15 local food and artisan vendors and a panel conversation about maΓz and the Sonoran Desert; free.
Earlier in the day from 8 a.m. to noon, head to Mission Garden for activities in collaboration with Ajo CSA, including planting Tohono O'odham 60-day corn, learning about methods of harvesting, roasting and grinding corn to prepare traditional dishes such as gaβiwsaΒ orΒ chicos, cooking demonstrations and tastings, and more. See the schedule of activitiesΒ here! The event is free to attend; donations accepted.
May 8: Celebrate Mother's Day with Pueblos del MaΓz!Β Stop by participating Tucson City of Gastronomy restaurantsΒ β Barrio Charro, Tito & Pep, Blue Willow and more βΒ for specialΒ maΓz-themed menus.
For more information about theΒ Pueblos del MaΓz festival, check out their website.
