Who doesn’t love a yummy nibble with an icy brew this time of year?
Throw in the excuse of a good cause and you have every reason to check out Baja Brews & Bites in Marana’s Dove Mountain area on Saturday, Aug. 10.
The event, in its fourth year since it was launched in 2018, pairs local breweries with area chefs to come up with a beer and bite pairing. Of course, every memorable foodie event in Tucson has a competition element. You and your fellow patrons get to sample the dishes and vote on which is the best.
During the event, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m., teams of two chefs from some of Tucson’s top restaurants join forces with a brewery to create small plate and beer pairings.
Dillinger Brewing, which has since closed, was part of the 2023 Tucson Originals Baja Brews & Bites event. This year’s event is on Saturday, Aug. 10, at The Highlands at Dove Mountain.
With this lineup of participating chefs — reigning Tucson Iron Chef Ken Foy of Dante’s Fire, Zio Peppe’s Steph Molina, Brian Steiner from the host Highlands at Dove Mountain, Rocco DiGrazia of Rocco’s Little Chicago, Marcus Van Winden of Dam Good Food Catering, Gourmet Girls’ Mary Steiger, Nate Cluff of Vero Amore Dove Mountain, Bashful Bandit Barbecue’s Toby Kyte, Michael Elefante of Mama Louisa’s, Fresco Pizzeria and Pastaria chef-owner Mat Cable, Matt Michelson of Noble Hops, Terry Kyte of Bisbee Breakfast Club, Kingfisher’s Jacki Kuder and Danika Cleaver of Midtown Vegan Deli — we’re anticipating some culinary magic.
Of course, the breweries involved are no slackers, either: Crooked Tooth Brewing Co., Barrio Brewing Co., Iron John’s Brewing Company, Ranch Hand Brewing, Pueblo Vida Brewing Company, Button Brewing Company and Tirrito Farm.
Here’s how the teams will shake out: Foy and Kuder with Crooked Tooth; Van Winden and Steiger with Button Brewing; DiGrazia and Cable with Pueblo Vida; Steiner and Molina with Tirrito Farm; Cluff and Michelson with Ranch Hand and Barrio Brewing; and the Kyte brothers with Iron John’s.
In addition to savory bites that pair nicely with craft beer, some of the chefs at Saturday’s Baja Brews & Bites will traverse the sweet side of the menu.
Guitarist Joshua Rhoades will perform during the event, being held at The Highlands at Dove Mountain, 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd., off West Tangerine Road. Tickets for the 21-and-older event are $65, $55 for Tucson Foodie Insiders, through brewsnbites2024.eventbrite.com.
The chefs and breweries are volunteering for the event, whose proceeds benefit Tucson Originals, which supports Tucson’s independent restaurants.
This is the second year for Baja Brews & Bites after the event went on a three-year hiatus courtesy the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, originally copresented by Tucson Originals and the statewide Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, was held in 2018 and 2019 and returned in 2023.
The guild’s Baja Beer Festival, meanwhile, returns to Armory Park on April 8, 2025, after its four-year hiatus. Visit chooseazbrews.com for details.
