The result is a restaurant named True Food. The catch for Tucsonans is that it is in Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix. It’s in the space that formerly housed Coffee Plantation and has both indoor and outdoor seating along with a small private dining room.
True Food opened last week focusing on global cuisine with Mediterranean, Asian and Californian influences. It is open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
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And the diamonds go to...
AAA’s diamond award judges have announced their 2009 winners, with no change on the Tucson scene — but they seem mighty impressed with what’s new in Scottsdale where two resorts and four restaurants landed four-diamond awards for the first time.
In Tucson, the Ventana Room at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort kept its top-of-the-line five diamonds for a fourth consecutive year. It, and Kai at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, are the only two restaurants in the state earning five diamonds.
Tucson restaurants winning four diamonds are: Acacia at St. Philip’s Plaza (four years), Anthony’s in the Catalinas (five years), Arizona Inn Main Dining Room (third year), Gold Room at Westward Look Resort (15 years), Jano’s (eight years) and Primo at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa (four years).
As for places to stay, six local establishments won four stars: Arizona Inn (fifth year), Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort (25th year), JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa (fourth year), Loews Ventana Canyon Resort (24th year), Lodge at Ventana Canyon (13th year) and Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa (seventh year).
All totaled, AAA honored 28 restaurants and 39 hotels with four diamonds. The diamond awards will be included AAA’s Arizona Tour Book to be published in January.
There’s a new Copper chef champ and ‘best margarita’
We have a new winner from this year’s Copper Chef Challenge at the sixth annual Tucson Culinary Festival Oct. 23 - 26. Jim “Murph” Murphy, of Kingfisher Bar and Grill and Bluefin Seafood Bistro, beat reigning champion Jonathan Landeen, of Jonathan’s Tucson Cork.
The two competed using chiles as the secret ingredient. Murph’s winning dishes were seared shrimp poblano ceviche, pan seared ancho chile-rubbed tilapia over pork stew and dry Hatch Chile marinated roast chicken.
At festival’s World Margarita Championship, El Charro Café was the judges’ choice for making the classic margarita. The peoples’ choice award went to newcomer restaurant Jax Kitchen for a version called Partida “Blanco” Tequila Margarita with Cointreau infused Agave nectar and freshly squeezed Meyer lemon and lime juices.
Contact T.J. Katz at tj.katz@yahoo.com. Meals & Entertainment appears weekly.
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