Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival Participants Announced

Restaurants from "The Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food in America” come together to at the inaugural Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The inaugural Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival will bring together some of Tucson’s most authentic Mexican restaurants, engaging attendees through a shared experience of local Mexican cuisine. The event, which will take place on June 18th at 6 p.m. at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, will celebrate and explore Tucson’s rich heritage and highlight the relationship between food, culture, and tradition.
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Title Sponsor Visit Tucson, in collaboration with the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, are pleased to announce the restaurants and libation providers who will be participating in the first year of The Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival. The event will bring together the restaurants from across the “Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food in America”, offering a unique opportunity for guests to sip, savor, mix and mingle all in one place.  

The festival will feature restaurants including:

Blanco Tacos & Tequila
Boca Tacos y Tequila
Calle Tepa
Crossroads Restaurant
Dish for Dosha
El Charro Café
El Cisne
Fermented Tea Company
Gringo Grill + Cantina
La Estrella Bakery
La Indita
La Fresita
La Parrilla Suiza
Mariscos Chihuahua
Molinas Midway Restarurant
Pasco Kitchen and Lounge
Penca
Pure Love Juice
Reforma Cocina Y Cantina
Rigo's Restaurant
Seis Kitchen and Catering
Sonoran Sno-Cones
Taco Giro Mexican Grill
 
Menu highlights include Blanco Tacos & Tequila presenting machaca tacos and Mexican street corn, El Charro Café featuring five chile pork carnitas, and Penca’s achoite braised pork with grilled pineapple. Attendees looking to satisfy a sweet tooth can check out La Estrella Bakery featuring epanadas, cochitos, pan de huevo, fruit filled chimichangas, and the always popular – churros.

In addition to the culinary experiences, top notch beer and spirit providers will be on hand to present their collections in place alongside the regional cuisine Bohemia, Dos Equis Amber, Dos Equis Lager, Roger Clyne’s Mexican Moonshine, Tecate Michelado Diablo, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. To round out the family friendly event, non-alchololic beverages including tea, horchata, fruit raspados and aguas frescas will also be offered.
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The evening will flourish with lively celebration of food and libations delivering memorable experiences for the whole family. The Tucson 23 will feature traditional music and dance performances from Ballet Folklorica La Paloma, Mariachi Mizteca, and Reno Del Mar. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discover regional artwork from local artists, have their face painted in the style of Dia De Los Muertos, and experience an explosion of brilliantly colored costumes and time-honored cultural traditions. Raffle tickets will be available at the event, featuring prizes including hotel getaway packages, tequila, restaurant gift certificates, and product and samples from Tucson 23 participants.
 
Tickets to The Tucson 23 include unlimited food and libation samplings from all participants. Beer, tequila and cocktail sampling, and live entertainment. Tickets are available at www.SAACA.org or by calling (520) 797-3959 x 7.
 
The Tucson 23
When: Saturday, June 18 at 6 p.m.
Where: JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85745
Cost: $45
Online: www.saaca.org
Phone: (520) 797-3959
 
About the Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food
Tucson is home to the most authentic Mexican north of the border. The highest concentration of these restaurants is found within a 23-mile area that includes the City of South Tucson, Downtown, and lower midtown. At these terrific eateries, many of which are family-owned and decades old, the settings are casual, the ingredients are fresh, and the experience is unforgettable.
 
About Visit Tucson
Visit Tucson is the official destination marketing organization for Tucson and southern Arizona. Its mission is to drive economic development by connecting visitors with their ideal travel and meetings experiences. Visit Tucson is financially supported by the City of Tucson, Pima County, and the Town of Oro Valley and more than 500 individual and business partners. For more information, go to www.VisitTucson.org.

About JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa
Nestled on 50 acres in the saguaro-covered foothills of Tucson National Park, the AAA Four Diamond Starr Pass Resort & Spa is considered one of Tucson's premier destination resorts.  Featuring 575 guestrooms (including 35 suites) with picturesque views, the resort offers 88,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, six dining experiences, 20,000 square-foot Hashani Spa, fitness center, a collection of outdoor water features including the meandering Starr Canyon River and Monsoon Falls waterslide, the Blur Teen Lounge and Rising Starr Kid's Club, two tennis courts and access to multiple hiking and biking trails on property. Starr Pass Golf Club features 27 holes of championship golf designed by Arnold Palmer.   JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is located just 12 miles from Tucson International Airport.  With easy access to Interstate 10, the resort is a short 90 minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.  Visit us online, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort is located at 3800 W. Starr Pass Boulevard in Tucson.
 
 About the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance
The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to ensure that, through engagement in arts and culture, our communities produce strong, inspired citizens. SAACA enlists artists, businesses, governments, and individuals to expand artistic and cultural opportunities in their respective communities. To enhance access to the arts and to promote cultural awareness in the communities it serves, SAACA presents large-scale festivals, events and other programs. The Alliance also promotes educational opportunities in the arts and culture for all ages.  
 
For more information about programs and events produced by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, go to www.saaca.org.