CARNIVAL Celebration at the Rialto to Feature GUT Chefs

The Rialto Theater, Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance and GUT Chefs Partner to Raise Money for Worthy Causes

Members of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT) will participate in CARNIVAL at the Rialto Theatre, on Thursday, February 1 from 6-9pm. at the Rialto Theatre.  The Mardi Gras themed event will benefit the Rialto Theatre and SAACA ‘s (Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance) Creative Arts Therapy Programming. Guests at the event will enjoy Cajun/Creole and Brazilian Carnival cuisine prepared by local GUT Chefs, as well as beer sampling, live music and entertainment.  

The GUT Chefs have collaborated to create outstanding menu items for the Fat Tuesday-style event and include an All-Star list of local chefs and restaurants:

Chef Marcus Van Winden (The Dutch Eatery & Refuge) collaborating with Max Provost (Private Chef), Nohemi Montoya (HUB Restaurant and Ice Creamery) and Travis Gary Peters (The Parish) to present:

• Dirty South Mudbug Rolls n’ Gutzz
• Smoked 'gator boudin sausage with creole mustard
• Green gumbo & grilled kale garlic rice

 
Chef Tanner Fleming (Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails) accompanied by Devon Sanner (The Carriage House), Tim Moore (Pastiche), and Matt Kraiss (Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails) presenting:

• Brazilian Feijoada
• Pao de Quiejo
• Yuca Fries
• Molho Rose

 
Chef Rocco DiGrazia (Rocco’s Little Chicago) accompanied by Obadiah Hindman (Mountain Oyster Club) and Mat Cable (Fresco Pizzeria and Pastaria):

• Smokey duck boudin balls with kumquat remoulade
• BBQ shrimp & pork belly poboys with charred pickle slaw
• Chicory, celery & chicken heart salad with crispy onions and buttermilk vinaigrette

 
Chef Chuck Scott (Highlands Bar & Grill) accompanied by Sam Krajnak (Red’s Smokehouse + Tap Room), Buddy Hopkins (Ermanos Craft Beer and Wine Bar) and Rica Rances (The Parish) serving:

• Stuffed fresh water shrimp head with a Shrimp mousse
• Corn flour tempura with Smoked chimichurri
• Beef Roulade with charred green onion, pickled carrots, bacon, avocado and Serrano cream
• Coconut flan, filo crisp and sous vide candied plantain topped with a coconut lace garnish.

 
Chef Jim Murphy (Kingfisher), accompanied by Michael Elefante (Mama Louisa's) and Ken Foy (Dante's Fire) serving:

• Heritage Red Beans and Carolina Gold Rice and Pickled Pork
• Alligator Gumbo, Cajun Trinity, and Tasso Ham
• Fresh Beignet "Fosters" au Foie

 
Chef Gina Skelton (Casino del Sol) featuring: King Cake

The event will also feature live, local music. The Wildcat Jazz Band, comprised of six world class musicians offers traditional New Orleans and Chicago jazz performed in a spirit and style that is true to its musical roots and wildly popular with audiences around the United States. Founded by New Christy Minstrels veteran Rob Wright and a roster of six Tucson jazz legends, their free-wheelin mix of well-known jazz favorites, tongue in cheek originals, dixieland staples has been planting smiles on faces since 2004. 

The Wildcat Jazz Band will play live on stage at the Rialto at 7:30pm.

Additional activities will include a celebratory bead toss, handmade artist masks and a live marching and performance.

This is a 21 and older event. Tickets to the event are $45 per person and can be purchased at https://www.saaca.org/savorcarnival.html

Note to Media: Photos available.

Carnival Celebration at the Rialto
When: Thursday, February 1, 2018 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
Where: The Rialto Theater, 318 E Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701
Cost: $45
Online: www.saaca.org
Phone: (520) 797-3959

About Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance
The Southern Arizona Arts & 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 & Cultural Alliance please visit www.saaca.org.

About GUT
G.U.T is a Union of local Chefs working to further education and give back to Tucson's diverse culinary community through responsible agriculture and locally sourced ingredients. It is a collaboration of over 30 chefs and food professionals who came together following Tucson’s designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, to foster a culinary community of creativity, professional development and community engagement. Their goal is to educate the public that our dynamic food scene is more than its exceptional restaurants; it includes seed banks, food banks, community gardens, the 4000 year agricultural history, farmers markets, breweries, wineries, distillers, ranches, growers, food writers, and most importantly the Tucson community that supports them. G.U.T seeks to bring these elements together both to honor our food heritage, and to foster culinary innovation and creative exchange. 

​About the Rialto Theater
The Rialto Theater is a non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship and preservation of the historic Rialto Theatre, a unique entertainment venue and cornerstone of downtown Tucson, offering a broad range of high-quality performing arts that are reflective of the diverse and vibrant community it serves.