The Last Roundup

The dust has settled and the last doggie has been put in the corral. It’s time to say good bye to the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Az. For those who wish to visit I would recommend coming out anytime but the Summer. There may be a select few hardy souls that like it hot and dry, and if you’re one of those then go ahead and give it a go. You’ll actually save money on a hotel and car rental in the summer. Tucson has a rich history from the early natives to the now hip young crowd. Amongst it all is the western cowboy flair that is slowly dying and I hope it won’t be lost forever. As more people move out to the Sunbelt , there is increasingly less land for horses and cattle. I’ve noticed all of the old cowboy clothing stores have gone out of business and now only one or two remain. Still the Old West lives in the hearts and minds of the people and you can see the occasional cowboy coming into town. There’s a mindset that comes with growing up in the southwest and that truly will never leave your heart.

In keeping with the theme of the American cowboy, no food blog would be complete without at least one trip to a steak house. Tucson certainly won’t leave you disappointed in that regard either. The steaks in Tucson are usually grilled on Mesquite wood, which imparts a spicy smokey flavor you can’t get from any other wood. It takes your steak to the next level and when done right it will be the best steak you have ever eaten. Tucson has a long history of cattle ranching and the University of Arizona teaches sustainable beef cattle production. Cattle are ingrained into the fabric and culture in Tucson as much as sunshine and Mexican food are.

• 

• 

• 

There’s a steakhouse for everyone and every budget. Most are local businesses but a few are chain restaurants. The chains won’t be cooking with Mesquite wood so I tend to avoid them , but also because I can eat at them almost anywhere. If you have children and don’t mind a touristy fun spot, I’d recommend going to Trail Dust Town and eating at Pinnacle Peaks. This place has been around since 1962 and on the weekends in the Winter they will cook around 5000 steaks! Needless to say they know how to grill a steak. The entire place resembles an old western town with plenty of fun shops and things to do , the shooting gallery has seen better days but still fun (note it’s laser lights that you shoot at the targets), a sluice where kids can pan for gems and minerals, an old hand carved wooden carousel, a small train that travels around the outskirts of town taking the little ones on an old west adventure, and every evening theres a wild west cowboy stunt show, complete with a shoot out, some explosions and a few people falling off of roofs. Its a great way to work up an appetite. A little secret about Pinnacle Peaks is, if you wear a tie it will be cut off at your table, so a lot of people like to bring their relatives there and tell them to wear a tie, its all in keeping with the spirit of the west, just make sure they don’t wear an expensive one!

• 

• 

• 

Many of the locals opt to skip the touristy Pinnacle Peaks and go out to The Silver Saddle or El Corral steak houses. Both serve excellent food and have been in business well over fifty years. If you like something a little quirkier try Lil’ Abner’s or Daisy Mae’s. On the Eastside of town is a place I like to go mainly for its view but the ribs are smoked and the steaks are decent although not cooked on mesquite. It’s McGraw’s Cantina and they have a nice blend of American food, salads, burgers, pasta and sandwiches crossed with Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. Like the green chicken which is a grilled chicken breast topped with roasted green chilies & Menonita cheese,(its a light flavored white cheese with a firm texture and was made by the Mennonite people that settled in Mexico).

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

There are higher end places for steaks and a few that are out of town but I’ll save those for another time. So much is happening in Tucson as far as food is concerned that I couldn’t possibly get it all done. I touched on the things that I knew growing up but there’s amazing Asian , Indian and Middle Eastern food as well as new American cuisine. I will ask my friends and family to send me a few reviews from other restaurants in Tucson and post their findings here.

Cue- Happy Trails music now…..

Thank you for stopping by and sharing in my little adventure to Tucson Arizona, as always please leave your questions and comments in the box below. Until next time Boone Appétit!