▼ Café doughnut that’s somehow the milkiest chocolate you’ve ever tasted, yet vegan. And for non-vegans, the Boston cream is a whipped cream, chocolate revelation that tastes better than any doughnut should. In other words, you can’t go wrong. Jackfruit anything at Tumerico Cafe 2526 East Sixth Street, Tucson Wendy Garcia, chef-owner of Latin- inspired, plant-based Tumerico, can butcher a jackfruit like a boss. She starts with the giant, green fruit, adds a blend of spices and seasonings, fries it up and piles it into tacos and enchiladas. Also included are adobo sauce, fiery salsa, cashew crema, and guacamole, all house made from scratch. The ever-changing blackboard menu comes with options like fiery jack- fruit al pastor tacos, jackfruit carnitas, ropa vieja, and huevos rancheros, all beautifully plated creations that pop with color and spice, much like its owner. Allison Young Second City Nine must-eats in Tucson. BY ALLISON YOUNG T 30 ucson is officially a foodie town. Named the nation’s first City of Gastronomy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015, Arizona’s second-largest city has a rich agricultural history. It has been continuously cultivated for 4,000 years, longer than anywhere in North America. Adding to that are native ingredients, James Beard-nominated chefs, and a wide variety of cultural influ- ences that collide to serve up everything from artisan bread and loaded hot dogs to inventive salsas and roadside burritos. So head down Interstate 10 and eat your way through “Old Pueblo” like a pro. Chorizo burrito + coffee at Barista Del Barrio 1002 North Grande Avenue, Tucson As with many great food stories, this one began with beloved family recipes, a dream and a coffee cart — the birth of Barista Del Barrio. Started by owner Flavia Briones and her two kids, Sergio and Ariana, the establishment now has a walk-up window with outdoor patio seating in the historic Barrio Hollywood neighborhood. Made with local tortillas from Tortillas de Harina Linda, burritos are filled with potato, cheese, beans, and the fluffiest scrambled eggs. You can pick the protein (bacon, ham, sausage, soyrizo), but the obvious best choice is the house-made chorizo with its secret blend of chiles and spices. It’s panini-pressed to crispy perfection and comes with two burritos in each order. Say yes to extra salsa and wash it down with coffee, from killer cold brew to a lovely lechera latte. Breakfast at Meyer Avenue Café & Mercantile 353 South Meyer Avenue, Tucson Everything is cute, cozy, and made from scratch at Meyer Avenue Café, a quaint counter service spot tucked in the Barrio Viejo neighborhood with ample patio seating and a Parisienne feel. Order up delights like Lil Dutch Babies for a threesome of puffed-up pancakes filled with tart citrus cream and seasonal fruit; Coronet Eggs Benedict with shaved corned brisket, potato kugel, and dill hollandaise; and Horchata Steel Cut Oatmeal in ginger- spiked horchata with fresh berries, apple butter, and spiced pecans. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., so perfect for those vacation days when you want to sleep in, the mercantile is also stocked with jams and hot sauces to take home. Donut at Le Cave’s Bakery & Donuts 3950 East 22nd Street, Tucson Le Cave’s doughnuts are impossibly fluffy, with a springy, cloudlike texture and Meyer Avenue Café is located in the same property as The Coronet and Nightjar, so stay for dinner and drinks! ridiculously indulgent finish that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy — and they happen to be vegan. The original shop opened in 1935. Now under new ownership in a new location — a former Jack in the Box with a drive-thru — it has the same time-tested recipes. But which doughnut to order? The apple fritter is a fave, moist on the inside with a tappable exterior. Ditto for the glazed, a glistening, melt-in-your-mouth morsel that’s both featherweight and filling. Oh, and a chocolate frosted Sonoran Hot Dog at El Güero Canelo 5201 South 12th Avenue, Tucson We’re not sure what we like best about Sonoran hotdog house El Güero Canelo, a Tucson institution that has been serving up the bacon-wrapped dogs since 1993. There are the toppers, a combo of pinto beans, fresh and grilled onions, diced tomato, mayo, mustard, and jalapeno sauce, a just- right ratio that gives it crunch and character. There are the delicately steamed, slightly sweet buns, which owner Daniel Contreras gets from his hometown of Magdalena, Mexico. There’s the single dog Sonoran style ($3.99) and the Sammy Dog ($5.00) that comes with two bacon-wrapped franks in one bun. And the epic toppings bar gives you the chance to take your already-loaded dog to new heights with pickled onions, shredded cheese, more grilled scallions, and a slew of house-made salsas. What’s more, the hot dog joint won a James Beard America’s Classics Award. >> p 32 A colorful plate of jackfruit tacos at Tucson’s Tumerico Cafe. Allison Young MARCH 10TH– MARCH 16TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
