Tucson City of Gastronomy

05/02/2026

An unforgettable evening at Sosa-Carillo House ✨

From the first note to the final course, Cocina y Canción brought together the richness of regional Mexican cuisine and the living legacy of mariachi. Each dish and performance telling a story of place, and tradition.

A heartfelt thank you to our partners, the Tucson International Mariachi Conference and Los Descendientes de Tucson, for helping bring this experience to life.

And to our incredible guests, thank you for going with the flow and embracing the evening with us as we moved everything indoors due to the weather.

More moments from the night coming soon… 🎶🍷

04/28/2026

Together, the musicians at the Cocina y Canción dinner bring decades of combined experience as performers, arrangers, educators, and recording artists, spanning premier mariachi ensembles, international stages, and award‑winning projects. Their shared mastery and deep roots in tradition allow them not only to perform at the highest level but also to tell the history and evolving story of mariachi music as a living, communal art form.

Every song and story brings us closer to the heart of mariachi.

🎟️ Tickets still available. Reserve your seat here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocina-y-cancion-mariachi-dinner-tickets-1985410198349

04/21/2026

Behind every dish is a story—and a chef bringing it to life. ✨🧑‍🍳

Tucson Chef Ambassador Pablo Valencia will guide the culinary journey of Cocina y Canción with a four-course menu inspired by the regions that shaped mariachi. Each dish reimagines tradition with intention and creativity, complemented by wines from Mexico’s premier viticultural regions.

Presented as part of the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, each course evokes the landscapes and cultures that gave rise to mariachi.

Non-alcoholic and vegetarian options available.

🎟️ Join us at the table,
Buy your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocina-y-cancion-mariachi-dinner-tickets-1985410198349

This special evening supports the nonprofit Tucson City of Gastronomy, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Tucson International Mariachi Conference.

04/18/2026

At the Agave Heritage Festival, we were honored to both present the Las Hijas del Maguey film and panel and moderate the Resilient Desert Food Systems panel. These free community convenings brought together producers, researchers, and community leaders shaping the future of agave and desert foodways across the Sonoran Desert.

From hearing the voices of and leading the bacanora industry to learning about climate change challenges and adaptations in our borderlands’ food systems, these moments reminded us that resilience is rooted in knowledge, collaboration, and community. 🌵

04/17/2026

We’re unveiling the full culinary journey: a four-course dinner, cocktail, and wines inspired by the regions that shaped mariachi: Michoacán, Colima, Veracruz, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Sonora.

From a mezcal-kissed Michoacán Sunset to Sopitos Colimenses, Pescado a la Veracruzana, Pulpo Zarandeado, and a soulful Torta Ahogada de Cabra, to a sweet mangonada. Paired with wines from Mexico’s most celebrated regions and woven between live music performances and storytelling about mariachi’s history, every plate connects music, place, and memory.

A new experience of the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, this journey reflects the richness and reach of mariachi culture translated into bold, contemporary dishes by Tucson Chef Ambassador Pablo Valencia.

🎟️ Limited seats available! RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocina-y-cancion-mariachi-dinner-tickets-1985410198349

04/14/2026

THIS SATURDAY! A one-night-only culinary experience at Hacienda Solana featuring a five-course dinner by MICHELIN-recognized Chef Christian Hunter, alongside Tucson City of Gastronomy Certified Restaurant owner Chef Ken Foy and James Beard Award–winning baker Don Guerra.

📅 April 18, 2026
⏰ 6:00–10:00 PM
📍 Hacienda Solana, Tucson

🎟 Tickets start at $250 with VIP $300 Here: https://solanaspanishvillas.com/events/a-michelin-star-night-at-hacienda-solana/
Percentage of the proceeds will support the Pima Foundation Culinary Program. 🍽️✨

Tucson City of Gastronomy is a proud Sponsor.

A one-night-only culinary experience at Hacienda Solana featuring a five-course dinner by MICHELIN-recognized Chef Christian Hunter, alongside Tucson City of Gastronomy Certified Restaurant owner Chef Ken Foy and James Beard Award–winning baker Don Guerra.

📅 April 18, 2026
⏰ 6:00–10:00 PM
📍 Hacienda Solana, Tucson

🎟 Tickets start at $250 with VIP $300 - available now through the link in bio.

Percentage of the proceeds will support the Pima Foundation Culinary Program. 🍽️✨

Tucson City of Gastronomy is a proud Sponsor.

04/03/2026

Join us for a FREE screening of Las Hijas del Maguey, an award-winning documentary honoring the women preserving, leading, and transforming agave traditions across Mexico.

Presented during the Agave Heritage Festival in recognition of the United Nations’ 2026 Year of the Woman Farmer.🇺🇳🌵

📍 The Screening Room
🗓️ April11
⏰ 12:30-2:30 PM

🎟️FREE - seats are limited, RSVP Required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/las-hijas-del-maguey-film-screening-qa-tickets-1986027964103?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Featuring a post film conversation moderated by our Program Manager with director , President and Vice President of Laura Espinoza and Karina Valenzuela on women’s leadership, heritage, sustainability, governance and cross-border connection.

04/02/2026

Cocina, música y memoria en una sola mesa✨

Join us for an unforgettable evening of Cocina y Canción, where a multi-course dinner meets the soul of mariachi. Experience contemporary takes on regional Mexican cuisines, paired with live music and storytelling that connect the history of mariachi music to your plate.

📍 Sosa-Carrillo-House
📅 April 30
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM

A night to savor and celebrate the traditions that have made the Tucson International Mariachi Conference one of the most prestigious gatherings in the nation and recognized in Mexico for its cultural impact and excellence.

🎟️ Reserve your seat here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocina-y-cancion-mariachi-dinner-tickets-1985410198349?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

04/01/2026

Join us for a special screening of Las Hijas del Maguey, an award-winning documentary honoring the women preserving, leading, and transforming agave traditions across Mexico.

Presented during the Agave Heritage Festival in recognition of the United Nations’ 2026 Year of the Woman Farmer. 🇺🇳🌵

📍 The Screening Room
📅 April 11
⏰ 12:30–2:30 PM

Featuring a post-screening conversation with film’s director invited panelists from exploring women’s leadership, sustainability, governance, and cross-border connection.

Free and open to the community. 🎟️ RSVP Required

03/24/2026

From storytelling on stage to hands-on tasting with families, join us at TENWEST👇🏽✨

On Friday morning our Executive Director, Dr. Jonathan Mabry, is moderating a powerful TENWEST panel exploring how digital storytelling is shaping Tucson’s identity as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy! Bridging 5,000 years of food history with today’s platforms and impact. Joined by voices from Visit Tucson, Tucson Foodie, and BRINK, the conversation dives into what it means to tell stories that are engaging and rooted in community.

Saturday we’re bringing that storytelling to life ✨🍿
Catch our chef ambassadors doing a live demo at the Minds Open Fork Ready: Food Adventure Pop-Up at the Children’s Museum. Our Chefs will showcase one of Tucson’s signature heritage ingredients – maíz (corn)! Using liquid nitrogen, they’ll create pinole ice cream and share samples alongside heirloom caramel popcorn, corn chips generously provided by Si Charro, and a “choose-your-own-adventure” spice popcorn tasting. Kids will receive a Food Adventure Passport and collect stamps as they taste new flavors and explore ingredients along the way. 🗺️💫

Two spaces, one mission: sharing Tucson’s food story!