Yeah Write Mark

Tag: Fun

  • Mission Motor Collective

    Mission Motor Collective

    “I like it here. Its got a lot of space.”

    Get your motor runnin’

    When you think of a beer hall, what exactly comes to mind? Those vast ventures in Germany during Oktoberfest that are akin to open air circus arenas equipped with smiling ladies donning blonde twists and carrying, like, a dozen frosty mugs in each hand? Or maybe just the Pima County Fair, sans sad 80s band mewling in the distance, and if it actually served decent ales and lagers?

    Okay, Mission Motor Collective is not that big, but it’s pretty big.

    This space is the place

    We here in Tucson might be used to spacious locations to pull down yon frothy goodness, and we are fortunate to have a wide selection of said locations. We got the room, no doubt. But the moment I first stepped foot into Mission Motor Co. the first thing that came to mind was “Oh its like a picnic area, but with craft beer and no active hornets nests.”

    Opening just a few months ago here in the year 2025, Mission Motor Collective is the brainchild and passion piece of Nashville, TN native Jeremy London.

    “There’s a lot of motorcycle riders here in Tucson but there really isn’t a specific meeting place where they can get together and get to know one another,” he says. “We want Mission Motor to be that place.”

    Grab ‘n go…or stay

    A longtime rider and builder of bikes himself, Jeremy needed a creative endeavor for both him and his wife Britney as they both work corporate jobs that don’t really embrace creativity on this level. Plus they both totally love craft beer. Makes sense.

    “There’s really nothing like Mission Motor in this area,” notes Jeremy. Its true. Located on the corner of Grant and Stone with neighbors being Grant Stone market, a donut shop and veterinarian center, they do stand out quite easily as the go to destination for canned, bottled and on tap quality brews.

    Its easy to get lost in the Congress and 4th Ave pivot of bars and restaurants but the corner of Grant and Stone? Yeah. No. In fact, Mission Motor should be a stop for downtown folks going home after work, or before work if you’re pulling in a night shift seeing as Mission Motor opens regularly at 2pm. If that’s your thing.

    Remember kids, safety first

    Currently they have 12 taps of rotating hoppy malty greatness along with a line of fridges filled with cans and bottles of imported and domestic tipples along with non-alcoholic options as well. So grab a flavor of your choice and sit for a while. Or take a bunch home. Or take some home after you have stayed a bit. Up to you. Hey, you’re a grown up, you do you.

    Stick ’em if you got ’em

    In the tradition of said European mead marts, Mission Motor Co. has two British regulation dart boards. What I mean by that is they are the proper weight (aka heavy as fxxk), made with real cork and are at the exact height for UK competition level dart playing. That’s right, they don’t play around.

    “It took about three of us to mount those things,” Jeremy says with a laugh. “But it is so worth it as we plan to start a dart league real soon.”

    Motor isn’t in their name for nothing

    Another thing you will immediately notice as you walk in is the mural sized rendition of Rat Fink on the Stone side wall. Pained by a locally renown tattoo artist, ol’ RF is donning a MMC shirt and looks as if he is racing to get to those taps.

    Best part is, art is literally everywhere here. Mission Motor is currently on their 2nd art exhibition and will feature more in the future. Don’t just buy a pint or three, buy a painting or photograph from local artists as well. C’mon! Get some culture in your pad.

    Beer and art, always the perfect combo

    Mission Motor Co. is also host to various game nights such as Bingo and trivia but don’t be afraid to bring your own games because this is the place to do such activities. Heck I’m thinking of moving our D&D club over to Mission Motor.  They allow outside food and the beer selection is a lot better than what we usually provide. And the bathrooms actually work. That’s a plus.

    I sure hope they have a ‘one of each’ policy

    Speaking of food, you can find a new food truck parked outside most days and nights. Just check their Instagram to see what motorized vittles they are serving up. Trust me here, its always something grand and delicious.

    If you just need a snack, there’s a selection of nibbles for you to take on. Oh and they have a tight lineup of wine too. This place has it all!

    First you hang ’em up then you rack ’em up

    What would a badass place such as Mission Motor be if they didn’t have live music as well? Because they totally do! I mean, hey, they have the space for it. By that I mean its bigger than most clubs here in town, or anywhere really. And the bathrooms actually work. Again, always a plus.

    Having a family function or need a place for your event? Look no further! You can rent out Mission Motor for a very reasonable rate. They don’t have pool tables and a fine collection of IPAs at those boring party halls with those dopey round fold tables and broken microphones do they? No they do not.

    Mission Motor even did a Goth clothing exchange recently. Like, who does that? Gothy places, sure, but not any tap house that I have been to. And believe me, I’ve been to my fair share of beer forts. Maybe they are on to something. Bring the pale kids to the pale ales. I’d be so down for that.

    Of course Rat Fink loves this bar, of course

    Seeing as Mission Motor shares a wall with a vet clinic, they are also pet friendly. After Mittens gets their checkup, bring ‘em in and sit for a spell. A cold glass, bottle or can of quality crafty awesomeness will take the sting out of any doctor bill.

    Its just great to know that a place such as Mission Motor Co. exists in our fine desert hamlet. We need more people such as Jeremy and Britney who rely on the goodness of our community. So get yourself and your buddies over to Mission Motor Co. In fact, that’s what I’m going to do right now. See you there.

    Cheers!

    Thank you Jeremy and Britney

    Mission Motor Collective

    2 W. Grant Rd. Tucson AZ

    Website

    Instagram

    Facebook

    Words and photos

    Mark Whittaker

    yeahwritemark@gmail.com

  • Cool Places: Homeward Book Collective

    Cool Places: Homeward Book Collective

    Get your nerd and learn on at this cozy tucked away read haven

    Everyone is welcome

    Getting news earlier this year that an independent bookstore was going to open literally right down the street from us, I immediately got very excited. Mainly by the iron balls it takes to do such an act here in 2025.

    And by iron balls I mean that it’s a women/worker owned and operated business.

    So much, too much, good stuff here

    Homeward Books, also known as the Homeward Books Collective, is a revolution of a book shop nestled in the Many Hands Courtyard on 1st Ave near Ft. Lowell. When I moved to Tucson in 2006, Many Hands was kind of a thriving art house space. Little bungalows tightly packed next to one another once filled with small galleries, studios and usually had some kind of artsy festival now and then. Through the years that all pretty much went away for some reason. There are still a few operations hanging out there, like I think there’s a salon or something, but now it can boast Homeward Books.

    Oh they are all about that comic book life

    In April of this year (this year currently being 2025), the Homeward collective held a grand opening which I was totally going to attend. Being just a mere few blocks from our cabin, I scooted down there to show my support. Unfortunately there were quite a lot of people in attendance, none of which I probably knew, and I didn’t want to be that weird old guy hanging around and chatting things up with “the youth”. You know like those parties you had in your 20s where there’d always be some random middle-aged dude leaning on the kitchen sink with a red solo cup in his hand, scoping things out and just like…being there. So I promised I’d go back when the smoke cleared.

    When I did I was so happy to step foot in their space.

    Every corner a new discovery

    It’s pretty tight, but, man, is it crammed with all sorts of amazing stuff. It’s like that Criterion Closet only filled with books; some geeky, some educational, others tell stories of black and queer culture, women studies, needful literature, the gamut of all words you need to scan and sink in.

    Games, art, stickers…you know

    Toward the back there is an area lined with games; role playing, board, trivia, all of it. Then come the comic books. Bins packed with plastic wrapped gems, of every genre, big name publications, small press, the works. Yes, in this well managed shotgun bungalow they even have a lovely kids book section. Because of course they do.

    In a tight space you gotta get creative with your stock

    Best part is, Homeward Books has a back patio. When the post Tucson summer weather begins to cooly sink in, this plot is where you will need to explore. Grab a book, bring a snack, hang out a spell, its chaos out there, get away from it for a while.

    They say their patio is still “in the works” but it looks good to me

    Owners Megan Downey and Lillie Watson, longtime friends and book nerds, knew they needed to create a safe space for all types of the creative to be a part of and to continue the inclusivity our fair desert hamlet prides itself on.

    In just the few short months since it opened, Homeward has been host to many a game night (yes, D&D and if you know me D&D has been my jam since 1981), author meet and greets, table readings, craft circles, kids art programs and so much more. During Pride Month the collective is very active and makes itself very known to be a safe space for those who need it.

    No lies there

    This is their message and mission statement on their website:

    Our goal is to resist traditional capitalist structures in favor of organizing our workplace in alternative, cooperative, and sustainable ways. In doing so we aim to encourage and empower others to create similar revolutionary workplaces. Secondly, we want to help foster a love of life through honest sales, safe spaces, and access to books, games, and art. We believe that cultivating revolutionary ideas and supporting the interests and hobbies of our community will help tend the fire in all of us to imagine and fight for better futures.

    Hear, hear! Couldn’t have said it better myself and now they have my undying support.

    Megan in the house and on the job

    Speaking of support. If you follow Homeward Books on social media, mainly Instagram, which you totally should, they post events, updates and general happenings from other like minded local businesses to, you know, support them. Support!

    This patron thought it was funny when I said “Can I shoot the back of your head?”

    In a time of absolute turmoil it’s always great to see good people doing even better things. Especially if it comes in the form of a tucked away book hutch. Revolutions have started with far quieter means and I have a feeling the kids behind Homeward Books have a dandy start on being a very loud call in our community.

    But not too loud. Shh! Trying to read here.

    Homeward Books Collective

    3054 N. 1st Ave, Unit B, Tucson AZ

    https://linktr.ee/homeward.books

    https://www.instagram.com/homeward.books/

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  • Grape Expectations

    Grape Expectations

    Vertigo Wines offers a new to Tucson concept that will make us all cry “Holy sip!”

    Vertigo Wines founder Kristal Johnson

    Before we even get into it, I just gotta say the owners of Vertigo Wines and I go way back.

    In the early pre weekly and big shot foodie website days of my writing here in Tucson, I operated a dog and pony show of a blog, The Tucson Homeskillet, the same site that got me said jobs with the weekly and locally popular food thingy. Anyway, when I heard about this local ice cream company, Isabella’s, around, oh, I’d say around 2010, it seemed like something really fun to write about.

    Owners Kristal and Dominic Johnson were more than gracious and accommodating to welcome me to their original facilities in that industrial block where Roma Imports and Barrio Brewing resides. I remember it being located right next door to some crossfit gym. In fact, as we were wrapping things up some guy, who obviously over did it in the gym, came out and puked right in front of us. Right off the back landing. Yeah.

    The ice cream was great. Kristal and Dominic were super cool and from there we made a sort of writer-subject buddyship. At least following each other on social media.

    Cut to a few years later, when I was the food writer for the Weekly, I was tasked to write about their THC infused project called Elixir. Oh man, was that fun. I got to go behind the scenes of the dispensary where they cooked and created. So many buds of weed! Like acres of it. Huge glass beakers filled with bright green blooms, some twinged with purple or even white veins. Everywhere. And that smell. The last time I encountered that waft was at a Cypress Hill show. Yow!

    Look, because of my condition, weed, especially 21st century weed, is not conducive to a good time for me. I go insane. But after our interview and photoshoot, Kristal sent me home with a scoop of chocolate ice cream infused with only 10 milligrams. The wife and I had a bite of it that very night. And, yes, we went insane.  

    Barrels of fun…and, yes, wine
    Que Syrah, Syrah

    Now that its 2025 and I’m out on my own here with this new website, Kristal reached out saying they were done with the ice cream biz and were opening up a wine bar downtown.

    The tenacity and ingenuity of some folks astounds me. From ice cream to wine? Nice.

    Located in the old stable house next to Maynards on Toole Ave, Vertigo Wines is set to open soon, hopefully this weekend (March 22nd or 23rd). Actually Kristal is hoping for Friday March 21, that is if everything goes according to plan.

    When we hung out more than a week ago, she wanted to have the opening that weekend but, well, our local county always likes to step in, slap their forehead and go “Oh, but theres just one more thing you need to do before you do that.” And that thing usually takes another week or two to iron out. So it goes.

    “The name Vertigo Wines came about because, well, I had an episode of vertigo,” Kristal said.

    It was right after the passing of a beloved family member. Kristal just stood up one day and got crazy dizzy, to the point where medical attention had to be administered. This was right about the time where their wine concept was beginning to manifest. Not being solid on a name yet, Kristal and Dominic jokingly started calling their new business venture Vertigo Wines.

    “Then it just stuck,” she says. “Plus we liked the way the name Vertigo paired with our bubble design logo. Who hasn’t had a bit of vertigo when you’ve had too much wine?”

    Under the bar downtown, is where you’ll find this love
    You had me at Merlot

    The space for Vertigo is amazing. Cozy, comfortable, cute, all of the pleasant C adjectives. They installed a bar with the base fitted with wine bottle ends dotting about, which only adds to the elegant vibrancy to the space.

    When Isabella’s and Elixir moved on, Kristal worked in the tasting room for Sand-Reckoners winery. When that closed in August of 2024, Kristal and Dominic decided to take over and make the grapes their own. Although they wanted to do something completely different.

    “Vertigo Wines will be Tucson’s one and only barrel to glass, wine blending bar,” announced Kristal quite proudly.

    That’s right vino-philes, you heard correct. On any given night, you can walk into Vertigo, order up a glass of your favorite red, or white, wine, but that doesn’t mean just any ol’ glass of your favorite red. Or white. It can be a combo of reds. Or whites. Syrah matched with Grenache? Sure! Whatever pleases that purple hued palate of yours. Or, heck, just have that Syrah. You’re a big kid. Make those big kid decisions of yours. Mix and match. Discover a flavor that you’ve never experienced before. The best part is, it was YOU that created that flavor. Look at you. So creative. And there you thought you didn’t have it in you. Silly.

    As their not yet ready for primetime (meaning its still in the works) website proclaims: There is a story in every sip.

    Hand painted, hand crafted so give ’em a big hand
    At Vertigo you’ll be sitting, and sipping, on cloud wine

    “Everyone can curate their own glass or bottle based on their tasting,” notes Kristal. “It’s the idea of having the guests more involved in their wine tasting experience. I feel like there’s an excitement, or even a romanticism, involved with the barrels themselves.”

    Oh I forgot to mention they have full bottle service too. Take it home, share with friends and boastfully announce “I made this!” Applause all around, crown placed on your head, mayor gives you the key to the city, etc.

    If you’re like me and need a nosh while you imbibe, Vertigo will be serving up charcuterie plates filled with all sorts of locally sourced tasty bits. They haven’t made anything official yet but there are hints that Maynard’s will have a serving menu for Vertigo, one where you order online and gets delivered right to your table. But that’s future stuff. Vertigo hasn’t even opened yet. C’mon.

    Personally I get a little emotional when I see people I’ve known for a while and written about a few times trying something new and are already a success before they open their doors. Vertigo Wines is set to be a big step in a snug spot by the railroad station for not just downtown Tucson but our whole wine, and food, loving desert expanse. The truth is right there in the barrels…because the barrels are right there!

    You know I’ll be there on the regular. Funny thing is (get this) I’m not even that big of a wine drinker. But after Kristal handed me a glass of a blend that she did not disclose, saying that it was her personal favorite, then taking a proper pull from it all I could exclaim was:

    “Fxxk that’s delicious!”

    Kristal is right at home working hard so you feel like you’re at home
    In that case, yes, I will stay a while longer

    Leave me a seat at the bar because I’ll see you all there soon.

    Cheers!

    Vertigo Wines

    410 N. Toole Ave.

    www.vertigowines.com

    https://www.instagram.com/vertigo.wines/

    Words and Pictures

    Mark Whittaker

    yeahwritemark@gmail.com

  • Our Triumphant Return to Sweet Tomatoes

    Our Triumphant Return to Sweet Tomatoes

    Very little, if nothing, has changed

    “Oh my god. It smells exactly the same.”

    “It looks exactly the same.”

    “Oh my god.”

    Yep, there they are
    Oh, this is a new thingy

    Okay, the title suggests that it was a triumph to go back to Sweet Tomatoes, seeing as its been closed for almost 5 years. In fact, its been about 6 years for us last time we stepped foot in one.

    When the Sweet Tomatoes on Broadway here in Tucson reopened in April of 2024, even waiting a week or two, and like on a Tuesday around 2pm, the place had a line of people extending into the parking lot. So we waited. Waited some more. Then we kind of forgot about it. Dealing with crowds in that capacity, all ready to scoop lettuce on a plate, queuing to plop mac and cheese in a bowl or maneuvering around throngs of unattended children screaming that there aren’t any sprinkles left to squeeze out some ice cream doesn’t sound like a pleasant afternoon to us.

    Waiting became legend, legend became myth…

    Until one day, quite recently actually, the wife asked if I was up for Sweet Tomatoes. If there wasn’t a mass horde of all-you-can-eaters then, sure. Why not?

    Feels, and tastes, like old times
    Choose your yellow hued fighter

    Luckily the heat from the relaunch had cooled down as there was very little people in attendance. Which was great. For us. We’re not the “more the merrier” kind of couple. We enjoy empty theaters and restaurants at off hours. Call us crazy for liking leisure when we partake in leisurely activities.

    Now here is where the word “triumphant” comes into play. Turns out that this Sweet Tomatoes, the one here in Tucson, on Broadway, is the only Sweet Tomatoes in operation! Anywhere. None in Wisconsin, none in Alaska, none in Fiji and none in Siberia. Tucson baby. We gots the Sweets!

    Thing is, and this is just my opinion so I apologize to the ST faithful, Sweet Tomatoes is okay at best. The greens are always crisp but taste like they’ve been sitting in a bag for a while. The dressings are…fine. The toppings are expected. The pasta bar is decent but you have to season it up with pepper flakes and such to ease out some flavor. Same goes for the mini pizzas.

    It’s all just…fine.

    Like a good school lunch pizza should
    Film at 11!

    Here’s the thing with the wife and I, as I’m sure goes with a lot of Sweet Tomatoes attendees: It’s a memory poke at the lobe that reminds us of lazy afternoons sitting there, reading books, or playing games, surrounded by essential comfort food if and when we want it. We paid our ticket, so we gonna ride this out for a while.

    Unless its busy. Then we’ll eat and go. Sorry. No we’re leaving. You can totally sit here. Cheers.

    That memory jab came at an almost instant once we were through the doors. Other than some new signage and a bit of AI influenced advertising, it looked, smelled and felt exactly the same before closing their doors in the pandemic.

    The old routine returned as well. Get a tray, grab two plates (one for green salad the other to pile on whatever salads they may have on special) and make the stretch down option alley.

    Luckily on this trip they had the tuna tarragon salad which was always a curious favorite of mine. That recipe has not changed mercifully.

    The only disappointment that day, for the wife anyway, was the lack of brothy soup. Usually Sweet Tomatoes is equipped with a chicken noodle or something where she could just ladle in for the broth, her main reason for showing up in the first place. But, alas, no brothy soup. Just the creamy or chili variety. Oh well.

    As we sat there watching the lunch crowd grow in numbers, that feeling of odd nostalgia set in. It wasn’t that kind of decades gone familiarity then whooshed into verisimilitude like an old arcade, video rental stand or toy store. It was more of a “Yeah. Here it is. Here we are. Not much has changed. Okay. Ready to go?”

    A lot, if not most, of my chef-y friends absolutely despise buffets. “Anything employing a sneeze guard,” one chimed in, “and you know you’re in the middle of a filth storm.”

    The years that we have been going to Sweet Tomatoes, there has never been an issue. We used to attend the one that still stands empty and sun bleached dead by the Tucson Mall on Wetmore and all of the employees looked happy to be there. We even had our favorite server, a lady in her maybe 30s, Latina, who always boasted the biggest smile when she saw us. To this day we always wondered what happened to her. Mainly because my wife, who is the GM of a popular and long standing restaurant, wanted to hire her when the restaurant reopened in late 2020.

    It was always clean, well-stocked, and rarely overcrowded. It was maybe a once a month thing for us. Hey, its our day off, can’t decide on what we want for lunch, we’re hungry, hey!, how about Sweet Tomatoes? Sure!

    Going to the one (and only!) on Broadway is a bit out of the way for us so I’m not too sure if we’ve even been to that one. Maybe a while ago but with age that trigger has loosened and my aim is getting less true. Still, it was nice to be back, even though we left our books at home and had to rely on people watching and engage in conversation. Ugh!

    At least we didn’t leave hungry
    Our tradition before we head out

    Will we go back to Sweet Tomatoes? Probably. In fact, no, we definitely are. Anytime soon? Doubt it. But its good to know that it’s there and that Tucson has the sole key to the Sweet Tomatoes franchise. When we are on that side of town and getting the belly grumbles while failing to come to an agreeing cuisine conclusion, we can just pop in, grab a tray and get down with an old friend.

    Hopefully we’ll have our books with us that time.

    Cheers!

    Words and Pictures

    Mark Whittaker

    yeahwritemark@gmail.com

  • The Parish Celebrates Their 14th Annual Mardi Gras Festival

    The Parish Celebrates Their 14th Annual Mardi Gras Festival

    Laissez les bons temps rouler!

    That’s Cajun French for “Lazy less bong temperatures rule!”

    No. Wait. Is that right?

    Anyway, if there was a saying in that Southern adopted tongue for ‘let the good times roll’ then it should apply to what local Louisiana inspired gastropub The Parish does every Fat Tuesday.

    This Mardi Gras festival marks the 14th for The Parish and I was fortunate enough to be there. So were a lot of other people. Let’s go!

    Sorry vegans but, yeah
    The Parish’s secret crawdad boil mash pot love soak
    Oh they linin’ up

    Fat Tuesday marks the day that Catholics and some other provinces of church going secularists can party down, eat pulpit shunned crap and get hammer smashed wasted before Lent. Lent, as you may or may not know, is a 40 day (yeah, 40 days!) time for the faithful to cleanse, reflect, rest the body, mind and soul but most painful not eat rich food, red meat and drink the booze-a-fuel!

    Ugh. 40 minutes for me and I’d fold like a fitted sheet on laundry day.

    Honestly, does anybody know how to properly fold that four cornered shame enigma?

    Fat Tuesday is also known as Shrovetide in some areas of Christianity, especially those from eastern Europe. Those pew hounds are known to eat this fried “donut” called a Fastnacht. Its basically a dense hole-less dough bomb replete with fat, sugar and butter. If that doesn’t scream party I don’t know what does.

    Parish owner Bryce Zeagler dunkin’ those daddies
    Seasoned and the reason for the pleasin’
    Parish servers do not hold back on Fat Tuesday

    Well, The Parish does not serve Fastnacht for their Mardi Gras blow out, I am sorry to say, but they do serve amazing Cajun fat kid food. Look, that’s what the chefs and owners call it. Don’t hate. Every Mardi Gras, they have the day’s specials all flown in specially from Louisiana. Otherwise we’d be eating creole spiced javalina and bayou rubbed 24 hour smoke shop employee. Nobody wants that.

    Crawdads? Oh mais oui! Or is it crawdaddys? Crayfish? Kind of depends on where you are from really. One thing is for sure, to secure your seat at the crawdad eating throne at the head of the table, you gotta suck them heads ‘chere. Otherwise you’re wasting the best part and letting your friends and swamp bug eating competitors that your head game is weak.

    That came out wrong.

    Beads of courage because beads are encouraged
    Pretty sure my wife posed for that photo op
    Your new best friends…the bartenders!

    The star of the show without a doubt is the slow smoked alligator. Oh yeah, you heard/read that correct. All-ee-ga-tor. Again, these bayou buddies are shipped in from the 18th state, the child of the Mississippi, then de-scaled, marinated and thrown on the smoker for hours. When the gates open at 1pm, those gators are tender as the current condition of the Saints actually winning a game.

    And you know what, they taste a little like chicken. Unlike nutria. Have you had nutria? I have. Nutria tastes like nutria. Bayou beaver.

    Again, that came out wrong.

    Are you kidding me here?
    Not the best pic, but, you get the idea
    Okay vegans, at least he’s smothered in vegetables and is eating a carrot

    Every year The Parish’s Mardi Gras jubilee keeps getting better and better, bigger and bigger. Bands playing all day, inventive cocktails, Southern beers flowing like wine, good people, good times and the best part for me anyway is some of the best food we get to experience here in Tucson. Its always an honor and privilege to be a part of it and this year was one of the most excellent so far.

    Merci to owners Steve Dunn and Bryce Zeagler for letting me skulk around before the paying customers flooded in to get photos. I’ll see you guys next year.

    Well, I’ll most likely see you before then but…you know what I’m saying here.

    Cheers!

    Words and Pictures

    Mark Whittaker

    yeahwritemark@gmail.com

  • Lost Articles: Herculean Chicken and Yum Yum Pocha

    Lost Articles: Herculean Chicken and Yum Yum Pocha

    Much like losing the Tucson Weekly as their food writer when Covid hit in 2020, I had a good backlog of articles ready to go but never saw the light of published day when I and other writers were all let go by a popular Tucson food based website in late 2023.

    Okay, by “good backlog” I meant two.

    Its always heartbreaking when I have to send that text/email/whatever to whomever I had in the can and report “Hey, yeah, I was just let go so they’re not going to run my story on you.”

    After spending a decent amount of time with each subject, usually a few hours before or after a busy service, chatting and taking photos, we create a bit of an immediate bond. Normally, when an article gets published and I see whoever I featured out in the wild again, there’s always that happy memory glint of how we came to know one another in the first place. That article I wrote.

    But then there’s the other, the one where we see each other again and I have to give a shrug and apology before putting my order in. Its only happened like a handful of times. No literally. Like five times.

    Here are the two that didn’t make it into that popular Tucson Food sItE.

    Here’s the thing, each one had an extensive interview on my old phone with a transcription of our conversation. Those interviews are long gone. So basically what I am going for here are just uploading photos from each one with a little blurb explaining who they are, what they serve, how they do it, etc, without any real actual context from our time together.

    Lets get into it.

    Alberta and Jake serving up some Thai chicken realness

    1) Hurculean Chicken

      When I hung out with chef and owner Alberta Chu, along with her husband Kyle manning the fryer, they were doing a pop up on the back patio of Hello Bicycle. It was a beautiful warm day and there was a good turn out for their Taiwanese inspired fried chicken.

      All I can say is that Alberta and Kyle set me up! They had me try their popcorn chicken, which got them started in the first place, serving folks in bars and certain events, fried chicken served over rice, a huge chicken cut let served in a paper bag, and this super dope chicken sandwich.

      Everything was delicious. Flavorful, spicy, cooked to perfection and above all crispy on the outside and tender on the in.

      Here’s a great article about them from This Is Tucson.

      Enjoy!

      Herculean’s fried chicken platter
      Huge, and amazing, fried chicken cutlet
      Gotta season that popcorn chicken proper
      Alberta Chu with a platter of yes please
      So much chicken, so little time

      2) Yum Yum Pocha

      As the former food truck guy for the aforementioned food site, my gig was to hunt down new mobile eateries or celebrate some classics. When I got word about a Korean food truck called Yum Yum Pocha that was serving ramyeon (Korean ramen) and rice bowls I had to get on that.

      I caught up with Yum Yum’s chef and owner Miyou Wallace in the parking lot of the Foothills Mall as she and her husband John were set up on the cusp of an artisan market.

      They had me try their three meat ramyeon, vegetable ramen, and something called mandoo, which is a fried or steamed dumpling filled with either kimchi, meat or veggies. Ramyeon is normally a bit spicier than the ramen you are usually used to. Which is what I prefer. So good. Miyou’s ramen was delicious as well; lots of soft noodles bathed in a deeply flavored broth with tons of fresh greens swimming on top.

      The mandoos were crazy tasty. Potstickers and eggrolls are one thing, and one of my favorite things, but after trying Yum Yum’s mandoos all I can say is ‘Yahoo!”

      Anyway, This Is Tucson did a piece on them so you can read that here.

      Cheers!

      Let the Yum Yum yumminess begin
      Veggie ramen, in repose
      Ramyeon doin’ it thing
      Have you caught mandoo mania yet?
      House made fish sauce…delish
      Hello Miyou, and thank you!
      Find it because you need it
      Three meats ramyeon had me three times doing a happy jig

      Words and Pictures

      Mark Whittaker

      yeahwritemark@gmail.com

    1. Midtown Vegan Deli & Market

      Midtown Vegan Deli & Market

      A Meat Free Joint That Is Full Of Heart

      The corner of 5th Street and Rosemont has been a spinning food circus of meat-centric operations. Mainly consisting of Kosher delis, that space has been known for its delicious food for decades upon decades, all centered around cured beefy bits, creamy salads and other animal forward dishes.

      After the last deli closed its doors in the shake wake of Covid, a new concept moved in soon after. Only this time it would be completely animal product free. Like 100% plant based.

      Nothin’ but goodness at Midtown Vegan Deli & Market

      Midtown Vegan Deli and Market opened its doors in 2021 to a rousing sigh of cruelty-free relief. Now, don’t get me wrong, the guy typing these words is a strident omnivore, but after constant bouts with drippy burgers, endless birria tacos and the illustrious Sonoran hot dog, it’s really nice to take a break from all that flesh forward food and give the animals involved a break as well.

      Owner Tanya Barnett says that Midtown was born from hosting vegan cooking nights with her friends. At first they were monthly, then every other week, then every week as the vegan nights began to grow in fun and popularity. When the former occupant of 5071 E. 5th Street vacated, Barnett drew up a plan and the cogs of Midtown began turning.

      The Death Free Foodie bagel, uh…yes please!

      “The idea for Midtown was more out of necessity than to make money,” says Barnett who is also a licensed real estate agent. “Veganism is a still growing movement and I knew that people, be them vegan or meat eaters, would appreciate a place that just serves up really delicious food that just happens to be plant based and cruelty free.”

      The response to Midtown Vegan Deli and Market was an almost immediate embrace. Sure there are plenty of restaurants that are vegan, or at least offer vegan delights, but Midtown serves up fat kid comfort food and you would never know that a finned or four legged friend wasn’t involved.

      A supreme Crunchwrap Supreme to that other crunchwrap supreme. You know what I mean?

      For breakfast (yes they totally serve breakfast) you gotta try the Chicken and Waffles. Its Southern fried goodness over a fresh waffle, a waffle that happens to contain no dairy, and the chicken itself is a wizard construct seeing that it is chicken but it totally isn’t.

      Speaking of vegan sorcery, Midtown has paired with local blogger Hannah Hernandez, aka the Death Free Foodie, to create the Death Free Bagel, easily one of my favorite items on the all day menu. A house made bagel of your choice is then stuffed with, get this, bacon, egg, cheese and sausage, none of which employ the use of a critter, then its finished with jalapenos, microgreens and maple syrup. So good.

      Midtown’s burger of the month will always make your day

      For sandwiches you can get a full on Reuben, Philly “cheesesteak”, and even a tuna melt that goes by the name Tuno because there aint no tuna in this thing. Yet, somehow, there is.

      Of course Midtown has a full run of salads and wraps, because what good well intentioned flesh free eatery wouldn’t? And, of course, they offer up a smoothie menu, a fruity cavalcade of cold sippin’ yum, a necessity in the Tucson heat, even though it is officially winter as I type this. And 90 degrees.

      For all your vegan cooking needs

      If you’re craving a diner experience without the diner slop, get you a basket of tater tots or fries and order up one of Midtown’s infamously thick and tasty milkshakes that have, you guessed it, no milk. Because you dip your fries or tots in your milkshake right? Yeah. Its like the best thing ever but sounds weird on tape. Sort of like, well, chicken and waffles and our beloved Sonoran hots dogs.

      Oh. That’s right. Midtown has a Sonoran hot dog! And the Sonoran hot dog is absolutely scrummy! No dogs were harmed in this dish because that’s not the modus of Midtown’s motivation. Or should be anyone’s really.

      Way too much cool stuff in their market

      Every Tuesday and Thursday you can order up a beefed up (without the beef) crunchwrap that is supremely better and bigger than that run for the border corporate snore. Midtown also does a burger of the month so stop in at least every four weeks to see what the kitchen magicians have concocted. Personally I have experienced fast food style, Mediterranean influenced, slathered with chili, double decker and kitchen sink everything rampage burgers. All of which are equal in amazingness yet being totally different from one another.

      You now know about the deli, lets get down to the market.

      You gotta fight for your right to not eat your fuzzy/finned/feathered/four legged friends!

      When you walk in, on either side of Midtown, you are treated to a color whirl of environmentally conscious products, be them local or from a far off exotic location. Sauces, cereals, bulk food, frozen dinners, juices, condiments, desserts, you name it. They even have a rotating selection of fine craft beers. Because nothing goes better with an egg salad sandwich that is completely devoid of egg and Buffalo style crinkle cut fries than a tall cold one. Ammirite?

      Midtown does their own baking and offers up sweet treats like cookies and cakes but they have partnered with Holden’s Rise Above bakery so there is a full selection of their vegan goodies on display at the deli counter.

      If you consume meat or have completely gone green in your diet, either way you must make Midtown Vegan Deli and Market a destination no matter what part of town you are currently calling home in, what proteins you consume or politics you lean toward. Everything here is all so very very good.

      Enjoy!

      Midtown Vegan Deli & Market

      5071 E. 5th Street @ Rosemont

      http://www.midtownvegandeli.com

      (520) 849-5553

      http://www.instagram.com/midtownvegandeliandmarket

      http://www.facebook.com/midtownvegandeli/  

      Monday – Saturday: 9am – 9pm

      Sundays: 9am – 4pm

      Words and photos by Mark Whittaker

      yeahwritemark@gmail.com

      520-861-4198

    2. The Savor culinary festival: good food, good drinks, good times

      The Savor culinary festival: good food, good drinks, good times

      Since 2017, I have been fortunate enough to attend the annual bacchanalia of eating and drinking. It is a festival filled with overall merriment. This is the Savor Festival.

      Savor is held every late January at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. It is a celebration of not just food and drink, but also of art and sense of community.

      Sponsored by SAACA (Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance), Savor is an all-day event that pleases, and even teases, almost all senses. Everyone should experience it at least once. Trust me here.

      Here are some highlights of this year’s Savor!

      …or at least what we got our hungry hands on.

      Plenty of good food at every corner
      Spicy lamb meatballs from Dante’s Fire
      Chef Maria Mazon of Boca Tacos, always a good sport

      This year was special for me because it was the first Savor I got to experience with my wife. We were gifted two VIP tickets and she got to experience a little bit of what I do as a freelance writer, food being the main objective here.

      She was a bit overwhelmed. There are so many food vendors from all over Southern Arizona that she got a bit spun from the array of plated goodness. These range from high-end, chef-driven white coat kitchens to your local mobile comfort grub units. And everything in-between.

      This was the first year I noticed a large influx of catering services. That was really nice to see. Post 2020 really wrangled those willing to serve the masses en mass and all of their offerings were extremely delightful.

      Cookinwitcort had the best mac n’ cheese I have had in quite a while
      The chefs at Cielos Kitchen dishing up the goodness
      Pazole and smoked meat madness

      Live music permeates throughout, including a mariachi outfit serenading us all in line waiting to get in. DJs keeping it lively boomed various alcoves, one of which was playing 70s AM gold (aka Yacht Rock) syncopated to lively dance beats. Very clever.

      Not to mention artists set up and painting, sculpting, cartooning right in front of our vary eyes all throughout the grounds.

      Vineyards and breweries had tables set up with samples of their heady wares. I, of course, if you know me, enjoy a drink now and then. Usually now. But that drink(s) is normally set around the proper happy hour hour. So, the wife and I meandered the festival in full clarity that afternoon. Having been to a few Savors before and sometimes not getting there til late afternoon, the wine and craft beer sipping crowd were dizzy in a fuzzy smiling wonder, which always makes for a welcome chuckling spectacle.

      Real artists making real art in the gardens
      I’m getting the meat sweats just thinking about this
      Let’s see, stout or red ale…uh, yes please

      Here are some tips for those that plan to attend Savor in the future:

      1. Go big and go VIP. If you are lucky enough to be gifted a VIP ticket, or as I have as a member of the press, that extra cash you spend goes a long way. You get in an hour early, there is always plenty of food, plenty of hooch, plenty of room and when they open the flood gates at noon for the cheap seats you’ll be glad you stretched your festival going budget by a few threads.
      2. DO NOT TRY TO PARK IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS PARKING AREA! Every year I see the poor souls that have to tell people that this is a huge event and the tight parking that is normally available is filled with tents and trucks constantly loading in and loading out. The best and closest parking is right up a ways at Grant and Alvernon in the Vasa mega gym lot. Like I said, get that VIP and you get parking.
      3. Pace yourself. There is so much to eat, drink, sink in and do that if you storm the flowery gates of the gardens with stomach and liver a blazin’, you might burn out too quick. Stay a while. Have a bite now and then. Take a sip here and there. Dance some of it off. But remember to stay hydrated. Luckily there are large tubs of bottled water everywhere, provided free for your benefit. Thank you SAACA!
      I’m just going to call this cups of joy
      Smiles everyone, smiles
      Davia of Purple Tree Acai gives her approval

      Best thing is, outside of all things edible and quaffable, you’re at the Tucson Botanical Gardens! You can totally tour the butterfly pavilion. If the crowds are closing in on you, step aside and take a path walk to admire the beautiful local flora. Sit and watch the hummingbirds and bees do their thing. Heck there’s even a whole space set up with train tracks and miniature structural landmarks built to scale by students of architecture. So very cool.

      Do yourself a favor and check out Savor. Shake off the post holiday blues by stuffing yourself silly and running into a friend or two. If you play your social cards right, you might even make a few new ones.

      Cheers!

      A beautiful day for a beautiful event

      Words and Pictures

      Mark Whittaker, late January 2025

      yeahwritemark@gmail.com

      Please visit:

      https://www.saaca.org/

      https://tucsonbotanical.org/