Yeah Write Mark

Tag: love

  • Los Compas: A love letter to my favorite neighborhood food truck

    Los Compas: A love letter to my favorite neighborhood food truck

    Muy bueno!

    If you know me and are familiar with my track record as a food writer then you are well aware of my near obsession with food trucks.

    So when a taco truck opened up just a few blocks from us a couple of years ago I was both stoked and curious. Mind you, most of the tacos from said trucks that I have had the pleasure of getting acquainted with in my time here in Tucson have been either on the scale of “Yeah, this is good” to “Oh my god, this is fxxking amazing!”

    That doesn’t mean that I’ve had a few dogs of tacos. Not going to mention names but there have been the unfortunate few where I just stare at the taco and wonder “How the heck could they screw this up so bad?” Thankfully that notion is a rarity.

    Calling themselves Los Compas, this lil pink and white rig set up around the corner of Ft. Lowell and Mountain to little or no fanfare. Literally a shout and holler away from our bungalow. Driving by it once or twice it was around the third turn where I knew it was my time to sample the goods.

    If you see it you must come

    If memory serves correct I got a selection of items in the vein of ‘if they mess this up then we got a problem’. Like one or two tacos, a burrito and probably something else. Then I brought it back home for us to try.

    What memory does do me honest is that I immediately fell in love with the food. It was all so good. The chicken and carne asada was cooked and seasoned perfectly, the beans and rice were the same, fresh cabbage and tomatoes, juicy limes, tasty salsas, fantastic pickled red onions – all of it.

    Thank you taco truck gods for sending Los Compas to our fair neighborhood! But screw you too because its not like I’m chubby enough. Jeeze.

    One Sunday coming back from the farmers market I decided to get a bowl of their menudo, which they only serve on the weekends. A lot of people that I know are not fans of menudo, most of the white folks that is, but I have been a defender of the tripe and hominy filled brothy stew since my early days of living in San Francisco. It was there that my screaming hangovers were remedied by the magic that lives in that spicy brew accompanied by thick tortillas and, yes, a beer.

    Los Compas’ menudo did not disappoint. It brought me back to those heady days in the bay area only this time I was not suffering from the alco-fuel regrets of open bars, backstage coolers and general youth filled debauchery. It was just a chilly winter Sunday and that stuff really warmed me up.

    Landscape of the divine

    Owners Karina Salinas and Kevin Andrade are the kind of food truck owners and operators every aspiring chef or entrepreneur should study. They are always there; their product is consistent (and consistently good) and the prices they offer for the product you receive is spot on. Thank you Karina and Kevin. And, yes, today I will have a birria torta please. Gracias.

    One day I had noticed that Los Compas wasn’t in its usual spot. It had moved right on the corner of Mountain and Ft. Lowell and now boasted a cozy seating area inside of a casita. Ca-seat-a? Yeah, sorry. That nook boasted lots of family photos, twinkling lights and even a TV. So now as you enjoy a caramelo the size of your first born you can catch up with your telenovela stories. Did Juan cheat on Soledad with that temptress of a maid Paulina…again? Scandalo!

    Los Compas was doing great apparently and we all celebrated their success.

    That is, until, one day it was gone.

    Not like moved up or down the street as it did before. It was just plain not there. The truck was missing and the casita was closed and locked. Hey! What gives? What happed to our treasured Los Compas? We want answers!

    *fake riot ensues, pitchforks, torches, the whole bit*

    Time became legend, legend became myth and after about a year I would guess we still didn’t have our Los Compas. That stretch of Ft. Lowell was like one big phantom limb: we can still feel it but nothing was there.

    One of each please (image taken from Los Compas Facebook page)

    Until one day it miraculously reappeared. Parked right in front of the old Greek church on, yes, Ft. Lowell. When I saw it I screeched on my brakes like some angsty driver in an old Loony Tunes cartoon, my feet nearly went through the floor.

    Approaching the truck and seeing Karina behind the sliding screen I had to ask where she and Los Compas went. Apparently that spot up the street with the casita didn’t work out and they just needed some time to fix the truck, focus on catering while trying to find a place to park again.

    That Greek church has been empty for quite a while due to a fire causing more damage than they could afford to repair and the plot in front of it was nearly rent free. Once again, thank you food truck gods! Only this time in front of an actual church. Hallelujah!

    All was right with the world again. Well, not really. But our little midtown world is right having Los Compas back and, hopefully, here to stay. A year without my beloved chicken burrito with everything was a dark year indeed. In these trying and confusing times it’s always nice to know you can roll up to a familiar spot, hear that radio play boisterous Tejano music, grab a Mexican Coke (the only Coke you should ever drink by the way) and nosh on delicious comfort food.

    Gracias Los Compas. ¡Sois los mejores!

    This thing right here is what keeps me from being “not slim”

    Tacos Los Compas

    1245 E. Ft. Lowell.

    Weds – Sun : 10am – 5pm

    https://www.facebook.com/LosCompasDeTucson/

  • Holy Focaccia

    Holy Focaccia

    From Brooklyn to Tucson Brick and Mortar, All Praise this Heavenly Bread

    Get there early because they sell out fast
    Breakfast sandwich about to go down

    The power couple behind Holy Focaccia and I go way back. Not like Lollapalooza ’95 way back (seeing as they were not even born yet or just were) as I was lucky enough to meet and write about them in the ascension of their delectable endeavor.

    But it all started in Brooklyn around 2019.

    The whiz kids in the spotlight here, Rachel Colasanto and Zakaria Boucetta, started encouraging their friends try out Rachel’s newfound love of baking focaccia bread. It, or they, were such a hit that the two knew they were on to something scrummy. And possibly lucrative. Every party they threw or attended with the baskets of squared flourishes of Italian descent.

    Then Zak got an offer his architect heart could not pass up: a job here in Tucson.

    Lets see, uh, one of each please
    Zak making the easy sale of yeah, you need this

    So the two moved in 2021 and soon after started baking that loverly focaccia once again.

    It was one of those word of mouth / under hushed tones twitterings in the local food throttle that Holy Focaccia reached my always hungry ears. No, wait, that sounds weird. But, yes, I am always on the lookout for…hold up. How can my ears be on the lookout? This is getting funky. Lets move on.

    Anyway, in 2022 I had the fortunate task of featuring, as mentioned earlier, them for a local food focused media site and all I can tell you dear reader is that it was bready love from the instant.

    Slow Body storage space about to become their new home
    Yes I ate the one from the upper left corner

    First off, Rachel was baking out of an old electric oven that could house maybe 8 to 10 loaves at a time. If that. The two would get up before the sun creaked over the mountains in order to bake before the call time of a 9am pickup.

    Nope, they didn’t have a store front. Those wizards straight worked and sold out of their old place downtown. Obtaining a cottage license made it all possible and before they knew it their lil side hustle that could started to manifest into a this totally is.

    Theirs isn’t just oil and salted focaccia we are talking about here (although that’s how it started out back in Bushwick). Holy Focaccia is the holy dreamscape of flavors, ingredients and ideas that oftentimes rustle up a “Wait, how can these components all come together and like totally work?” Dates, figs, pesto, garlic, black pepper, parmesan, sun dried tomatoes, wild herbs, seeds, scallions, old Star Wars figures, Atari cartridges, a Slayer jigsaw puzzle… Oh, sorry. That was me just looking around my desk. Oops.

    But you get it?

    The space is so cool, with an amazing patio too
    Pretty sure Rachel was putting up a “sold out” sign

    Then came the breakfast sandwiches. Yes, I would get up before the crack of noon to traverse downtown to pick up an ooey gooey eggy cheesy focaccia-y delight when they offered them up on Sunday. Sundays right? That was well over a year ago and me most mornings are “challenging” at best.

    Holy Focaccia started doing pop ups and then regular appearances at farmer’s markets and CSAs (community supported agriculture). Holy fxxk-accia, Holy Focaccia blowin’ up! In a rather short amount of calendar too.

    Disaster struck for me personally when Rachel and Zak moved from downtown to a bigger and more affordable place across town; a bit too far to travel for yours truly. Especially early Sunday morning. But we’ll always have the farmer’s markets and those memories of downtown!

    Quite recently the two began doing regular appearances at Slow Body Beer on E. 17th street. Then I found out, upon a visit, yes, on a Sunday morning to get a, yes, breakfast sandwich, they are there every Thursday at 5pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and, yes, Sunday at 9am.

    As I was stone cold munchin’ on my most excellent of breakfast sandwiches at the bar (no I wasn’t drinking, it was like barely 10am, jeeze) Rachel laid down some big news.

    “This is going to be our new brick and mortar.”

    You heard it here kids! Holy Focaccia, by autumn of this year, 2025, if all goes correct, will find permanence in the unused front section of Slow Body Beer just left of the main entrance. Gone are the golden hued crispy top days of baking out of their home, Rachel, along with actual employees!, are set up in a proper commissary and bake at a fever pace and volume to supply all of their bready nests, and our bellies.

    To think, less than 3 years ago, Rachel and Zak were serving up the good from their back patio and look at them now. They’re all grows up! So proud.

    Being a bit of an amateur baker myself, I asked if they needed any help. She actually said yes but they start at the unholy hour of 4am.

    Um, well…uh. 4am you say? Yeah that’s when I get up for a drink of water, give the cat a treat and then go back to bed. Love you, but, good luck.

    Oh, and don’t forget that Holy Focaccia offers up incredible cookies, cakes, tortes and tiramisu. Be sure to put all of that on your order next time because they are all so inventive and delicious. Not a bad crumb in the bunch. Ever. A remarkable achievement if you ask me.

    Go ahead. Ask.

    Where it all began
    If they build it, we will come

    Congrats Rachel and Zak! I’m glad to have been there from the (almost) beginning here in Tucson only to watch you and Holy Focaccia rise up.

    Yes that was a bread gag.

    Cheers!  

    Holy Focaccia

    https://holy-focaccia.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/holyfocaccia_/

    Words and Pictures

    Mark Whittaker

    yeahwritemark@gmail.com

  • 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

  • Why I hate Valentine’s Day

    Why I hate Valentine’s Day

    Ok, hate is a strong word but…not a fan.

    Ugh. Can we not?

    As a big holiday guy, I am super nuts over Halloween and Christmas. Most holidays really. But Valentine’s Day, aesthetically and generally, in my opinion, sucks nards.

    Most people say, at least those that oppose the time when big wet eyed pink bears donning plush hearts on their chests that say garbage like “I Wub Woo” start hitting the shelves of your local market and whatever CVS and Walgreens is, that Valentine’s Day is a made up holiday. Its not actually.

    In 8th century Europe, a day to celebrate St. Valentine, February 14th, began as a feast to honor his, I don’t know, martyrdom or something. I think he healed like the daughter of his jailor, who was blind, and made her see again. Yeah Valentine was imprisoned for ministering persecuted Christians in 3rd century Rome. Look it up. That’s what I had to do.

    The reason for the season, kinda

    Apparently, according to Wiki, there were a bunch of Valentines, the St. Valentine’s, and through the years it looked like the faithful thought it would be cool to mark a day for his, or their, contribution to the church and such.

    Through the annals of time, like an old ass game of telephone, before there were telephones, obviously, so that’d be a game of carrier pigeons or something?, Valentine’s Day, for whatever reason, became associated with love. Probably because it was more fun to paint chubby cupids and Victorian fops and wenches in what looks like the most uncomfortable dresses swooning over one another than some bearded cruster holding a staff looking bored.

    Post war America became a hot den of breeding and consumerism and thus the day of celebrating St. Valentine soon crumbled into a pink dusted product queef and sales soared. Men were soon to feel quilt and angst if they didn’t get their lady a dozen roses, a heart shaped box of chocolates filled with whatever goo they had in the 50s and a big card decorated with oversized headed kids on a boat with the words “Hey sailor! You’re tuggin’ at my heart.” That crap still exists today. Only they have like Cardi B on it or whatever. I don’t know. I tend to avoid the “seasonal” aisle after New Years to about February 15.

    Really?

    Then it just continued to get moist and cheesy. Like I said, I love Halloween and Christmas like you wouldn’t believe. Dude, I have the Charlie Brown Christmas tree tattooed on my left leg! Easter is pretty cool, mainly because it is sooo steeped in Paganism, even more so than Christmas (look it up), and I’ve come to tolerate St. Patrick’s Day ever since I moved from San Francisco. The day after Patty’s Day, that city was reek with broken bottles, vomit, trash, bodies and sirens. Tucson is pretty chill. Mainly because I think we have like one or maybe two Irish themed bars here. And they are miles from where we live.

    Cut to Glendale, California circa 1980. Yours truly was in the 4th grade and the week leading up to Valentine’s Day our assignment was to make mailboxes that we would hang on the edge of our desks so when the big day of Feb 14 rolled into town we would walk around the classroom and fill those boxes with cards or whatever. My best friend at the time, Monte (can’t think of his last name but it must have been Torres or Vasquez because we sat next to each other, in the back, like all good misfit class clowns should) were not the most popular kids in the room. Or playground. Or anywhere. We likened ourselves to reading Mad Magazine, watching Loony Tunes cartoons and cracking each other up, first during quiet study then in detention. One time there was an in class talent show, where most kids lip synced to disco songs or played the recorder. Monte and I decided to do a puppet version of Pinnochio where we made ridiculous paper bag puppets with the lead having a toothpick for a nose. Come time to perform, we were laughing so hard that kids started to boo and our teacher came and broke us up. Like I said, not the most popular.

    Yup. Its what I most likely brought to class.

    So Valentine’s Day arrives and I show up with a box of most likely Star Wars themed cards that were perforated and came in packs of twelve so my dad had to buy two boxes. There were some left over and I just put the coolest ones on my bedroom wall. I love you too Chewbacca.

    After lunch we all got our cards filled in with From: me To: whoever and started meandering about, filling those handmade mailboxes with Valentine themed rectangles. Dutifully, I gave one to every kid, even though I was nervous about giving one to Brooke Hill, who I had a huge crush on. Yes I still remember her name. And no, I can’t find her on social media. Probably got hitched and changed her name. I don’t know. Don’t act like you haven’t done the same! Sheesh. Judge much?

    When all the cards were distributed, we went back to our desks and opened our mailboxes to get the gobs of Valentine’s goodies.

    Best image I could find of those mailboxes we had to make.

    Most of the kids dumped theirs on their desks. Little sierras of cards, toys and candy heaped on their desks as they pealed with giddy thanks and laughter. Oh boy, I thought, this is going to be cool.

    Monte and I grabbed our mailboxes that were taped with care as to hold the maximum amount of store bought fondness, opened the top, turned them upside down and shook.

    I think the word ‘smattering’ could best describe what we got. ‘Scant’ maybe. More like, are you kidding? A few of those perforated edged cards stared back at us. Happy Days here, Garfield there. At one point as I held the mailbox for a few seconds longer, hoping that it was so packed with forced affection that they were stuck before avalanching on my desk, one torn square featuring the Justice League and the words “You’re Super!” on it plopped out like a comically timed bird poop on your new white shoes. All I could do was stare down at the, well, pile is a disservice to the collection of shame in front of me and go “Huh” as I scanned the room looking at the happy faces and the occasional hug because they all made out like Valentine’s bandits.

    Pretty sure Monte uttered “The fxxk?” as he had the same amount of heart card diss to deal with.

    My feelings exactly Monte.

    That night over dinner my dad asked to see the cards I got. I showed him. Pretty sure he said “The fxxk?” My feelings exactly dad.

    Ever since then Valentine’s Day has left a bad taste in my mouth, sort of like those little antacid heart candies that proclaim Hug Me and Be Mine. Nobody likes those, right? Black jellybeans and candy corn are always up for debate but those chalky dingleturds are just plain awful.

    4th grade me not too stoked about Valentine’s Day.

    Anyway, that’s pretty much it. That’s why I am not fond of Valentine’s Day. Sure the look and feel of the “holiday” is totally lame, like what the old man calls Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” when he’s dolled up in that bunny suit, a pink nightmare, but that one day in 4th grade really cemented a deeper disdain for the annual event. Sure I’ve been in plenty of loving relationships and am happily married to my best friend, but even then I always have to go “You’re not into the whole Valentine’s thing are you?” Because…bleh.

    But I do like going into stores on the 15th to snag up some on sale candy as they make room for St. Patrick’s and Easter. Even if the store manager handed me a box of afore mentioned love day Tums and said “Here, just take ‘em” I’d be all “The fxxk?” and just walk away.

    • Mark Whittaker

    yeahwritemark@gmail.com

    520-861-4198

  • 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