During two summers of 2006 and 2007, I journeyed to Tucson to visit my friends, see the sights, do some monsoon chasing, visit restaurants and photograph and videotape over 10 different types of hummingbirds that can be seen South of Tucson. While I found the hummingbirds, one restaurant remained elusive both times, the famed Poca Cosa in downtown Tucson. Both times I found that they are on vacation during the weeks I came. So I missed the pechuga mole negro ($19), chicken in a sauce of chiles and just a touch of the traditional chocolate; grilled beef with a jalapeño chile and tomatillo sauce ; chicken with a dark mole sauce made with Kahlúa, chocolate, almonds, and chiles. And so I wait for another time when I come back to Tucson again.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tucson/D31003.html
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Chow/Content?oid=oid:42384
When I finally get there I most likely will try the platoPoca Cosa, a trio of dishes chosen by the chef.
But I was able to get an exquisite meal with friends at the J-Bar near Janos featuring
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tucson/D49787.html
They have innovative dishes as in spicy jerked pork with cranberry-habañero chutney or Yucatán-style plantain-crusted chicken with green coconut-milk curry. When I was there I had the plantain-crusted chicken and it was wonderful.
Showing posts with label Tucson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tucson. Show all posts
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Janos and T Bar in Tucson great restaurants and innovative James Beard chef
Hands down one of the most memorable meals I have had was 2007 at the J Bar, the second one after the famous Janos. The chef, who married French and Soutwest cuisine, is Chef Janos Wilder. a James Beard award winner of 1990.http://www.janos.com/
While the current menu did not have the pecan crusted chicken (possibly summer dish) or the lamb appetizer.
http://www.janos.com/janos/mainmenu.php
In this dessert part of the menu is the truly excellent one I tried, Jalapeno Chocolate Sundae
http://www.janos.com/janos/dessertmenu.php
I found he has recipes at
http://www.janos.com/janos/recipes.php
This one sounded good that I will try
Basil Madeira Chicken with Portobello Mushrooms
This elegant dish is great for a family dinner but would be equally appropriate for entertaining. The chicken breasts are pan-seared then the sauce is made in the same pan making this dish as easy to prepare as it is delicious.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 Servings
boneless chicken breasts, skin and all fat removed
yellow onion sliced julienne
1 lb - portobello mushrooms sliced
1 T - fresh crushed garlic
1 T - whole grain mustard
8 oz - Madeira
2 C - defatted, reduced-sodium chicken stock
2 - tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
1 C - fresh chopped basil leaves
2 T - olive oil
Instructions
1. Saute the onions until well browned.
2. Flame with brandy.
3. Cover with veal stock and red wine.
4. Cover and braise until soft but not mushy. About 1/2 hour.
back to recipes
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tucson, AZ area : Great food, sights and seeing hummingbirds
2007 was my 2nd year down to Tucson during July to visit my (former business partner and ) friends. My main intent was for me to photograph and videotape 14 different types of hummingbirds near the Sierra Vista area. I had a grand time doing that for 2 days. Gosh I love those little birds!!
BTW it is called Beatty's Ranch and they have reasonable rates for their bungalows. Very nice owners. If you all are down that way try it out but check ahead beforehand for availability. Nice restaurants nearby in Sierra Vista (Asian, Italian and more).
When you are in around the Tucson to Phoenix to Scottsdale you can also try the following (as I did);
First get a AAA book if you have one or borrow one for Arizona. I also purchased and used the Frommer book for Arizona.
* The Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson with fabulous flora and fauna. (I can't believe of all that I saw I missed the gila monster which I've always wanted to see!). A must!
* The Kitt Peak telescope obervatory buildings and telescopes ( I liked it - hey I do astronomy too!)
* go for night walks (check locally) or at the Desert Museum
* Kartchner Caverns state park (south of Tucson) - I have spelunked in many area of the USA and someday I will go there
* Southeastern Bird Observatory (south of Tucson)
* Make sure you try one of the fabulous restaurants (Poca Cosa in Tucson is one I want to go to but 2 years straight they were shut down for a few weeks when I was there). I had one of the best meals at the J-Bar (very reasonable this time of the year!) with their pecan encrusted chicken, lamb appetizers and the incredible chocolate jalapeno sundae!
Don't ever try to go across streams in streets etc that are started by rains and monsoons. Last year they had a dramatic rescue on live TV of a woman who did this and her car had water all the way to the roof before she knew it. She was standing on the roof of the car and a helicopter airlifted her off before car went down the river.
N and west after the hummingbirds, I was trying to find another hummingbird havenin Patagonia. I had taken pictures from afar of a rainstorm a couple hours before. Finally I found the place and was rounding the bend to go over the streambed to the place. This is what it looked like.
The water had risen from nothing and a drybed to feet! So I could not see the hummingbirds at that place that day (it was across the road) as I had to get back to Tucson. But this was an eye opener about Monsoons!
BTW it is called Beatty's Ranch and they have reasonable rates for their bungalows. Very nice owners. If you all are down that way try it out but check ahead beforehand for availability. Nice restaurants nearby in Sierra Vista (Asian, Italian and more).
When you are in around the Tucson to Phoenix to Scottsdale you can also try the following (as I did);
First get a AAA book if you have one or borrow one for Arizona. I also purchased and used the Frommer book for Arizona.
* The Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson with fabulous flora and fauna. (I can't believe of all that I saw I missed the gila monster which I've always wanted to see!). A must!
* The Kitt Peak telescope obervatory buildings and telescopes ( I liked it - hey I do astronomy too!)
* go for night walks (check locally) or at the Desert Museum
* Kartchner Caverns state park (south of Tucson) - I have spelunked in many area of the USA and someday I will go there
* Southeastern Bird Observatory (south of Tucson)
* Make sure you try one of the fabulous restaurants (Poca Cosa in Tucson is one I want to go to but 2 years straight they were shut down for a few weeks when I was there). I had one of the best meals at the J-Bar (very reasonable this time of the year!) with their pecan encrusted chicken, lamb appetizers and the incredible chocolate jalapeno sundae!
Don't ever try to go across streams in streets etc that are started by rains and monsoons. Last year they had a dramatic rescue on live TV of a woman who did this and her car had water all the way to the roof before she knew it. She was standing on the roof of the car and a helicopter airlifted her off before car went down the river.
N and west after the hummingbirds, I was trying to find another hummingbird havenin Patagonia. I had taken pictures from afar of a rainstorm a couple hours before. Finally I found the place and was rounding the bend to go over the streambed to the place. This is what it looked like.
The water had risen from nothing and a drybed to feet! So I could not see the hummingbirds at that place that day (it was across the road) as I had to get back to Tucson. But this was an eye opener about Monsoons!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Arizona Monsoon chasing, good eats and seeing beautiful hummingbirds
I did some Monsoon chasing in 2007 and will hope to do more in the future. I was in Tucson and southwest where I captured some pics (see below). Someday lightning shots .
2007 was my 2nd year down to Tucson during July to visit my (former business partner and ) friends. My main intent was for me to photograph and videotape 14 different types of hummingbirds near the Sierra Vista area. I had a grand time doing that for 2 days. Gosh I love those little birds!!
BTW it is called Beatty's Ranch and they have reasonable rates for their bungalows. Very nice owners. If you all are down that way try it out but check ahead beforehand for availability. Nice restaurants nearby in Sierra Vista (Asian, Italian and more).
When you are in around the Tucson to Phoenix to Scottsdale you can also try the following (as I did);
First get a AAA book if you have one or borrow one for Arizona. I also purchased and used the Frommer book for Arizona.
* The Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson with fabulous flora and fauna. (I can't believe of all that I saw I missed the gila monster which I've always wanted to see!). A must!
* The Kitt Peak telescope obervatory buildings and telescopes ( I liked it - hey I do astronomy too!)
* go for night walks (check locally) or at the Desert Museum
* Kartchner Caverns state park (south of Tucson) - I have spelunked in many area of the USA and someday I will go there
* Southeastern Bird Observatory (south of Tucson)
* Make sure you try one of the fabulous restaurants (Poca Cosa in Tucson is one I want to go to but 2 years straight they were shut down for a few weeks when I was there). I had one of the best meals at the J-Bar (very reasonable this time of the year!) with their pecan encrusted chicken, lamb appetizers and the incredible chocolate jalapeno sundae!
Don't ever try to go across streams in streets etc that are started by rains and monsoons. Last year they had a dramatic rescue on live TV of a woman who did this and her car had water all the way to the roof before she knew it. She was standing on the roof of the car and a helicopter airlifted her off before car went down the river.
N and west after the hummingbirds, I was trying to find another hummingbird havenin Patagonia. I had taken pictures from afar of a rainstorm a couple hours before. Finally I found the place and was rounding the bend to go over the streambed to the place. This is what it looked like.
The water had risen from nothing and a drybed to feet! So I could not see the hummingbirds at that place that day (it was across the road) as I had to get back to Tucson. But this was an eye opener about Monsoons!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Tucson, Moonsoon chasing, hummingbird chasing and Tucson's JBar with good eats
Got to Tucson on July 24,2007.
I took some shoots of the monsoon weather in the town before ducking into a Mexican restaurant and wait things out.
I went to my friends house and stayed at the house that night. What was interesting that on the news that night, a local forecaster showed scud in the sky and told the audience that some people has mistaken the scud for a funnel tornado . He explained with visuals how the scud is airlifted moisture that condenses etc. Nice that they info
rm the public about misidentification like what I did in my course the week before in Kansas.
( next day: sorry could not found the picture in the newspaper with the woman on the top of her car with raging water turrent around her)
Looking over the newspaper that morning, I saw that the monsoon really struck in some area.Took off early on the 24th, heading 1.5 hours south to Sierra Vista. Stopped off at Ramsey Canyon to get my wife a hummingbird shirt and hummingbird coasters (they have a real nice store of all things hummingbirds and nature).
I
headed to Hereford, AZ ( a mile wide town next to Sierra Vista) and the Beatty's Ranch where I was last year. This time I would stay two days. I photograph and videotape to my hearts content and could get closer to the hummies to get more closeups with the camera.
Weather was great. I met a teacher from Houston and other people. I went into Sierra Vista and had a spicey chicken lunch in a nice rustic Japanese Place (Tom Sellick the actor had been there and had an autograph on a plate) and a korean place was very good. The Delicos Italian restaurant was once again very good too with their excellent eggplant dish and a chicken dish.
These birds are so funny. I could sit 2-3 feet away from one feeder with other feeders farther away. Some would drink from the feeders evenwhile others buzzed around and tried to chase others away. Some would stay only 10 seconds or less and it was too fast to get the pic.
I identified 10 varieties. Here are some pics.
On the 26th , I headed NW. I took some pics of the scenery as I then headed Southwest toward Patagonia (another hummingbird haven).
Along the way I stopped to photograph huge monsoon storm cells. Storm cells dumped water in the distance.
An hour later, I made it to Patagonia. I had to go through a "dry" road bed to get to the hummingbird place.
As I rounded the street and corner to go over the dry stream bed , this is what I saw.
Gosh knows how long it would be until the water subsided for this stream bed so I headed back to Tucson. I will try next year to see this hummingbird area.
I took my friends out for dinner. We decided to go to one of the best and well known restaurants in Tucson J-Bar. Great prices for the summer. Appetizer of ground lamb was very good. Special entrees included a vegetable dish which the wife liked (she is a former sous chef for the American restuarant . My astronomy friend got the spicy pork.
I took the plantain encrusted chicken which was great. Then we all shared the signature desert- chocolate jalapeno parfait. Superb!!!( I found a recipe for these and will have to make them). A great and memorable meal/ dinner.
I had some time to kill before going to the airport. My friends took me hiking with a group at Mt. Lemmons. Things were partly cloudy when we got to the base camp area. But as we traveled the trail, the weather became cloudy, with thunder and pouring rain. I did not have much with me so I was soaked and my camera in my case got a little soaking (I will always from now on bring at least 1 big plastic bag in these situations to put the camera in ). We got down the mountain. I won the wet T shirt contest.
I was so afraid the camera was fried along with the pictures. I took out the battery and wiped the inner battery area and let it rest and prayed. To test the camera before using for a party, I put the battery back in and turned on as I prayed for it to work. IT DID!!!! Wewwwww.
Memorable trip, food, a little 2 Monsoon chases and good hummingbird company. Met some nice people. Beatty's Ranch and people are very nice. Maybe next year Poca Cosa if they are not vacationing.
I took some shoots of the monsoon weather in the town before ducking into a Mexican restaurant and wait things out.I went to my friends house and stayed at the house that night. What was interesting that on the news that night, a local forecaster showed scud in the sky and told the audience that some people has mistaken the scud for a funnel tornado . He explained with visuals how the scud is airlifted moisture that condenses etc. Nice that they info
rm the public about misidentification like what I did in my course the week before in Kansas.( next day: sorry could not found the picture in the newspaper with the woman on the top of her car with raging water turrent around her)
Looking over the newspaper that morning, I saw that the monsoon really struck in some area.Took off early on the 24th, heading 1.5 hours south to Sierra Vista. Stopped off at Ramsey Canyon to get my wife a hummingbird shirt and hummingbird coasters (they have a real nice store of all things hummingbirds and nature).
I
headed to Hereford, AZ ( a mile wide town next to Sierra Vista) and the Beatty's Ranch where I was last year. This time I would stay two days. I photograph and videotape to my hearts content and could get closer to the hummies to get more closeups with the camera.Weather was great. I met a teacher from Houston and other people. I went into Sierra Vista and had a spicey chicken lunch in a nice rustic Japanese Place (Tom Sellick the actor had been there and had an autograph on a plate) and a korean place was very good. The Delicos Italian restaurant was once again very good too with their excellent eggplant dish and a chicken dish.
These birds are so funny. I could sit 2-3 feet away from one feeder with other feeders farther away. Some would drink from the feeders evenwhile others buzzed around and tried to chase others away. Some would stay only 10 seconds or less and it was too fast to get the pic.
I identified 10 varieties. Here are some pics.
On the 26th , I headed NW. I took some pics of the scenery as I then headed Southwest toward Patagonia (another hummingbird haven).
Along the way I stopped to photograph huge monsoon storm cells. Storm cells dumped water in the distance.An hour later, I made it to Patagonia. I had to go through a "dry" road bed to get to the hummingbird place.
As I rounded the street and corner to go over the dry stream bed , this is what I saw.
Gosh knows how long it would be until the water subsided for this stream bed so I headed back to Tucson. I will try next year to see this hummingbird area.I took my friends out for dinner. We decided to go to one of the best and well known restaurants in Tucson J-Bar. Great prices for the summer. Appetizer of ground lamb was very good. Special entrees included a vegetable dish which the wife liked (she is a former sous chef for the American restuarant . My astronomy friend got the spicy pork.
I took the plantain encrusted chicken which was great. Then we all shared the signature desert- chocolate jalapeno parfait. Superb!!!( I found a recipe for these and will have to make them). A great and memorable meal/ dinner.I had some time to kill before going to the airport. My friends took me hiking with a group at Mt. Lemmons. Things were partly cloudy when we got to the base camp area. But as we traveled the trail, the weather became cloudy, with thunder and pouring rain. I did not have much with me so I was soaked and my camera in my case got a little soaking (I will always from now on bring at least 1 big plastic bag in these situations to put the camera in ). We got down the mountain. I won the wet T shirt contest.
I was so afraid the camera was fried along with the pictures. I took out the battery and wiped the inner battery area and let it rest and prayed. To test the camera before using for a party, I put the battery back in and turned on as I prayed for it to work. IT DID!!!! Wewwwww.
Memorable trip, food, a little 2 Monsoon chases and good hummingbird company. Met some nice people. Beatty's Ranch and people are very nice. Maybe next year Poca Cosa if they are not vacationing.
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