The third annual has grown from a one-day party to celebrate all things Mexican food to a weeklong campaign, promoting restaurants along the so-called 23 miles of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Mexican food that encompasses South ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, downtown and lower midtown.
Dozens of local restaurants kicked off the celebration on Sunday with a week of daily specials and discounts, featuring many of the same dishes being highlighted in the big bash this Saturday.
The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 23 festival is arguably the city's biggest annual homage to Mexican food, featuring 21 locally-owned-and-operated restaurants including El Charro, one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in the country; five breweries/distilleries including ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s own Barrio Brewing, and live entertainment.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Mexican food reputation over recent years has extended far beyond our borders, thanks in part to the city's 2015 designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy — the only American city with the title — and the appearance of several ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ restaurants and chefs on national TV including Food TV and the Food Network.Â
The most recent culinary atta-boy: El Guero Canelo, famous for its role in making the Sonoran hot dog a signature ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ dish, won a James Beard America's Classics Award given to outstanding regional restaurants. What's a James Beard? Think culinary world's Academy Award, or Grammy or Tony or Pulitzer.Â
Here's the 411 on the 23 miles celebration
The menu:
— BOCA Tacos y Tequila: Empanadas topped with micro greens
— Carnitas La Yoca: Carnitas with fresh chips and salsa
— Casino del Sol Tequila Factory: Traditional Pascua Yaqui Easter shrimp ceviche made with tomatoes, onion, hot sauce and fresh cilantro
— Cocteleria La Palma: Fish and shrimp tacos topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and cucumber drizzled with special homemade sauce
— Crossroads Restaurant: Chicken and beef fajitas, traditional rice, beans and tortillas, nopales in red chileÂ
— El Charro/Sir Veza’s/Charro Steak: Nutella tamale bite, topped with pecans, whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle
— El Cisne Restaurant & The Black Swan Tequila Bar: Cotija and queso fresco stuffed chile, topped with carne con chile verde with a cilantro and habanero garnish
— El Coronado: Birria, green chile/red chile burros, chips and salsa
— Gringo Grill and Cantina: Vegetarian aguachile with carrots, jicama, cucumber, tomato, corn, cabbage, cilantroÂ
— La Estrella Bakery: mini empanadas, mini cochitos, mini banderas, mini orejas, mini coyotas, mini chimichangas, mini niños envueltos, mini yoyos, Mexican wedding cookies, mini pan finos
— Mexico City Kitchen: Mini chicken chimis, pork and carne asada tacos, mini chili rellenos. Plus desserts with a fusion of other south American flavors
— Oasis Fruit Cones: Traditional favorite natural fruit raspadosÂ
— Perfecto’s Mexican Restaurant: Shredded beef birria, corn and beef tamales, mini chicken and beef chimisÂ
— Pima Community College Hospitality: Savory pulled pork stuffed empanada, drunken peach and pineapple empanada, chocolate drizzle empanada
— Reforma: Al pastor tacos with pineapple, pastor adobo garnished with white onion on a corn tortilla
— Rigo's Mexican Restaurant: To be determined
— Rollies Mexican Patio: Mini Tinga Sonoran-style enchiladas with crema, queso fresco and pickled onion
— Seis Kitchen: Chicken Tinga tacos on fresh-made corn tortillas.
— Sinaloa Mariscos & Cantina: Housemade Micheladas and signature Sinaloa-style ceviche
— Tortillas de Harina Linda:Ìý Wheat and white flour cheese quesadillas
Drinks:Ìý
— Fermented Tea Company: Prickly pear and tropical mango kombuchaÂ
— Hensley Beverage Company: beer from Barrio Brewing Company, Estrella Jalisco and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
— Pure Love Juice: Agua fresca de piña con menta, agua fresca de pepino con limón, shot de Jamaica con canela y cayenne, horchata de cocoÂ
— Roger Clyne’s Mexican Moonshine Tequila: Fresh salted mango with silver, aged sharp cheddar cheese with reposado, dark chocolate with orange peel served with añejo
— Three Wells Distilling Company: Neat samples of Agave Silver, Agave Reposado, Sonora Silver, and Sonora Copper
— Sonoran Margarita: Prickly pear fruit margaritaÂ
When and where:Â 6 p.m. Saturday at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass BoulevardÂ
Tickets: $60 in advance through , $75 at the door if available; $20 for kids 5 to 17. Cost includes food and beverage samples. Warning: Don't wait until the last minute. The festival in its first two years sold out.
The deals:Â Includes dinner for two deals, dessert discounts, BOGOs and a couple package offers big enough to feed a family of four or five. Visit for a complete list of participating restaurants and their offers.
Entertainment:ÌýPerformers throughout the festival include classical/Latin guitarist Eduardo Minozzi Costa, Ballet Folklorico Tapatio and Mariachi Herradura de ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. The Regulars perform Latin jazz and Bossa Nova at the after party from 8 to 10 p.m.
Details: