Not Your Typical Tacos
Gio Taco has announced its opening date, which comes just in time as a Christmas present for taco lovers. It's Saturday, Dec. 21. Gio has also unveiled its inaugural menu. And, wow, it sure isn't your average taqueria lineup. For instance, the "Smoky Bird" consists of a homemade corn tortilla shell, house-smoked turkey leg meat, heirloom baby kale slaw, fresh blackberries and pumpkin seed salsa. The "Korean BBQ" features a shell made of bibb lettuce, beer-marinated short ribs, pineapple soda, mango and carrot slaw. Sides include yucca fries with Sriracha ketchup. They've certainly taken seriously their idea of "doing tacos in Tucson a little differently." Gio Taco is at 350 E. Congress St.
Wine in the Desert
The Arizona Wine Growers Association presents Wine in the Desert, it's first wine-tasting event, which will showcase the state's top wines. Fifteen winemakers will be represented. There's also a silent auction for holiday gift baskets. The tasting takes place from 3 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, at St. Philip's Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Admission also includes a commemorative tasting glass and tastings of seven vinos. For more info, visit arizonawine.org.
Bead Art and Brewskis
Children's charity Beads of Courage and Tucson gallery Spirit Art House are teaming up with the downtown Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., for a charitable event on Saturday, Dec. 14. Beads of Courage helps kids with cancer and other serious illnesses record, tell and "own" their stories of treatment. Come out and string a bead for someone you love (Shoutout to Zoë Montaño: Keep fighting, hon!), buy some original art for a good cause and try Thunder Canyon's Holiday Ornament Ale on tap.
Mangiare e Imparare
Learn to speak Italian while eating some of Tucson's finest Italian food. Italian classes at Tavolino Ristorante, 2890 E. Skyline Drive, resumed this week and will run for the next six weeks. Every Wednesday, there are two sessions: from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Theresa Levy, who has been an Italian instructor for more than 20 years, will teach the classes and lunch will be prepared by Chef Massimo Tenino. Space is limited. For more information, e-mail theresa@tucsonitalian.com or visit tucsonitalian.com.
Tidbits
The Parish, 6453 N. Oracle Road, has started expansion of the Southern-fusion gastropub by another 1,000 square feet. The new space should be available for use in about three weeks.
The folks responsible for the popular El Charro restaurants and Sir Veza's Taco Garage, have partnered with the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to open a Mexican restaurant there. Hecho in Vegas is scheduled to start service on Dec. 28.
