The time has come, once again, to take culinary excursions to far away places courtesy of the Downtown Kitchen + Cocktail (135 S. Sixth Ave.) Around the Globe menu series. While the event has taken diners from Buenos Aires to Mocsow to Hanoi and more in past years, this year’s series has something special in store. To celebrate Tucson’s UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation earned in December 2015, chefs Janos Wilder and Jerry Alday will traverse some of the other cities of gastronomy around the world.

For the 2016 line-up, Downtown will offer up tastes of Parma, Italy (May 24-July 11); Rasht, Iran (July 11-August 22); Phuket, Thailand (August 23-October 3) and Ensenada, Mexico (October 4-November 14). All four cities were added to the list of recognized cities in 2015, as well as Tucson; Bergen, Norway; Belém, Brazil; Gaziantep, Turkey and Burgos and Dénia in Spain.

The first stop in Parma serves three appetizers, three entrées and two desserts that highlight the food of the region and, of course, Parmigiano Reggiano. Some of the highlights include grilled focaccia with prosciutto di Parma, an octopus terrine with olives and capers, lasagna bolonese and porchetta with creamy polenta. Dishes can be ordered a la carte ($8-$23) or as a three-course menu for $38 plus tax and gratuity. While $38 is a pretty smokin’ deal for a full meal, regardless, the unique opportunity to sample some of the cuisine from other UNESCO-recognized food cities, all while staying right here in Tucson, is one you’ll want to snatch up.

For more information on Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails and the current Around the Globe series, visit the restaurant's website. You can also make reservations by calling 623-7700.