Sabores de Tucson Festival Celebrates Mexican Culture, Community and Culinary Flavors

Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler

Don’t sleep on the Sabores de Tucson festival! Presented by the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance and the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, it’s a wonderful celebration of culinary heritage, community, and culture that was made possible this year by partners Visit Tucson and hosts The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa. Every dollar supports essential arts programs (that are now getting funding cut) across Arizona from mariachi education and arts therapy to creative aging and youth arts access which fosters connection, healing, and cultural pride. Sabores honors each region of the powerful culinary traditions of Mexico that shape Southern Arizona. It’s truly a fully immersive experience in an untapped city of gastronomy!

Vivid performances in beautiful costumes were put on by Compañía de Danza Folklórica Arizona, established in 2014 by Chantal Danay Ralls, a vibrant nonprofit dance group based in Tucson, Arizona. Known for its dynamic performances that capture the diverse cultural landscapes of Mexico, the company presents a range of regional mariachi and folklorico dances, from the energetic steps of Jalisco to the soulful traditions of Veracruz. Celebrating and educating audiences about Mexican folkloric dance as a vital form of cultural expression was a huge success!

In collaboration with Tucson Foodie, the largest food content creator/blogger in Tucson, this all senses fed festival offers guests a chance to explore the diverse flavors of Mexico through area tasting stations. Led by some of Tucson’s most talented chefs, each region of the event transported guests to a distinct region of Mexico through food, art, and music, bringing the flavors and traditions to life. If you’ve never been to Mexico and have no clue what I’m talking about, here’s a little cheat sheet for foodies to screenshot below.

Learn the Flavors of Mexico

Northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Baja California, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas)

Signature Dishes: Carne asada, flour tortillas, burritos, machaca, cabrito (roast goat) and fish tacos known for grilled meats, flour tortillas, seafood, and ranch-style cooking.

Central Mexico (Mexico City, Puebla, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Morelos, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Estado de México)

Signature Dishes: Tacos al pastor, mole poblano, barbacoa, tamales and chiles en nogada known for complex sauces, street food culture, indigenous corn-based dishes.

Pacific Coast (Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Guerrero)

Signature Dishes: Birria, aguachile, ceviche, pescado zarandeado, tiritas de pescado known for coastal seafood, fresh flavors, and slow-cooked stews.

Southern Mexico & Yucatán Peninsula (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz)

Signature Dishes: Cochinita pibil, tamales de elote, tlayudas, mole negro, panuchos and sopa de lima known for rich indigenous culinary traditions, tropical flavors, and complex moles.

Artists of Tucson, Arizona

Every which way you looked, there was art being made whether in food, dance or physical forms! It was truly inspiring to see so much vivid color and expression. The vibrant tapestry of creativity at the artisan showcase featured a diverse group of talented artists, each bringing their unique mediums and cultural expressions to life, it’s truly an immersive experience into the world of art and craftsmanship. Each piece of art not only tells a story but is also available for purchase, making it a perfect opportunity to support local artists and decorate your space with original art.  Check out the full lineup below!

• Sandy Villegas – Lunas Paper Designs
  A passionate artist whose work elevates any event and who has previously offered to collaborate pro bono, she creates stunning paper flower art rooted in traditional Mexican craft from Central Mexico (Puebla).
• Mario & Imelda Jimenez – La Iguana Art Gallery
  Festival favorites with a 4th Ave storefront, known for live demos and a wide range of traditional goods, they are ceramic artists specializing in Mata Ortiz painting from Northern Mexico (Chihuahua).
• Patricia Silva – The Sol Design Studio
  Mixed media and painting artist whose vibrant work honors Mexican American heritage and identity.
• Yovannah Diovanti – Casa Diovanti Art Studio
  Ceramicist and painter creating colorful, expressive artwork that blends folk and contemporary Mexican styles.
• Veronica Verdugo-Lomeli – @vvlarts
  Painter focused on powerful, cultural visual storytelling and vibrant depictions of heritage and identity.
• Alejandra Baltazar-Carlat – Tacobout Crafting
  Creator of whimsical and expressive clay jewelry and crafts inspired by traditional forms with a modern twist.
• Alana Solis – Dirty T Tamarindo
  A multidisciplinary artist from Northwestern Mexico (Hermosillo), blending cultural roots with contemporary expression. And some traditional candies!
• Alexa – Adela Artisan – Adela Artisan
  Designer of high-quality leather bags that fuse timeless craftsmanship with Mexican cultural elements.
• Wall Plug Arts – Sal Sawaki
  A collective of Yaqui and Tohono O’odham artists showcasing bold, contemporary Indigenous art rooted in tradition and identity.
• Yesi – Apapáchame Tierra – Apapáchame Tierra
  Herbalista and vendor from the Pacific Coast (Costeña Oaxaqueña), offering handcrafted apothecary goods including candles, weaving, and elixirs with cultural healing traditions.

Eating through Mexico

We all know that food tourism is HUGE and if nothing else motivates you to travel the world, perhaps following your nose would make it happen faster! Seriously some of the best eyes roll back in your head food I’ve tasted in a while that weekend! Another list to screenshot and make it a food hit list when in Tucson… you won’t be disappointed.

• Chef Jose Contreras – Amelia’s Kitchen was recently nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southwest! Chef Jose will be bringing his award-winning culinary vision to the event, adding serious prestige to the roster.
• Chef Gary Hickey – Si Charro Group was highlighting the bold, ancestral flavors of Sonora, Mexico, with two signature dishes: Tomahawk Carne Asada and Capirotada, drawn directly from family recipe books passed down through generations.
• Chef Marissa – Mujer Bonita Catering was bringing soul and spice from Southern Mexico, Chef Marissa prepared a powerful and delicious representation of the region’s deep culinary roots.
• Chef Ken Foy – Dante’s Fire is a Tucson favorite known for bold and inventive flavors, while Chef Ken brings experience and creative flair to the table.
• The Culinary Team – Seis Kitchen is known for their regional authenticity and elevated street food, Seis continues their legacy of honoring Mexican cuisine from across the country.
• The GUT Collective, led by Chef Devon Sanner features The Pacific Coast region shining under the hands of some of Tucson’s most respected chefs: Janet Balderas – Mojo Cuban Kitchen, CJ Hamm – Hammbone’s, Martha Lamadrid, Juan Almanza – El Rustico, Sarah Lamberth, Chef Rocco DiGrazia – Rocco’s Little Chicago
• La Chingada & Cruda representing Northern Mexico, these two restaurants are putting together dishes that speak to the bold and fishy flavors of the region.
• Tabu Restaurant adding a modern, urban take on regional Mexican flavors with bold presentations and flair.
• Brother John’s Bourbon & BBQ Bringing the fire and smoke! They’ll be serving up grill-forward creations that blend regional inspiration from Oaxaca
• Executive Chef Devon Pinto from The Westin La Paloma spearheaded the VIP experience with a menu inspired by Central Mexico, plus exclusive bites only available to VIP guests.
• La Estrella Bakery created special pastries representing all four regions of Mexico, adding an essential and delicious layer to our culinary showcase.
• Redbird Scratch Kitchen known for their commitment to local ingredients and bold interpretations of tradition, Redbird is bringing a fresh, scratch-made approach to the table!
• El Guero Canelo you can’t miss the king of the Sonoran Dog with his glorious, thick red hair! Their participation brings iconic Tucson flavor and national recognition to the event.

Drinks of Mexico

• Westbound and Tap & Bottle – Central Mexico cocktails
• Borderland Spirits – Northern Mexico – Bacanoras with six options to choose from
• Creo Spirits – Mexican wines and tequilas
• Whiskey Del Bac – Northern Mexico – whiskey Del Bac neat pours and Sonoran inspired cocktails
• Republic National Distributing – Tequila, Beer and Libations from the Pacific Region
• Finley Beer – an assortment of Mexican beers and libation cocktails
• Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea – she will be bringing her original flavor and Prickly Pear! She will do a special rim on the cup with Dirty T Tamarindo
• Compas Spirits – Montaraz Bacanora neat pours and a cocktail – also they will showcase their new bacanora seltzers 4 varieties
• A Torano Wines – a large array of Sonoran wines

And finally we get to the fun part, all of the photos and adventures we went through in just a few hours! It was certainly a whirlwind and I would recommend getting a VIP ticket, getting there before it begins at 5 p.m. (ends at 8:30 p.m.) as people were lined up like it was the races. Rest and pregame for the day by eating light and hydrating. Bring water, although it is available throughout and pace yourself. Wear sneakers! I saw one poor lady with her heels off like it was Vegas. For attire, think comfy and stretchy so you can eat more. If you don’t get a gift bag, bring one to stuff goodies in that are free to take home. Make some friends and be curious, you’ll meet some colorful characters here which make the experience even better. Let’s goooooo!