Kickstart for local brewing

Hey Tucson: Here’s a great local story where a former Tucson firefighter received a brew-your-beer starter kit for Christmas one year and along with some other fire fighters decided throw their proverbial hats into the ring of burgeoning artisan beer making.

The company is Sentinel Peak Brewing and they already have much of the formula with a half dozen brews under their belt but are looking to raise some funds via Kickstarter. View the video and keep it going.  And consider kicking in a few bucks; there are some perks.

Their location will be a popular one — at 4746 E. Grant Road in the Trader Joe’s/Petsmart/Chuze – shopping area. The space was a former sandwich shop; opening August 2013.

Gourmet Girls Gluten Free

Mary Gibson and Mary Fuller, owners of Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bistro/Bakery are thrilled to be nominated for a nationwide Foggy (free of gluten) Award, honoring those who shed light on the gluten free community.

Gourmet Girls is a locally-owned Tucson business located at 5845 N. Oracle Road. They are a member of Tucson Originals.

Although I have no problem with gluten, I have eaten at Gourmet Girls, tasted their bakery items, and was pleasantly surprised. Yum!

Gourmet Girls is one of five nominees in the Restaurant/Cafe Owner category. Voting ends April 30 and people can vote as many times as they want.

Vote now!

You can find Gourmet Girls gluten free goodies at the St. Philip’s Farmers Market every Sunday from 8 am to noon.

Eat more pie!

The Pie Party has been a delicious happening for 10 years. Everybody loves pie!

Here’s the skinny:

If you bake a pie, entry is FREE to this delicious pie potluck. Arrive without a pie, and a $12 donation gets you in the door to eat to your heart’s content. The money also goes to support great local non-profit organizations.

In the past, it’s been a pie contest but this year just eat and enjoy. No judging required.

On Sunday, May 5, drop off your pie or pies between noon – 1 p.m. The pie party runs from 3 – 7 p.m. It all happens at the Whistle Stop Depot, 127 W 5th St.

T-shirts will be available for purchase, and donations are always appreciated to further the reach of this community fundraiser.

People who provide pies (only homemade please) will help select the non-profit organization recipient of the event’s proceeds.

In the running is: 

–Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood – Enlivening a vibrant historic community through water harvesting, public art, and sustainability

–Northern Jaguar Project – Protecting the world’s northernmost breeding jaguar population

–Nuclear Resister – Supporting anti-war and anti-nuclear prisoners of conscience

–Tucson CARES (Companion Animal Rescue, Education, and Support) – Eliminating pet overpopulation through spay and neuter programs and facilitating trap-neuter-release of feral cats

Check out the website to see what you have been missing. Now this a bite of Tucson’s grassroots deliciousness.