Meet the chef: Jeff Glomski, Barrio Food & Drink
by C.J. Karamargin on Jul. 26, 2006, under Local, Taste
Barrio Food & Drink owner/chef Jeff Glomski opened the downtown eatery in late 1997.
Address and phone: 135 S. Sixth Ave., 629-0191
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, noon-midnight Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Sunday
Long before the Rio Nuevo push to energize downtown, Jeff Glomski was drawing hungry Tucsonans to the historic heart of the city with his Barrio Food & Drink.
Glomski, who turned 38 July 22, was the cook at Presidio Grill (now Cuvée World Bistro) before he opened Barrio in September 1997 – two years before Rio Nuevo was approved by voters.
“We’ve been fighting the good fight for a while,” he said.
He’s also worked at Jerome’s (now Fuego) on Tanque Verde Road and the now-closed Painted Desert. He recently talked with TastePlus’ C.J. Karamargin.
Question: What’s your favorite restaurant in the Tucson area and why?
Answer: I have several favorite restaurants. I love Rosa’s Mexican Food as far as Mexican food. Kingfisher, of course, and Cuvée.
Question: What’s your favorite dish to prepare and why?
Answer: I have so many favorite dishes. Mostly fresh meat, fresh fish.
Question: What’s your favorite dish to eat?
Answer: I’m from Minnesota so I’m a steak-and-potatoes kind of guy. And I like ribs.
Question: What’s unique about the Tucson restaurant scene compared to other cities?
Answer: We have more restaurants per capita than most places. There’s definitely more chairs in restaurants than there are people in Tucson.
Question: What’s your favorite or most-used kitchen utensil or gadget?
Answer: It would have to be my knife, and I couldn’t get by without my tongs.
- C.J. KARAMARGIN
MEET THE CHEF
