Brunch is back!
by Tom Stauffer on Apr. 11, 2007, under Taste
LEFT: Banquet sous chef Bruce Manson barbecues ribs and brats at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort's Sunday brunch, now called Blues, Brews & Barbecue. ABOVE: Its new brunch has revived Ventana's acclaimed seafood island and dessert room with chocolate fountain.
If it’s been a while since you bellied up to a buffet, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
The all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch has come a long way since the days of giant tubs of mediocre food degrading under heat lamps.
New and improved buffets feature more made-to-order fare, from omelet bars to grilled meats, and dishes made in smaller quantities to optimize their quality.
In the old model, patrons stuffed themselves with every marginal item offered. Now, they choose from a selection of quality foods to build the perfect meal for themselves without overdoing it.
“I think Sunday brunches really have come back, and it’s because we’re doing them better,” says Loretta Jacob Carlson, co-owner of El Parador Tropical Garden Restaurant. “You have to have quality for people, and part of that is putting food out in the right quantity so that it’s fresh for every guest who comes through the line.”
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort stopped serving what was one of the more celebrated local brunches for about five months before resuming the Sunday institution last month with a full-on party now called Blues, Brews & Barbecue.
“We went to a plated brunch for a while, but this community loves buffets,” says Michael Dominguez, the resort’s director of marketing. “We wanted to give a little vibrancy to the brunch when we brought it back. And our new chef, Mark Ehrler, had the idea of a barbecue-style brunch with microbrews and live music.”
Ventana retained popular aspects of its old buffet, including the expansive seafood island and the much-revered dessert room complete with chocolate fountain, Dominguez says.
“It’s been a big hit,” he says of the new format. “We’d expected it would take some time to ramp up, but we were already getting close to as many people by our third Sunday as we used to draw. We may be getting to the point of extending the hours to accommodate more people.”
We arranged this list of Sunday buffets by price in descending order. If your favorite all-you-can-eat isn’t here, e-mail tasteplus@tucsoncitizen.com or call 573-4620 so we can add it to our online version.
Blues, Brews & Barbecue Canyon Cafe Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
7000 N. Resort Drive, 299-2020
Price: $32 Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Details: Dessert room with chocolate fountain, microbrews and mimosas, massive seafood station, live blues
The Grill Hacienda Del Sol
5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road,
529-3500
Price: $32 Hours: 10 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
Details: Carving station, sushi, made-to-order omelets, shrimp cocktail, green lip mussels, seasonal entrees
Desert Garden Bistro The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa
3800 E. Sunrise Drive, 742-6000
Price: $32
Hours: 11 a.m-2 p.m.
Details: Salmon, roast baron of beef, pasta station, Belgian waffle area, assorted cakes, mousses, parfaits, pastries
Cactus Rose Restaurant Doubletree Hotel
445 S. Alvernon Way, 881-4200
Price: $27.95 Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Details: Prime rib, ham, turkey, omelet bar, crab legs, 30 desserts, 20 cheeses, champagne
Vistas Hilton Tucson East
7600 E. Broadway, 721-5666
Price: $19.95 Hours: 11a.m.-2 p.m.
Details: Prime rib, seafood variety, eggs Benedict, breads and pastries
Signature Grill JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort
3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., 792-3500
Price: $19 Hours: 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Details: Signature “crunchy grilled french toast,” house-baked pastries, omelette and waffle stations
Red Sky Cafe
2900 N. Swan Road, 326-5454
Price: $17.95 Hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Details: London broil, prime rib, grilled and smoked salmon, shrimp, eggs Benedict, pastries
Casino Del Sol Tequila Factory
5655 W. Valencia Road, 344-9435
Price: $17.95 Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Details: Dinner buffet 2-8 p.m. features prime rib
Tanque Verde Guest Ranch
14301 E. Speedway Blvd., 296-6275
Price: $16.50 Hours: noon-1:30 p.m.
Details: Prime rib, poached salmon, Southwestern chicken with Mandarin orange sauce, cream of spinach soup, golden cheese blintzes
Desert Diamond Casino
Interstate 19 at Pima Mine Road
(520) 393-2795
Price: $12.95 Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m; dinner from 2 to 8 p.m.
Details: Sunday buffet includes one glass of champagne.
El Parador Tropical Garden Restaurant
2744 E. Broadway, 881-2744
Price: $11.95
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Details: Carving and omelette stations, Mexican and American fare, cobblers, cheesecake, ice cream bar
Govinda’s Natural Foods Buffet
711 E. Blacklidge Drive., 792-0630
Price: $8.95
Hours: 11a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Details: Eight-course vegetarian feast features musical mantra meditation, spiritual discourse, ancient Arati ceremony.
Casa Molina
6225 E. Speedway Blvd., 886-5468
Casa Molina Del Norte
Mexican restaurants
4240 E. Grant Road, 326-6663
3001 N. Campbell Ave., 795-7593
Price: $8.75
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Details: Reviewed on Page 8 of this issue of Taste Plus.
Sher-E-Punjab
853 E. Grant Road, 624-9393
Price: $7 Hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Details: Indian cuisine, featuring curries, vegetarian dishes, fresh tandoori breads, rice pudding, other desserts
Rigo’s Mexican Restaurant
2527 S. Fourth Ave., 882-9323
Price: $6.75 Hours: 6-11 a.m.
Details: white and red menudo, chorizo, chilaquiles, Mexican pastries, pancakes
Brunchers work the line at Casa Molina, 3001 N. Campbell. Ave.
