Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations Season 4 Episode 17 Tucson
- TV-G
- December 6, 2016
- 20 min
Tucson, Arizona is a city that boasts a rich culinary tradition. In this episode of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations, host Andrew Zimmern sets out to explore some of the city's most delicious and unique dishes.
Zimmern begins his Tucson journey at a local taqueria, where he tries a Sonoran hot dog. This street food favorite is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and served in a bolillo roll with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and a variety of sauces. Zimmern describes it as "explosively delicious," and notes that it's a perfect representation of the city's fusion of Mexican and American flavors.
Next, Zimmern visits a ranch in the Sonoran Desert, where he meets a cattle rancher who specializes in grass-fed beef. He learns how this sustainable farming method produces meat with a unique flavor profile, and he gets a taste of the rancher's famous beef jerky. Zimmern describes the jerky as "liquid smoke on steroids," and says it's one of the best examples of its kind he's ever tasted.
Moving on to the city's downtown area, Zimmern visits a restaurant that specializes in Sonoran-style cuisine. He tries the restaurant's signature dish: a carne asada chimichanga. This dish features tender beef that's been marinated in a flavorful blend of spices, wrapped in a flour tortilla, and deep-fried until crispy and golden-brown. Zimmern says that the combination of flavors and textures is "mind-blowing," and declares the dish to be a true Tucson classic.
At a local bakery, Zimmern tries a sweet treat that's unique to Tucson: the biscocho. This fluffy, buttery pastry is coated in cinnamon and sugar, and has a delicate, crumbly texture. Zimmern says that it's a perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee on a lazy afternoon, and notes that it's no wonder the bakery has been in business for over 60 years.
For his final taste of Tucson, Zimmern visits a restaurant that specializes in a dish called the Sonoran enchilada. This dish features a tortilla filled with shredded beef, cheese, and green chiles, and is smothered in a tangy tomato sauce. Zimmern says that this dish perfectly represents Tucson's fusion of Mexican and Native American flavors, and notes that the enchilada is a must-try for anyone visiting the city.
Throughout the episode, Zimmern showcases the vibrant and diverse culinary scene in Tucson, and illustrates how the city's unique fusion of flavors has produced some truly one-of-a-kind dishes. Whether you're a fan of street food, fine dining, or sweet treats, Tucson has something for everyone, and this episode of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations shows off the best of what the city has to offer.