Brew, brew...Microbrews!

Fun times at Nimbus Brewing Company. I love a good microbrew.  I really enjoyed the first brewery I went to in Tucson, Barrio, I REALLY like Nimbus.  I wish I hadn't been on the way to the airport, but, now I'll have to get to Tucson again soon!!!


That's right...it's a bigg ass mug.

  Nimbus was in kind of a weird place...out-of-the-way place.  Well, who cares.  Nimbus is a cool venue, big, looks rustic like it's been there since the Wild West, yet with the last remodel they added cool industrial and a touch of Planet of the Apes.  I don't expect you to get my visual.  Anyway...the beer at Nimbus is delish-ie!!!

 Pool tables are definitely a plus, the artwork on the walls...interesting,

 Cold Beer.  Nuf said.

I couldn't decide, so I got the sampler.  I don't know why I always do this, because I know I won't like the dark stuff...Porters...YUCK.  I try to like them, but no.  Everything else at Nimbus...YUMMY!

Best Breakfast in Tucson...Cup Cafe

The perfect Cappucino.

Start with Pappas.



"Break" the "Fast" with this breakfast feast, a little bit of everything.

Baked Eggs with leeks...YUMMY.

Great Patio for people watching.

The Croque Senor

I am a big fan of the Croque Madame, so I did not take Toby's advise and order the Croque Senor...What was I thinking??? The next time I am in Tucson, I will order this at every meal.

HAUNTED Tucson

 Could John Dillinger be haunting the halls of the Hotel Congress in the Old West?

 

 

 My cousin Melissa doesn't scare easily, However, Justin, thinks I might find a ghost.

John doesn't believe there is anything (anyone) lurking in the dark.

Myth?

I say we call them up!!

When you're snowed in, go to your sunny place...

The snow has arrived here in the Northwest, so what is the best way to just accept winter?  Reminisce about a sunny place!!!  It's hard to believe that just a week ago, I was in warm and sunny Arizona.  Chilly in the morning, but worth sitting out waiting for the sun to come out.  John and I were freezing walking over to the fitness center, but right after our workout, we sat outside and watched the sun come up...priceless.

I have to bring up the food.  We stopped into the Starbucks for the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but debated over where to go to breakfast.  I'll be honest, I am not a fan of the "in hotel" breakfast, unless it's room service.  What's the point?  Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised.  I went straight for the buffet and didn't turn back. 

There were 2 levels of breakfast buffet, my son went with the "everything" buffet, which included everything I had plus a few Mexican favorites like pozole, AND the usual items like, eggs, sausage, bacon.  In addition, you can order anything else you miht want on the menu.  Ty had everything at the buffet and then ordered a Tex-Mex Eggs Benedict and French Toast.  Great Breakfast!

Sunday, Bloody Mary, Sunday

On my last visit to Tucson, my soon to be cousin-in-law, Toby suggest to go to Hotel Congress for Breakfast. Toby's fiance is my cousin Melissa. Melissa & I love to eat. Do I dare trust Toby's judgement and go to Hotel Congress for breakfast?
Well, if I had not gone to Hotel Congress, I would have been VERY SORRY. I think this is my favorite place in Tucson. Very Hip, Cool, and possibly haunted! Hotel Congress just smells of the old Wild, Wild West.

I have to admit, until that morning, I was a little underwhelmed with strip mall after strip mall that Tucson had to offer. I saw chain restaurants that I thought were out of business, but no, they are thriving in Tucson. If my son was not attending University of Arizona, I don't think I'd come back to Tucson. Sorry... I don't mean to be a Seattle snob, but I kept feeling like there was no character in Tucson. Thank you God for Hotel Congress.
As I sat in the lobby, I thought to myself, "I can't wait to come back!!!"



OK, one other cool thing at Hotel Congress, the Lobby Bar. All they make is Bloody Mary drinks. I couldn't wait. So your start with the menu and then the show begins.





I'm not the authority on the Bloody Mary, I'm really more of a Mimosa kind of girl, but a custom made Bloody Mary, now you're talking!

First of all the bartender was only offering vodka, however, I'm allergic to vodka. I asked for gin and the bartender whispered, "I prefer Gin myself". Ah, we speak the same language.

I can't say that the condiments I chose are for everyone, but they sounded good at the time.I'm not saying this was the best Bloody Mary I have ever had, however, this was one of the coolest places I've ordered a Bloody Mary and the bartender was AWESOME!

Battle of the Sonoran Hotdog: El Guero Canelo

So I went there for the Sonoran Dog, so that's what I got. One wierd thing...there was a little condiment cart with "canned" mushrooms, shredded cheddar, and packets of ketchup. There was a sign that said, "For hotdogs only". I didn't get the mushrooms, but ok. OK, here's all the condiments. How do you choose, right? I think I picked 4 things. Don't ask me what anything was, no labels. Mystery, yes, awesome selection , YES!!!

I had a tamarindo drink to go with my YUMMY Sonoran Hot dog. YUMMY!!!

So, who has the better Sonoran Hot Dog. I'll have to come back for another visit to decide.

This was the original "hotdog" cart. Now El Guero Canelo has a nice covered space.

Barrio Brewing Co. ~ A little trip to Tucson, AZ

That's right microbrews in the dessert. Of course, I was totally skeptical. The test is always in the IPA. If it's decent, then they pass. I have to admit...not bad. As a matter of fact, I liked everything about Barrio Brewing Co in Tucson. Great building and cool interior. I wish they was one in Seattle, I'd hang out there all the time.

I had a late lunch before having a late dinner at Barrio Brewing. We started with an order of Beer Sponges, aka big fat pretzels. Hot, salty, chewy...YUM. My son and I split a Ruben Sandwich. It was ok, the marbled rye was good. Could have used a little more meat, but we were at a brewery, so can't complain.

I guess I was so in love with the space, I didn't really care about the food. Make sense?