Tucson, AZ

Dressing up in Tucson isn’t exactly like dressing up in other places; the heat almost requires being much more laid back, making what might be ‘formal’ in other regions comfortable and casual, especially with the humidity of the monsoon. That doesn’t mean that looking good is out of style, though, as we found in experiencing a wine tasting and restaurant that characterized perfectly Tucson’s chic and casual side, at Vin Tabla and Zona 78.

Vin Tabla wasn’t too far away from where my roommate and I live, near the University of Arizona, about ten minutes going right up N Campbell Ave to E Skyline Dr. Located in the Plaza Colonial across from La Encantada mall, it’s easy to find on the eastern side of the complex (look for an entrance with cacti, twinkle lights and the smell of wood stoves), but if you’ve got some time, a stroll through the courtyards nearby is also nice.

:

We were greeted at the door by the pleasant gentleman in charge, who took our $10 and gave us glasses with a quick explanation of the goings on. The wines on that particular night were from the central coast of California, the region made famous in the movie Sideways. There were three stations spread throughout the intimately lit restaurant for sampling, which we found to be a great idea – it nixed having to deal with the line at a usual tasting (especially with the tables and people making it just a little crowded), and also got us moving, which was great for people-watching.

The wines were pretty good (though we liked the couple whites we started with best), and we enjoyed circling between the stations and picking up bits of information as to why they tasted as they did, and other trivia. A real highlight of this wine tasting, though, was actually the tiny hors-d’oeuvres that were repeatedly set out for the wine tasting. I say repeatedly because of how quickly they were gone each time. At times we actually had a little trouble figuring out what was on each cracker – my favorite that we eventually figured out seemed to be a pulled pork with a sweet glaze – but in any case, they were delicious and really set Vin Tabla apart in our minds.

:

For the sake of variety in the night, we set out for Zona 78 to meet some friends for dinner, around the end of the tasting (it was run from 5-7 PM). The drive down N Campbell Ave is a curving stretch of amazing views of Tucson, which on that particular night meant swathes of rain and monsoon lightning, and as dusk fell the beginnings of Tucson’s sparkling valley.

Where Vin Tabla was dark woods and dusky lights, Zona 78 provided us a kind of comfort from the storm that hit as we arrived with its cozy stone brick decor and warmly smiling staff. It was busy enough on a Friday evening that there was a bit of a wait, but we were easily mollified by the free pizza appetizer that was set out for us. The restaurant has a mostly Italian leaning menu, and most of our friends enjoyed pastas and the like, but I have to say, I couldn’t help but jump at a chance to have some trout, and it was perfectly cooked in Dijon lemon butter, with a tasty crispy skin. We were definitely on a roll food-wise that night.

To me, these two restaurants are perfect examples Tucson’s style of going out – relaxed, fun, and classy.