Years ago, I emceed a few of the Iron Chef Tucson events. That's not part of my job anymore, so this year I went and shot some photos.
The original events were at Desert Diamond Casino, then it moved to Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, and now it's at the Westin La Paloma Resort. The daytime event features a "Culinary Experience" with food sampling from various Tucson restaurants, beer and spirit tastings and classes, and the evening event includes the Iron Chef Tucson competition.
I didn't attend the competition portion, but it featured Travis Peters of The Parish restaurant vs. Michael Elefante of Mama Louisa's. The secret ingredient this year was peaches. Travis emerged victorious in the competition.
Here's some of the photos I shot including the Morning Blend's Tina Jennings:
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| Food sampling at the Iron Chef Tucson Culinary Experience |
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| I shot a picture of Smokey Rivers shooting a Facebook Live |
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| Discussing Blue Bell ice cream |
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| Food sampling |
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| Food sampling, another view |
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| Tina, April, Jesse |
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| Jesse walks and eats, Tina and Robert stand and eat |
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| Tina in front of the KGUN selfie weather wall |
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| Lining up at the KGUN tent |
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At the KGUN tent, Robert shoots a photo of
Jesse and Tina in front of the weather wall
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| Jesse and Tina |
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| Interns working the event |
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| Souscurity! |
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| Bar area at the Westin La Paloma |
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| Pool area at the Westin La Paloma |
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Tina assists former Iron Chef Tucson champion Ryan Clark
with his demonstration preparing ahi tuna
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| Ryan talks tuna |
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| These folks get info on wine |
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| Four Peaks craft beer room |
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| Spirits sampling all day |
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| Lining up to try some spirits |
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| BBQ 101 |
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| "The King" of BBQs, may or may not look like an Elvis ripoff |
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| I'm not allowed in here because I have no class |
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Back to the tuna, after watching the demonstration
everyone in the audience forms a line to try a sample
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| You can tuna piano, but you can't tuna fish |
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Iron Chef Tucson 2017.
It's delicious.
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