Restaurants

Variety, they say, is the spice of life, and Tucson certainly dishes up plenty of variety (and spice) when it comes to eating out. Tucson is a city that lives for spice, and in the realm of fiery foods, Mexican reigns supreme. There's historical Mexican at El Charro Café and El Minuto Cafe, nuevo Mexican at Café Poca Cosa and J Bar, and family-style Mexican at Casa Molina. So if you like Mexican food, you'll find plenty of places in Tucson to get all fired up.

On the other hand, if Mexican leaves you cold, don't despair -- there are plenty of other restaurants serving everything from the finest French cuisine to innovative American, Italian, and Southwestern food. The latter is almost as prevalent in Tucson as Mexican food, and you should be sure to dine at a Southwestern restaurant early in your visit. This cuisine can be brilliantly creative, and after trying it, you may want all your meals to be Southwestern.

Foodies fond of the latest culinary trends will find plenty of spots to satisfy their cravings. Concentrations of creative restaurants can be found along East Tanque Verde Road and at foothills resorts and shopping plazas. On the other hand, if you're on a tight dining budget, look for early-bird dinners, which are quite popular with retirees.

Market Timing -- Sunday mornings are a great time to stop by St. Philip's Plaza. No, this isn't a church, it's a shopping center, and on Sunday mornings, there is a wonderful little farmers' market. You can pick up organic bread, prickly-pear cactus juice and jelly, homemade tamales, Mexican cheeses, and plenty of produce. Stock up here and then head to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area for a picnic.

Late-Night Noshing

If the movie didn't let out until 10pm and the popcorn wasn't enough to fill you up, where do you go to satisfy your hunger? Try Kingfisher, 2564 E. Grant Rd. (tel. 520/323-7739), or Pastiche Modern Eatery, 3025 N. Campbell Ave. (tel. 520/325-3333), both of which stay open on Friday and Saturday until midnight.

Bakeries, Cafes & Quick Bites

For the best espresso in Tucson, head to Raging Sage Coffee Roasters, 2458 N. Campbell Ave. (tel. 520/320-5203); prices are high, but the espresso here sure is tasty. The Epic Café, 743 N. Fourth Ave. (tel. 520/624-6844), is a counter-cultural college hangout with colorful artwork, delicious scones, and other light fare. With comfy couches and a place to plug in your laptop, the Coffee X Change, 2443 N. Campbell Ave. (tel. 520/327-6783), makes a good stop between downtown and the foothills. If you're a tea person, be sure to check out Seven Cups, 2516 E. Sixth St. (tel. 520/881-4072; www.sevencups.com), a traditional Chinese tearoom in a hip residential neighborhood near the University of Arizona.

For eight-layer cakes and light food in an edgy atmosphere, I like to buzz over to The Cup Cafe, at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. (tel. 520/798-1618). At La Baguette Bakery, 1797 E. Prince Rd. (tel. 520/322-6297), which is affiliated with Ghini's French Café, you can get all kinds of delicious French pastries. On the east side of the city, check out the sweet treats at Something Sweet Dessert Lounge, 5319 E. Speedway Blvd. (tel. 520/881-7735; www.somethingsweet-dl.com), where "bigger is better" seems to be the order of the day. AJ's Fine Foods, 2805 E. Skyline Dr. (tel. 520/232-6340; www.ajsfinefoods.com), a gourmet supermarket in the shopping center at the northwest corner of Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue, is another good place to grab a pastry. If it's a hot day, head to Frost, A Gelato Shoppe, 7131 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 101 (tel. 520/797-0188; www.frostgelato.com), a great little gelateria in the Casas Adobes shopping center.

When I need a quick lunch, I head for the nearest Baggins Gourmet Sandwiches for a delicious sandwich. Baggins has several locations, three of which are at East Speedway Boulevard and Kolb Road (tel. 520/290-9383), Campbell Avenue and Fort Lowell Road (tel. 520/327-1611), and downtown at Church Avenue and Pennington Street (tel. 520/792-1344). Good pizza can be had at Magpies Gourmet Pizza, downtown at 605 N. Fourth Ave. (tel. 520/628-1661), 4654 E. Speedway Blvd. (tel. 520/795-5977), 105 S. Houghton Rd. (tel. 520/751-9949), 7159 E. Tanque Verde Rd. (tel. 520/546-6526), and 7315 Oracle Rd. (tel. 520/297-2712). Wild Oats Market is a good place to get picnic supplies: organic fruit, delicious baked goods, cheese, meats, and wine. Locations are at 3360 E. Speedway Blvd. (tel. 520/795-9844) and 7133 N. Oracle Rd. (tel. 520/297-5394).