Medusa Kabob House is open and serving some delicious meat on a stick at the old Casbah Tea House location at 628 N. Fourth Ave. Gone is the old tent room out back, but a nice dining room is shaping up in its place. Seating is limited to the front room for now, where the walls have been repainted red and white and decorated with a few paintings. On the menu: falafel, hummus, wraps and kabob plates brimming with lightly seasoned meats, fluffy rice and luscious slabs of grilled tomatoes. Owner and general manager Ashur Davoudikia says the current hours are 1 to 9 p.m., daily, but Medusa stays open as long as there are customers; 647-2333.
Ramiro Scavo has given us an update on his new Pasco Kitchen and Lounge, going in at the old Café Paraiso location at 820 E. University Blvd. Scavo says he's installing a rooftop garden to grow some of the items he'll use, and that he may offer rooftop seating as well. Scavo is working closely with River Road Gardens at the Tucson Waldorf School and Walking J Ranch in Arivaca to ensure the meat and produce come from as close to home as possible. As for the food: "We're going to show people that eating local and organic doesn't mean you need to be on a diet or go out of your comfort zone." Pasco is expected to open in February.
It's that wonderful time of year when an abundance of local citrus fruit, sweet and sour, becomes available at local farmers' markets. The Tucson Farmers' Market at Jesse Owens Park (400 S. Sarnoff Drive; 918-9811) celebrates the season with information from Chris Duggan of Desert Treasures Grove—reportedly the only remaining orange grove in Tucson—and citrus-laden marmalades, marinades, teas and more, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 21. A similar event takes place at the Oro Valley Farmers' Market (11000 N. La Cañada Drive; 882-2157) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 22.
If veganism is your thing, you'll want to check out the new Tucson-based website VeganSource.net. It's a one-stop shopping center for all things vegan—including recipes, resources and links to other helpful sites. It's also a great place to connect with others interested in the veggies-only lifestyle.