Double Birthday Shout-Out

We had two very special birthdays last week at the Liz. One hundred years ago this Valentine's day... Arizona was born into the union!! Funny though, our beautiful state is a baby compared to the age of the Liz (est. 1878). And MUCH (much much) less than 100 years ago on February 14th, our lovely co-owner/mother-extraordinaire came to be as well.

And with a cake fit (and large enough) for the 6th largest state, we celebrated. A special thanks to Austin Rose on the precise sprinkle placement.

Hiker Heaven

While the the Liz sports a prime downtown location, Tucson itself is nestled in a valley and has access to desert hikes in every direction. Easy strolls to strenuous climbs, 1 hour loops or an 8 mile excursion to hidden mountain pools, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Check out a local trail guide here and don't forget to pack plenty of water!

a home away from home

We had a great Superbowl party on Sunday! A rarity, the Liz broke away from our usually healthy and light affair and brought out the chicken wings and nachos for this one. Eloise, Lina, Jens, and Donna kicked back in our "cinema room" for the event. So much fun! And we all agree: Madonna brought the house down. What did you think?

Why our guests LOVE us

"Berry buried" French Toast w/ Chicken and apple sausage

...and on her maiden voyage: Roasted Comice pears on a bed of herbed ricotta, drizzled with local Sonoran honey and candied pecans

Arizona represents with it's prized citrus! Here is a broiled ruby red grapefruit, topped with caramelized sugar mixed with vanilla and crystallized ginger

Culinary Enchantments

Happy New Year! So far, 2012 has graced Tucson with it's lavish winter weather and the Liz is once again full of happy guests. This morning as the sun crept over the mountains and light trickled into the main hall, the crystal flutes sparkled at the breakfast table set for 10, beckoning our early rising guests to another fabulous meal. Today's breakfast was a sight to behold, as Owner/Chef Eric starts his presentation off with a pitcher of apple, kiwi, and orange juice and immediately follows with our first course: blueberry and lavender soup with a dash of local agave nectar. Cue the "ooo's" and "ahhh's".

For the main dish, the guests are treated to an asparagus and goat cheese frittata, rosemary roasted red potatoes, and the ripest of tomatoes (one can get outside of Italy) lightly dressed in olive oil and fresh basil. Smiles abound, the composed plates are admired and attended to.

The Gem Show has arrived to Tucson. 58 years running, the show is the largest of it's kind in the country and open to the public. Buyers and vendors arrive from all corners of the globe for this truly awesome event and the Liz is so happy to host and welcome back our long-time Gem Show guests. Graced with the historic beauty of the Bed and Breakfast, the gracious caretakers Eric and BJ, their delicious food, and our splendid international guests, February is a joyous month for the Royal Elizabeth.

The Liz and downtown Tucson are on the precipice of something remarkable, a food renaissance. We are happy to welcome two new farmer's markets to the downtown area along with many other new restaurants, bistros, breweries, and even a fledgling food cart scene! Please stay tuned for more culinary delights that we'll add to our repertoire and don't forget to check us out at www.royalelizabeth.com or on TripAdvisor!.