Chef Tyler Fenton, Matt Russell, and Pete Snell

While Bill Buckmaster enjoyed some well-deserved time off to celebrate his wedding anniversary, I had the privilege of returning to his seat as guest host of this edition of the Buckmaster Show!

My celebrity co-host for the hour was Pete Snell, of Arizona Wine Collective, who shared his thoughts on the Arizona wine scene. We also discussed summer wines, and he revealed his personal pick for a refreshing white that works just as well on its own as it does with food – the Picpoul Blanc from Cove Mesa Vineyard in Cottonwood. I put his pick to the test and shared his sentiments about a wine that will absolutely work its way into my seasonal rotation.

We also caught up with Chef Tyler Fenton, who nearly a decade ago opened Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink in downtown Tucson. He gave us a delicious update on the restaurant including some fun things planned for his northwest location which has been open for almost a year. We enjoyed sampling his rigatoni with vodka sauce, basil, and grana which he so kindly plated up for us.

The hottest news came when he shared the latest from BATA, his newest downtown restaurant that’s already been called the “best restaurant in Tucson” in several online reviews. He walked us through the fire, the concept around which the restaurant was built, while explaining flavor layering, fermenting, and his “sourcing ethos” when it comes to produce and proteins. We even enjoyed some sips from a fermentation flight!

This was absolutely the most delicious hour on radio, and you can listen to it in its entirety right here!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:16 — 73.2MB)