Inaugural Giving Circle
The Kitchen
Table
Tucson City of Gastronomy
Tucson holds the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation in the United States. The organization that keeps it — that meets the international obligations, runs the programs, documents the food traditions, and makes sure the designation does something real for this city — operates with a staff of two.
The Kitchen Table exists because that math doesn't add up without a community of people who decide it matters.
The Kitchen Table is the inaugural giving circle for the Tucson City of Gastronomy. Your $1,500 annual membership ($1,200 tax-deductible) directly funds programs like the Resilience Kitchen, Pueblos Del Maíz, and our growing network of Chef Ambassadors.
In return, you'll be welcomed to the table with exclusive experiences, including a private dinner with Chef Janos Wilder and opportunities to connect with Tucson's culinary leaders.
Programs You Make Possible
Your membership directly supports the programs that tell Tucson's remarkable food story and maintain our UNESCO designation — work made possible by a team of just two dedicated staff members.
Resilience Kitchen
Records the techniques and recipes of home cooks, Indigenous farmers, and culture bearers. Their knowledge of desert ingredients and traditional preparations lives in their hands and memories, not in any cookbook, and needs to be preserved for future generations.
Chef Ambassadors
Supporting local chefs as they carry Tucson's culinary story to the global stage, representing our city's extraordinary food heritage in venues around the world.
Pueblos Del Maíz
An annual celebration drawing thousands to honor the ancient foodways of our region — a living testament to the traditions that earned Tucson its UNESCO designation.
…and more to come
Founding Kitchen Table members help shape what comes next, with first access to new programs and events as we grow.
Your Seat at the Table
Exclusive Dinner at Studio Janos
An intimate multi-course dining experience prepared by Chef Janos Wilder himself, with wine pairings and conversation among fellow members.
Connect with Chef Ambassadors
Opportunities to meet and engage with Tucson's celebrated Chef Ambassadors who represent our city's culinary excellence worldwide.
VIP Event Access
First word on TCOG events and programs, plus discounted VIP tickets to signature experiences throughout the year.
Join The Kitchen Table
Your gift fuels the work of TCOG and secures your place among the founding members of The Kitchen Table.
Become a Founding Member