Constantino Nuzzo didn’t grow up under Tucson’s wide desert skies—but they’ve shaped the life he’s built here. Born and raised mostly in Phoenix, with formative years split between California and Corfu, Greece, he arrived in Tucson in 1994 to go to The University of Arizona. What he found was something much bigger than an education: his wife of more than20 years.
A “lifetime ago,” he worked as an actor and stuntman at Old Tucson. More recently, his performances have spanned the Nightfall Comedy Show at Old Tucson, productions with the Oro Valley Theater Company, and his current role with Borderlands Theater Company in Blame of Thrones: A Chicano Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.
Words by Stacey Gregory
Photos by Adelyn Baber
Nearly as important as acting is his love of cooking, one he shares on his YouTube channel, Cook Like a Greek. Beyond the shows, he values most time spent laughing with his wife and kids, and the city where he lives, a place he’s proud to show off.
CONSTANTINO’S TASTES OF TUCSON
As a chef, food is personal for Constantino. At the top of his list is Guadalajara Grill, a place with a lively atmosphere (they make salsa table-side and often have a Mariachi band) and classic Sonoran flavors. His next spot is one of Tucson’s most iconic Mexican restaurants, El Charro del Rey, with its deep culinary roots that put traditional Tucson on a plate. For a modern take on tacos, Boca Tacos y Tequila on Fourth Avenue blends innovative cooking with flavors that define the region.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
Old Tucson is an obvious stop for Constantino—and not just because of his personal connection. It’s a living reminder
of the region’s role in shaping Western film and television, and a place where the past feels surprisingly present.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is another essential experience. Part zoo, part botanical garden, part natural history museum, it offers a
deeper understanding of the Sonoran Desert and the life it supports. Then there’s Mount Lemmon, where the desert floor gives way to pine forests and cooler air. It’s a dramatic shift in scenery that surprises many visitors.
There is one place he insists you shouldn’t skip, and that’s Fourth Avenue. Local shops, independent restaurants, street musicians, and a sense of creative energy come together here. It’s not polished or packaged—and that’s exactly the way he likes it.
“Fourth Avenue represents theTucson I love the most. It’s lived-in, welcoming, and full of character,”he said.