Southwestern and Mexican art and cuisine have established an unusual but delightful rendezvous at a historical ranch in the outback of Aravaipa Canyon in southern Arizona.

At the site of the Holy Joe Ranch, which was, for more than a century, a hangout purely for Herefords and cowpokes, former Scottsdale entrepreneur and culinary guru Carol Steel is putting on seasonal extravaganzas for the senses that she calls mercados.

Her markets, as the word translates from Spanish, are occasional weekend gatherings where better-known artists and artisans from throughout the Southwest present their creations for sale in a decidedly casual desert setting. Wares are displayed on fences, beneath canopies, in wagons, in trees and throughout the massive adobe building that once was ranch headquarters.

Visitors can suffice with simply admiring the goods they see, but dipping into the pocketbook becomes a strong temptation. Items that beg to be taken home include magnificent watercolor paintings of the canyon; marble and metal sculptures (some require a crane to be moved); hand-painted and locally fired tiles and dinnerware; candles; masks, paintings and wrought iron comprising primitive art; and fresh jams and jellies Carol cans herself.

To make what can easily be a half-day shopping cruise even more palatable, Steel offers food with south-of-the-border appeal. Ladies who learned their cooking skills in Mexico serve up homemade red and green corn tamales, tacos, handmade flour tortillas, frijoles, salsa-dripping shrimp hot off the barbie, empanadas (pastry turnovers filled with fruit from Steel’s nearby orchards) and shredded beef burros (the original name for Easternized “burritos”).

Diners can eat what they want, where they want, whether it’s at tables on the ranch patio, or with plate in hand while strolling, or out on colorful serape-covered trestle tables beneath trees by a small pond.

The setting for Steel’s events is no accident. Some years back she left the Valley to buy up some creekside property downstream from the world-famous Aravaipa Canyon wilderness area. From very rustic beginnings, she created five high- class rustic casitas that she now rents out to guests, with the rental price including three gourmet meals a day (Steel’s credits include membership in the Phoenix/Scottsdale Culinary Hall of Fame). The B&B has been written up with high praise in magazines and newspapers around the country.

When nearly 2,000 acres in the Holy Joe Ranch were broken up into parcels for sale, she saw another opportunity. Now the ranch buildings are assuming her bold and brightly painted trademark.

And what the heck? Seems like a great spot for one’s occasional mercado.

Carol Steel’s Aravaipa Canyon mercado

Admission: Entry to the mercado, access to art items and the ranch and creek property is free. Food and drink (bottled water, sodas, Peach Agua Fresca and coffee) are for sale.

Mercado dates: Carol Steel usually holds a spring and winter mercado with a mercado-style fruit festival in between. The next full-bore mercado will be on Nov. 27-28. More information: Call or write Carol Steel at Aravaipa Farms, 89395 E. Aravaipa Road, Winkelman. Her Web site — www.aravaipafarms.com — contains information about both her lodging/dining facilities and mercados.

Getting there: From the Valley, take Highway 60 east to Superior, then head south on Highway 177 to Winkelman. Turn right (south) onto Highway 77 for about 10 miles (highway mile marker 124) and turn left onto Aravaipa Road. Pass a community college on the left and continue for about nine miles, the last half of which are dirt road with a fair amount of curves and climbs. Look for temporary mercado signs and parking near the ranch on the right side of the road. Plan driving time of two-plus hours.