fyfas's Profile
Better fajita cart at the Santa Fe Plaza?
First off, I've never had food from either though I have thought about it given the smoky scent. That said, I've heard good things about Roque's and nothing about the other cart.
Solo dining in Santa Fe & Taos
Just a "heads up" re Shibumi Ramenya... it's cash only for some reason.
Zacatecas Tacos and Tequila
Completely agree.
I've been there several times and been very pleased with everything ordered; an excellent addition to the Nob Hill area.
And, tequila lovers, the list is huge !
Santa Fe New Year ?
Desert Rat, note my post re the Plaza Cafe was written in December of 2009; before the fire that caused them to close. (Your note is from 2011.)
Plaza remains closed. Work is being done and the owners swear they will be open sometime in the spring, insurance carriers willing.
Cafe Vingt Cinq, Santa Fe: Outstanding French Bakery and Cafe at...the Outlet Mall?!
So, who has the "best" baguette ? Just my opinion and, as always as the saying goes, your mileage may vary... my vote goes to the baguette from Clafouti.
Texture is a bit more interesting and I detected a bit more flavor. The baguette from Cafe Vingt Cinq is very, very good; just seems a bit simpler.
I've had both - in the interests of science of course - often side by side at home with soups and, overall, I'd be happy with either but would (privately) smile to myself if I saw a Clafouti baguette on the table.
Fwiw, the baguette from Sage Bakehouse, too, is excellent; just different... heavier and denser. Even the baguettes from the local Whole Foods are good but just cannot compare to either those from Cafe Vingt Cinq or Clafouti.
Happy Eating to all this Thanksgiving !
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Clafoutis
402 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Cafe Vingt Cinq
8380 Cerrillos, Santa Fe, NM 87507
Cafe Vingt Cinq, Santa Fe: Outstanding French Bakery and Cafe at...the Outlet Mall?!
Yup ! It's as good as everyone says.
Portions are generous and all of the baked goods are terrific. I'll have to get back in to Clafouti for a baguette before I'll say which I believe is best but that that is served at Cafe Vingt Cinq is really good.
Place was nearly full yesterday at lunch and there were many more people throughout the Mall causing me to think that perhaps this little gem of a place was helping the usually deserted Mall out some.
A definite stop for me when on that side of town.
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Clafoutis
402 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Cafe Vingt Cinq
8380 Cerrillos, Santa Fe, NM 87507
Santa Fe:Plaza Cafe Update
A further update from this morning's Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper re the cafe inside the New Mexico History Museum...
The café in the New Mexico History Museum has reopened.
A Santa Fe catering company, Someone's in the Kitchen, has begun serving light breakfasts and lunches at Cowden Café on the second floor of the downtown museum.
The eatery closed April 1 when its previous operators, the owners of the Plaza Restaurant, decided to focus on repairing their fire-damaged restaurant.
A news release said a request for proposals resulted in a contract for Someone's in the Kitchen through October, giving caterer Richard Derwostyp "an opportunity to see how well his current operation adjusts to the space."
The café, which has free wireless, is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and drinks, cookies and pastries until 4:30 p.m. Diners don't need to pay museum admission.
Santa Fe:Plaza Cafe Update
Walked by there last evening with you and your question in mind.
Absolutely no evidence of work going on inside. The space was rented out to a film crew for a week or so about a month ago.
There have been rumors around town that the place would not reopen. I asked the owners who are ever-present at the southside location and they were adamant that the Plaza location would reopen.
Note, too that they have opened a Cafe inside the New Mexico History Museum just north of the Plaza. It IS accessible from the outside without Museum admission from Washington Street. The Museum hours, however, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. so I think breakfast is less likely.
Such a Thing as Good New Mexican Food in ABQ?
First off, up front, I generally want green, not red. Heat doesn't bother me, in fact the hotter the better but I really don't like the harshness/bitterness you and others below refer to.
So here's a tale... a friend in Albuquerque, Armando, now 70, born and raised in Hatch is very fussy about his chiles. He makes his own sauce from chiles that he roasts that were grown on family land in Hatch. He talks chiles routinely with people he grew up with who are now involved with the programs at New Mexico State University that study historic chiles while studying and developing new New Mexico chiles.
He's my go-to guy when I have a question and he always has an answer. I asked him after last year's harvest (as he gifted me with some home made sauce) why some reds were so bitter.
He cited two things.
First, the use of less fresh, powdered chile. Second (and here was the surprise to me), he said that some people pick over the chiles before roasting, even de-stemming them. Others he said, simply dump the bags (usually about 30 pounds) of picked chiles into a roaster ALONG WITH ALL MANNER OF DEBRIS FROM THE FIELDS, INCLUDING DIRT.
Again let me reiterate, I cannot vouch for this but I also couldn't question it either, never having picked or roasted a chile. It would seem to me that larger, commercial sauce producers would have some washing step prior to roasting but who knows.
Finally just fwiw, the red I like best in ABQ is at Mary and Tito's. Most of the time though, I still ask for green.
Santa Fe Fine Dining that isn't Stuck in the '90s?
Your correct, most of what I've said in the past has been about the top restaurants. It's mostly because often the question being asked has to do with someone celebrating something or wanting a life-altering dining experience. Just trying to be helpful to visitors; The first time I visited, I knew I would live here one day and I'm glad that I do.
When you do live here, many more of the away-from-home meals are NOT high end dining. So I've been to Atrisco several times at the urging of or dragged by serious "foodie" friends (cookbook authors Bill and Cheryl Jamison lobbied hard on behalf of Atrisco's Green Chile Chesseburger as Best-In-The-State for New Mexico magazine). I like the food a lot; a few times service was iffy.
I like both The Shed and La Choza. The Shed is typically filled with people who are visiting while La Choza is where the locals go. I've not had a bad meal at either nor poor service.
I like Castro's on Cerrillos road a lot for New Mexican. At the moment it is probably my favorite New Mexican..
For Mexican, I like Los Petrillos, also on Cerrillos Road, a bit closer to town. About every ten days I must have their Shrimp Tacos (hold the potatoes, bring me extra rice). I don't usually want tacos but these are addictive for me. Their menu offers a wide range of common-people items; many which I've never seen elsewhere.
I'm not a fan of Los Amigos; it's better than Tomasita's though, just not much better.
And finally, I've never heard of Companario but will try it soon.
Love this thread and what you've made it.
Santa Fe Fine Dining that isn't Stuck in the '90s?
I can vouch for Restaurant Martin; up there with the best in the "high end dining" category.
That said, Max's is my current favorite of all. Probably the most innovative cooking in Santa Fe this minute. Note that is quite small, Tables are close and reservations are a must.
As to Epazote, I haven't been though I have heard both good and not-so-good comments. Owner also owns Burt's Burger Bowl, btw. Over the years he has made it a point to not serve New Mexican food but to serve sophisticated Mexican food, usually featuring food from Mexico City particularly.
Santa Fe Fine Dining that isn't Stuck in the '90s?
I posted a lengthy (very positive) note in April; it's now on page 2 here.
I've enjoyed this chef's excellent food for more than 20 years when he had a highly acclaimed restaurant in Southern California. He is a Santa Fe native, come home. In California he was partnered with another New Mexico native who is still a big deal in California, Jonn Sedlar.
I cannot recommend Tabla de Los Santos highly enough.
Santa Fe Fine Dining that isn't Stuck in the '90s?
Never seen the Los Dogos truck open; think it is just parked there. I'm in the nearby movie theatre often so I'm always hoping... really want a Tuscon-type Sonoran Hot Dog.
Santa Fe Fine Dining that isn't Stuck in the '90s?
"Tomasita's is hands down, the beacon for New Mexican food in Santa Fe."
Huh ? Whew ! Sorry. IMO not even a contender.
Tabla de Los Santos in Santa Fe
Last evening, being alone but with a book, I decided to try a "newish" restaurant in Santa Fe within the recently refurbished Hotel St. Francis. The hotel is located diagonally across the street from the well known and well regarded Cafe Pasqual.
The restaurant is called Tabla de Los Santos and I had an excellent meal.
The Executive Chef is Estevan Garcia, a New Mexico native who established himself 20 + years ago when partnered with another chef, John Sedlar in a Manhattan Beach restaurant called St. Estephe. Back then, I ate and entertained often at St Estephe.
While Mark Miller was defining southwestern cuisine at Coyote Cafe here in Santa Fe, Garcia and Sedlar were doing their part in California. All three in there own way brought Southwest food and flavors to serious eaters throughout the west and raised expectations way beyond the then prevalent Mexican restaurants featuring "combination plates".
Time has past, St. Estephe closed; Sedlar remains in southern California with two highly acclaimed restaurants and Garcia is running the show here at the Hotel St. Francis.
Tabla de Los Santos being in a hotel is, of course, competing with the top tier restaurants so often asked about on ChowHound by people who will be visiting and who are seeking a defining experience. (Geronimo, Coyote Cafe, Ristra, Nostrani Ristorante, Bistro 315, Casa Sena, etc.).
I did not order extravagantly or adventurously... I just wanted a competent, good meal... and a few glasses of wine.
I had a plate of three different crostini first, then a salad and a grilled pork chop entree that was -simply - great. I believe the crostini were $9, the salad $8 or $9 and the pork chop $29. These prices, while not inexpensive, are slightly below the typical prices at the restaurants mentioned above.
Below is a link to the Hotel St. Francis website from which one can look over the menus.
I will certainly return to try several of the more traditional, and authentic - if fancy - New Mexican dishes Garcia has put on these menus. I'm told that the new owners of the hotel specifically sought out Garcia to do something atypical of the usual hotel menus. They wanted something more authentically New Mexican.
Passover and the approaching Easter Holidays had the town very busy last night. Tabla de Los Santos was a table or two shy of being full and the adjacent bar and lounge where food can also be ordered was jammed.
http://www.hotelstfrancis.com/santa-fe-restaurants.aspx
A note on the interesting wine list... there are NO American wines on the list but for four made here in New Mexico. That will surprise many and probably frustrate some, too. Every wine is from either Spain, Argentina or Chile... and Italy.
The wines are all good and reasonably well known. Know that wine in New Mexico must be handled by a distributor in order to be served. Restaurants cannot go outside of the distributor system to secures wines they wish to serve just as I as a consumer cannot pay a corkage fee and bring my own bottle into a restaurant to enjoy with someone else's food.
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Cafe Pasqual's
121 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Any good food events or restaurants in Belen, NM?
Follow the link... it's a restaurant but one might call certain menu items an event too.
http://nmgastronome.com/blog/?p=148
Phillippine, Korean or Indonesian Restaurants in ALBUQUERQUE? Dim Sum too?
I'm a big fan of Budai, too but I think that the Dim Sum at Ming Dynasty on Eubank is the best there is in Albuquerque.
Weekends only and it is very crowded.
Here is a link - http://mingdynastyabq.com/
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Ming Dynasty
1551 Eubank Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
Budai
6300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Santa Fe - Where to Eat on a Sunday Night?
Somehow the above posted without the balance of the comment -
The two restaurants are the O'Keeffe Cafe next door to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and Pranzo which is an Italian restaurant in the Railyard District.
Food at both is very good if not quite up to the high standards of, say, Geronimo and others in that top tier. On Sundays both places offer their entire bottled wine list at 50% off.
Santa Fe - Where to Eat on a Sunday Night?
No quarrel with any of these recommendations but two things to note...
Two Santa Fe restaurants with common ownership offer a deeply discounted wine program on Sundays
High Road from Santa Fe to Taos - Any Special Places to Eat?
Rancho de Chimayo is a must stop if you've never been but know if you're taking the "high road", avoid the margaritas. Just my opinion, said knowing I could not eat there without at least a beer (or two).
Sugar Nymphs is excellent but (from my point of view) lacking only in that they do NOT serve beer or wine. Food is too good not to accompany it with an "adult beverage" !
Can't comment on Zuly's in Dixon only because I've never been.
Vietnamese in ABQ?
I'm no expert on Vietnamese food so I'll not make any specific comments. That said, there are many Vietnamese restaurants in Albuquerque; possibly more than any other Asian cuisine.
Read the reviews at this site and do not hesitate to write the owner of the site directly with questions. I can vouch for his expertise and the fairness of his reviews.
http://nmgastronome.com/blog/
Lobster in Santa Fe
Just a minor fwiw... Mark Miller has not been connected to Coyote Cafe for several years.
That said, the food is excellent there with the chef being from Geronimo.
Santa Fe report
Agree with on virtually everything said. Max is the new favorite in town for my household. A few months ago the fall menu had a Pig Three Ways (they called it something much more elegant, fwiw.) that was way beyond the "goodness" suggested by the menu description.
We've not had service problems there and we're often there when the place is operating at capacity (it IS quite small).
Another dish that really blew me away was a Scallop dish with a single ravioli with a foie gras stuffing and a small amount of a broth-like sauce. Flavors were amazing and beautifully complimented the other items on the plate.
Surprised about your statement that Max is a woman... I always thought that Max was a "he". The talent at Max (imo) is the Executive Chef/Partner, Mark Connell.
Over the years many really talented chefs have passed through Santa Fe kitchens before going elsewhere. Author Deborah Madison comes to mind and Boston's Ming Tsai who did time in the SantaCafe kitchen 10+ years ago.
We'll be lucky if we can keep Connell for a few years. He is very big-city (and media) worthy.
Max's website: http://maxssantafe.com/
Santa fe Thanksgiving
Sorry to say Littleman you do NOT want an outdoor patio anywhere in Santa Fe around Thanksgiving. IT'S COLD HERE NOW !
I don't know of a restaurant still serving outside. Daytime temperatures are now low 50's/high 40's with overnight lows at 28. First snow is forecast (albeit light) for tomorrow evening
Santa Cafe - Thoughts?
Ate at both restaurants last weekend with out-of-town visitors; a Saturday lunch at SantaCafe and a Sunday dinner at Geronimo.
Both were as excellent as they've been in the past. Lunch at SantaCafe is a bargain but reliably good. I had the daily "special" omelet. Dinner at Geronimo was pricey (no surprise); ~$300 for four people. One person had a vegetarian entree, two had an elk tenderloin entree and I had a somewhat spicy shrimp dish that is a Geronimo "signature" dish. Worth every penny.
Santa Fe Anniversary Dinner Recommendation
I've also had only good experiences at Terra.
I didn't mention it to this conversation simply because every time I tell people I know how good our experiences have been, I get horror stories in reply. It's really a love-it/hate-it kind of thing that truly puzzles me.
I'd even go so far as to say that it is a tossup as to the very best meal in Santa Fe being either at Terra or Nostrani Ristorante.
Santa fe Thanksgiving
As Erich said it is too soon for there to be any advertising for Thanksgiving.
Know, though, that all of the top-tier, "better" restaurants WILL be open mostly because a holiday weekend brings visitors to town. Some restaurants will have only a special, price fixe menu while others will serve Holiday items in addition to their regular menu.
As to where I go... if I'm not cooking at home (often the case since there are only two of us), I choose Ristra.
Cooking is very good, service is professional and the restaurant feels like being in a home. Restaurant is in a building that once was a residence. It is several smaller rooms rather than a larger, commercial feeling place which, for us, is better on a Holiday. Mostly twos and fours dining; never have seen a table of eight with restless kids. Doesn't mean that the owners would not be willing to accommodate such a party, however. I tend to see people I know at other tables. Last couple of years, the owner of Sage Bakehouse has been at the next table.
My reservation is usually around 5 p.m. and the restaurant is never full to capacity at that hour. Thanksgiving weekend is often when the first snow flurries fall which adds to things.
Santa Fe Anniversary Dinner Recommendation
Note that Cafe Paris no longer has a wine license. Don't know why... might have something to do with a landlord dispute many months ago when it seemed that they were going to close. Even if I'm just having a lunchtime quiche there a glass (or two) of wine is a requirement for me. No buzz in iced tea !
315 Restaurant and Wine Bar that DebitNM mentions above would be the better choice if "bistro ambience" is something specifically desired. Food is very good and the wines available are excellent.
And, finally, add another vote for everything at Nostrani Ristorante (recent name modification). What comes out of the kitchen is among the very best of what's done in Santa Fe. Just be sure that noone wears any fragrance at all as you WILL be turned away at the door.
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Cafe Paris
31 Burro Alley St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
