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Lunch Stop in the City Don and I were passing through Albuquerque in June of 2023.  I searched the map for a restaurant not far from our route. Cecilia's promised to serve up authentic New Mexican cuisine. I called to make sure they were open and was told, "We're open, but we close at 1:00." Odd closing time! Sweet Exterior We arrived at 12:30 and parked near the inviting cafe entrance. White stucco, red awnings and Madonna in the window. I hoped she would keep our car safe.  Always a risk parking in unknown areas, when on a roadtrip with a car full of stuff. More Madonna & Balloons If the Madonna under the awning couldn't protect, maybe the one painted in the alcove could.  I had to stop and admire the window beneath the other awning. Oh how I've always wanted to attend Albuquerque's annual Balloon Festival! City Corner Before we stepped inside, I had to marvel that we'd found ourselves at a homey cafe, near downtown Albuquerque.  The white 2-story building on the corner of Silver and 6th, was dwarfed by the taller city buildings. Evidently this was built as a house, over 100 years ago. Cozy Cluttered We climbed a couple of steps and opened the screen door. What a surprise! The little space was packed with decorative goodies and quite a few diners.  A young guy looked up when we entered. He nodded and gestured towards an available booth. Holy Treasures We sat across from a very decorated corner. I spotted St. Frances and a few more Madonnas.  Two cherubs and a Jesus figure in a clock, beside a ceramic Christmas tree. Guy Another corner made me grin a bit.  Guy Fieri and his signature smile and sunglasses, looked down from a signed poster. Cecilia's was featured on his show in 2009. Studying The young man brought menus. I studied the walls more than I did the menu.  The wooden sign gave us a heads up about Great food & atmasphere. I noticed the red and green chilis, beside the words, "unpredictable chile fix". Awards I noticed a lot of Christmas decor. A Christmas tree here, a wreath there...  ... a manger display. And lots of awards. "Best Downtown House Turned Restaurant" That's an interesting award. Made me wonder how many house turned restaurants there are in Albuquerque? Our View I liked our booth, with a view of the dining room. We could see the the exposed brick around a window. I tried to imagine the old brick house, beneath the white stucco.  I could see 3 in the kitchen rushing about. The woman in the red shirt appeared stressed. I guessed she was the one on the phone who wanted me to know they'd be closing that day at 1. San Pascual Arrived 1999 There was a lot of wall decor near the opening to the kitchen. The most curious piece of art, was a crude little painting of a man in a monk's robe, holding a spoon.
The image was of San Pascual, the patron saint of cooks and kitchens. I learned later, that the mysterious little painted board was found on the cafe's stoop, on the first day that Cecilia's opened, in 1999. Fireman's 10 Pound Burrito! Before deciding on our order, we took a moment to ponder the Fireman's Burrito option. Sadly, we did not hear the bell ring during our visit.  The busy woman in the red shirt came to take our order. I didn't attempt to chuckle about the 10-pound burrito. Her focus seemed to be everywhere but our table, as she waited to hear our order. I asked which was hotter, red or green sauce? I got a quick answer. "Both." Tamales Don attempted to order chicken tamales but was told they only had pork.  He was fine with pork tamales. Sadly he was not fine with the heat. He's become less tolerant of hot spicy foods over the years, but usually he can attempt more than 1 bite. He played it safe (traveling!) and just ate his beans and rice. He raved about the beans, though. Stuffed Sopaipilla I was pretty excited about my fry bread, stuffed with beans, beef, cheese, onions and lettuce. My meal was hot as well, but such flavors!  Don was able eat a little of mine. I offered up my beans and rice to him. We actually were both satisfied.  As we worked on our food, the last customers sat down. Just before the Closed sign went in the door. We overheard the woman in red telling them that it had been a rough day. A pipe broke and the bathroom was closed. Yikes. Meeting Cecilia I had not expected to have a chat with the woman in red. But after she took the last order, a weight seemed to lift. She came over and apologized for being so rushed. She seemed so pleased that we'd enjoyed her food. (I couldn't bring myself to tell her it was too hot for Don)  I asked if she was by any chance The Cecilia, of Cecilia's. She laughed that she was. We asked about her experience with Guy Fieri and she shook her head. "Whew! Our business was crazy after that! There were lines down the sidewalk." She talked about the struggles after the pandemic. "We can't get people to work," She looked at the now half empty dining room and said business was so much slower now. A Good Visit Even with spicy food and no bathroom options, we were glad we'd had a visit to the little cafe. It was a treat absorbing the atmosphere, with Cecilia's precious collections.  I wish we could go back and enjoy another meal. Cecilia might be able to suggest a milder dish for Don. But sadly, I looked up Cecilia's today. It looks like the cafe closed its doors, October 2024. Too many struggles, trying to keep the business running, since the pandemic. Sad.
But, I read that Cecilia may have a food truck somewhere! Maybe there will be a next time!
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Dining With Fast Food Aliens The majority of Dining Adventures in this blog, spotlight places Don and I discovered while traveling. Fast food places are way too predictable, so we've avoided them... until recently.  We were lured by Aliens in Roswell, New Mexico. We had to stop!  We stopped at not ONE, but TWO junk food chains! Breakfast Stop at McDonald's Over the years, we've spotted the golden arches in a few faraway places, like Paris and China. But recently we made a stop at a location, that was totally out of this world!  At least the building looked like it had come from outer space. The location in Roswell, is actually about 2 hours from the spot where a UFO (supposedly) landed in 1947! You know you're in Roswell, when you see street lamps with alien eyes! Flying Saucer Shape The McDonald's chain doesn't really do themes much. So it was kind of fun to make a stop at this mod structure to see what it was all about.  I'm not really sure how they came up with this design. The space ship shape was sort of hidden by the enormous glassed in play area. It looked a bit more like Houston's Space Center, than a McDonald's. Although I doubt there are aliens lurking near the Houston museum! Glowing! I snatched this photo from Google Maps so I could be reminded of what we missed, visiting during the day.  In the morning when we arrived, the shiny surfaces were reflecting sunlight. If we'd been traveling through at night, we could have enjoyed the changing colors outlining the building! Morning! But our 9:30 am visit was a treat just the same.  Look at the silver Alien overseeing the drive-thru line. He looks like he could use a few Big Macs. Glowing Aliens We stepped inside and I spotted a neon Alien near the food counter.   The floor was also glowing with some changing images that involved the Alien theme. What Part of the Galaxy are We From? After getting our food, we paused to donate a dollar.  The clever collection box made the act of donating to the Ronald McDonald House, very entertaining.  Well, sort of entertaining. The "galaxy locations" weren't all that creative. We just chose the state we're from and added a buck. The Kiddie Spaceship I don't believe I've ever taken a seat in the Kid Zone area, when I didn't have kids with me.  But we were all about the theme. We headed into the interior of the big spaceship, where the theme was happening. Astronauts We didn't dine with any aliens in the spaceship, but Ronald McDonald was suited up in his astronaut suit.
I had to look up the purple character in the Coke can. Grimace seemed to have his own spacesuit as well. Sharing With Friends On our way out, Don and I took turns posing with our Alien Friends.
I shared a Biscuit Sandwich with the weariest of the 2. Across the Street We headed towards the car, but I was quickly drawn to an even bigger Alien across the street.  Something tells me I'm not the first to pose with the Green Giant Alien. Quick Peek I didn't feel like I could travel on, without at least looking inside.
I wasn't totally impressed with the inside decor. Just a handful of inflatable aliens. Then I spotted some green donuts! Dessert! I don't often need to have dessert at breakfast, but my alien donut did the trick!  Green icing and green filling! Probably green teeth after I ate it! It tasted fine, but I'm not giving big bonus points for that alien drawing!
Bottom Line: McDonald's wins the prize for Best Alien Themed Dining Adventure! Tucumcari Ranch Supply When Don and I travel, we're always game for odd and curious lunch stops. But we weren't just trying to please ourselves, when chose Watson's BBQ while on the road in New Mexico.  There were lots of words surrounding the cement block building, when we pulled up. "Where you get your butts rubbed and your pork pulled" Hmmm? With Family on Route 66 When we reached Tucumcari, we'd been on the road (in 2 cars) for 11 days, with our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. Heidi and Jamie were excited about this cross country trip to their new home in Texas. But they were tired of making decisions.
They asked Don and me to plan the route and stops. Heidi said, "We want to travel like you guys. Take us where you'd go." So we took them to Tucumcari, on old Route 66. We turned off the Mother Road and found Watson's, a block away. All Good I'm not usually intimidated by signs with jumbled letters and questionable humor. But we were all weary travelers and we had a 2-year-old with us.  Don and I arrived first, so I ran inside to check the place out. I headed in, then popped out the side door (where a kitty cat greeted) and raced to the parking with my announcement. "Looks fun! Let's do it!" Charlie is Game Charlie wasn't at all intimidated by the appearance of the old Ranch Supply Store. She led the way to the door and paused to check out some of the cow figures.
Charlie approved. She would have been even more enthused, if she could have read that sign for "Cowtown Donuts".  cCharlie was also not a bit threatened by the golden bear, near a few dining tables. Those teeth and claws look pretty intense, but maybe she found courage by clutching her Baby Yoda and clamping down on her Paci. So Much to See There was so much fun stuff packed into that old building! I loved the music corner. There was even a sign inviting "Me" to play and a church pew for the audience!  Of all the signs at Watson's, I liked the one on the piano best. I wasn't really tempted to play, but I appreciated the invite! There could have just as easily been a sign saying, "Do Not Play". Since 1982 The piano wasn't for sale, but there was plenty to buy at Watson's Ranch Supply Store. It reminded me of a country general store, with everything from feed to western shirts.  It was nice to know we could stop, eat and shop at this Mom and Pop operation. Owners Johnny and Stella Watson, were busy at work when we entered. They first opened their store in 1982. The bbq (and donuts) came along later. Not For Sale There was plenty of stuff that wasn't for sale. A few displayed dolls and lots of license plates!  A trip to the restroom gave me a peek at a work space, that seemed to involve present wrapping. I think?  Some furry paws looked ready to pounce from above. BBQ in Back In the back corner of the store, we found the order window. surrounded by (once again) more signs and words!  The word WELCOME was the most noticeable of all the words. If we'd taken a seat at the cozy booth beneath the gun, we could have added names to the wall.  Actually, I doubt there was room for one more name. Food Options We studied the chalkboard for a bit.  There was also a display of food pictures, that showed even more options.  Along with BBQ pics, I spotted some donuts and some people. The crew that smokes the meat? Stella We were narrowing down food decisions, when Stella's head suddenly appeared in the window. She apologized for her brief disappearance. She'd been working the cash register in the store.
Stella asked if it was our first time, then happily gave us the lowdown. Time to Eat! The long table right in front of the window was open. We took seats and moments later, Johnny appeared with our food. Quick!  Johnny handed over our heavy plates, along with apologies. "Sorry about the heat in here. We're having some problems with our air-conditioner." We assured him we were fine. And we were. We weren't running around serving customers. Where's the Beef? What was I thinking when I snapped this food photo, with no meat in sight? You can see the big sugar cookie, slaw, macaroni salad and sauces.  Don ordered 2 meats, brisket and pulled pork. But his meat was hidden in foil, beneath his bread! Top 50 BBQ List! I don't have close up photos of the brisket or pulled port, but the mesquite smoked meat was pretty amazing.  Heidi and Jamie were especially impressed. They'd been excited about moving back to Texas, where they could once again enjoy amazing BBQ. But here we were eating mouthwatering BBQ at a Ranch store in New Mexico! Turns out Watson's BBQ is well known. It was ranked 35th (by Yelp) out of the top 50 BBQ places in the U.S.! First Brisket There were a lot of firsts for this 2-year-old on our road trip. Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, first ice cream cone even.  This was Charlie's first brisket and she approved. She especially liked the sauce. Good Folks As we ate our road trip dining feast, I absorbed some more of the nearby wall decor. I'm not sure about Bob, but I'm guessing he was a well-loved local, who possibly shared words of wisdom now and then.  I also absorbed a few nearby conversations. The Watsons may have been rushing to help with food orders and merchandise sales, but they managed to chat with customers, as if they had all the time in the world. It was clear that locals and travelers were welcomed with warmth and respect. What lovely people. Out Back After finishing up, I had to at least take a peek at the "dining yard" before we got on the road.  I was amused by all the rusty collections.  I could picture a group of Route 66 motorcycle riders, making use of the red picnic tables.  I wondered about the decorated wagon. Maybe used in an annual parade?  Cattle pens? Was that another whimsical sign, or do they sell pens for cattle? It's a ranch store after all.  I didn't peek in the outhouse to see if it was real.  I was so amused by the fun clutter that I forgot to even look to see where the meat smoking occurred! I did see some kind of grain dispenser that was not a decoration.  By the time I dashed around to the front parking lot, Charlie was ready to sit down and have another meal. She eventually said good-bye to the cows and we were off!  We headed back on the road feeling full and satisfied.
Nothing better than sharing a memorable dining adventure with family, while on the road! Chama, New Mexico There wasn't much going on in the town of Chama, when we passed through in July.  We were lucky to find this cute log restaurant, painted barn red! It was time for lunch! Knotty Pine I love the nostalgia of knotty pine! There was a lot of it, on the walls and ceiling.  The metal chairs looked cute in the little cafe, but after driving half a day, I would have preferred comfier seats. Comfy-Breezy! The air felt wonderful though! The windows were open and the lacy-fringed curtains moved with the breeze. I felt at home.
There was some interesting decor. A ceiling fan with horns and lots of heavenly metal art, on the walls. Under the Clock We took a seat next to the partition, beneath a large clock. We were near the counter, where we could witness lots of playful banter. A waitress chatted with some local diners as they checked out. She had some humorous complaints about achy feet.
I expected a paper menu at this casual restaurant, but Natasha greeted us with a smile and a big hefty menu. It was decorated with elk horns! Quick Order The options looked good and the prices were reasonable. We ordered right away.  Don's impressive chicken quesadilla plate, was only $10. There was a generous amount of meat packed into each quarter and lots of extra goodie on the side, for adding more flavor! 5-Dollar Salad We like to support small town cafes, when we travel. But, my road trip clothes were getting tight. I reminded myself there was no need to apologize for my choice, but I still felt guilty ordering the 5-dollar salad.  Ordering small salads in small town cafes, often means iceberg and bottled dressing. But I lucked out! Fresh mixed greens, red onion, mushrooms, crispy and colorful peppers, cheese & tomatoes! All served on a sleek, modern plate. What an unexpected and filling surprise! Don and Barbara After finishing our quick feast, Don checked out with Barbara at the counter. Barbara's mask did not hide her warmth and enthusiasm. She and Don talked a long while about Barbara's memories of Elk Horn. She talked about growing up in Chama, a town of around 1,000. She hinted about "wilder" days, when snowmobiles were more popular. I'm not sure what that meant exactly.  Barbara told Don that the restaurant had originally been a house and then it became a tackle shop. At some point, (I'm guessing 1950's) the property was owned along with nearby cabins, lodge and gift shop. Growing up in the Restaurant Barbara said it was 28 years ago, when the property owner leased the building to her mom. Their restaurant opened up 5 days before Barbara's 10th birthday.  Barbara grew up around the restaurant and now her own daughter is old enough to work on weekends. She said it was a good town for raising her 2 kids. Owner "Don" It turns out that we had been seated at the very table where the previous owner Don, dined daily for years.  Barbara said that Don used to come into the restaurant once a day for breakfast. He would order one pancake and a small milk. "Don't you dare try to give him a large milk!" Barbara added with a laugh. "You don't want to do that!" Old Lodge Barbara said her mother eventually bought the restaurant, but not the cabins or lodge.  She said the lodge was recently purchased and was being fixed up. We took a peek after we departed. Who knows? Maybe we'll be back for an overnight, someday. I can include a Notable Night write up as well! Next Time What a perfectly satisfying stop on our travels. Good food and equally good conversation.  If we return in a couple years, I'll have more questions for Barbara. "What foods are as popular today, as 30 years ago?" "What was the best thing about Elk Horn that you remember, from when you were 10 year?" I could go on and on.
A sweet place! One Hour in Santa Fe In June, (2022) Don and I spent about an hour in Santa Fe.
We spent it, dining in The Pantry Restaurant on Cerrillos Road. Road Closures We were headed to Colorado and had hoped to stop for a leisurely lunch in the beautiful town of Santa Fe.  But there were fires and those fires changed our route. This photo was taken before we were in the midst of a huge traffic jam. Views From the Car We were rerouted on a strange drive, that seemed sort of curious and entertaining.
But our snaking route ate up time. There wasn't time for a proper visit to Santa Fe. On Route 66 But we still needed lunch. I Googled and found a place that was actually in Santa Fe, but far from Old Town. This little stucco building was once on the outskirts of town, on the old Mother Road.  That was intriguing enough. But the restaurant had great reviews and they offered easy free parking in the lot. Since 1948 We entered through a door that looked like it could have been original. George Myers opened The Pantry in 1948.
The stools looked like they could have been original also. I love dining at a counter! In the Corner But we took a corner table in the front room, where we had a good view of the guests coming and going. There was lots of activity.  We were seated by friendly staff and given menus right away. Nearby Tables I tired to study the menu, but my eyes were drawn to the tables around me. I liked the quilted art piece above the table behind Don. Below the framed piece, a fireplace was hidden. Did that warm the restaurant in 1948?
I studied the old casement windows nearby. The ladies sitting next to them had a nice view of the old Rt 66. However they seemed unaware of the world outside their table. One of the two was a talker. She hardly paused to taste her food. I was amused. Busy-Happy Place Don and I placed our order and enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere. There must have been 20 employees, wearing colorful Pantry t-shirts.  There was a cooperative, pitch in feel to the place. Lots of staff moving about, serving, clearing, chatting, joking. No one stood still for more than a moment and no one seemed stressed. My favorite kind of place. Food! Our meals arrived on colorful southwestern plates. Don ordered 2 fish tacos, well-stuffed with fish and fresh avocado. No complaints!  I'm not sure what possessed me to order a Greek Salad. But I'm glad that I did.  My hefty salad with crispy cucumbers, Kawamata olives, feta cheese and fresh greens, would have been much more than $10.75, if we'd been dining in the touristy part of Santa Fe. A Lull It was 2:30 by the time we finished up. Most of the tables had cleared and some of the staff was freed up for a bit.  I chatted with this friendly bunch for a few minutes. They saw me taking photos and figured I was curious about the place. Money One pointed out a silver dollar embedded in the counter. I was confused about her story. I'm thinking there was once another coin, in the nearby hole. It looks like someone needed more money to cover the bill and grabbed a dinner knife...
Another one of the girls took me over to the little open nook, with the cash register. She pointed to a display of origami dollars on the wall. Her favorite was the elephant. Cute! Then and Now We left full and happy. I wish we'd learned more about this wonderful 74 year old business. George Myers obviously did something right, when he started up, 74 years ago.  I read that George's son Max, has partnered with the current owners of The Pantry, to open up a new location. I love that. Old Signs We pulled out of the lot and I took one last look at the blue and yellow sign. I pictured a 1950 Chevy traveling on Route 66, slowing down to take a look at the neon letters.
As we continued down Cerrillos Road, I spotted more signs. I was reminded of a time when travelers in New Mexico stayed in motor courts, not boutique hotels and Airbnbs. I hope to someday and spend a night in one. In the morning, we can head over to The Pantry for breakfast!
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
April 2025
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