Category: 0 New Mexico

La Placita, in Albuquerque

5/25/2016

Food, History and a Fun People Encounter!

In the heart of Albuquerque's historic Old Town, sits a sweet little house with a bunch of dining rooms. Don and I visited last September and had a fine time!

The Cookbook Link

Once again, we came across a dining option by browsing through one of our vintage Ford Treasury cookbooks. This one from 1950, features cafes and dining rooms (with recipes) from 48 states.

On our 4-week road trip last fall, we made sure to pack all 4 books. It's always an adventure, tracking down a featured eatery that still exists!

Dating Back to the 1700's

The restaurant in our book was housed in what was once a hacienda belonging to Don Manuel Armijo and his family. The rambling, Pueblo-Spanish style building sits across from the Plaza that was once the bustling center of life in the 1700's.

1935

This is how the casa looked in 1935, long after the Armijo Family left. The second story was evidently added to the structure around 1872, when one of the daughters got married and needed a dramatic stairway.

Under the Portal

When we arrived last fall, the long portal was offering shade for the Native American vendors selling their crafts. We took a peek, but moved towards the door near the corner... hungry for lunch.

Memorable Features

The building was divided into 6 dining rooms, with hints of what the old home must have been like. I took a good look at the classic stairway that was imported from Spain, after the second floor was added. This allowed the young bride an impressive way to show off her 30-foot wedding train.

I asked if we could be seated in the dining room with the tree, since I'd seen it in the almost cartoonish cookbook illustration. The tree room had once been the courtyard. It was enclosed with a skylight back in the thirties when La Placita opened.

Windows and Doors

Our young waiter, Matt was happy to seat us at a table on the raised terrance beside the tree. The nearby window once gave a peek inside the house. Now the glass was covered in painted flower designs. The doorway into the next dining room revealed the 4-inch thick walls. I wonder how many coats of paint have gone on that wood trim.

Menu and Book

I loved the vintage photos on the menu. It could have been the same menu cover given to the writer/ illustrator who visited the restaurant over 65 years ago, for the Ford cookbook. The book's recipe for Sopapillas called for lard and the illustration showed a smaller tree. But at least I found sopapillas on the menu. Often restaurants no longer serve the recipes that are featured.

Hidden Fireplace

The illustration showed a fireplace covering half the wall. I had to hunt a bit for that fireplace, but I found it.

Corner Fireplace

There were corner fireplaces in many of the rooms. These had once been used for "top of the stove" cooking, while the baking had been done outside in cone-shaped, mud ovens. This fireplace behind the bar was used for stacking wine carafes.

Dining With a Tree

For a while no one else was in our dining room. I had expected tons of tourists in this festive part of town. But eventually some others diner arrived and became interested in the cookbook they saw on our table.

Cottonwood Tree

The bricks surrounding the tree trunk were beginning to buckle. We laughed with our dining neighbors about how small the tree looked in the book.

The trunk today, looked to be about 4 feet in diameter. The branches lifted up through a metal portion of the skylight. The branches above the roof, swayed in the breeze and cast odd shadows in the room. A leaf or two had managed to drop onto the brick floor.

Food

I had to save room for sopapillas, so I had a salad and shared Don's enchilada plate. The plate was piping hot and spilling over with flavorful sauces, rice, beans and cheese. The most fun part of the

meal was hearing from Matt that many recipes are still used from the day when La Placita first opened in 1931. The same family still runs the restaurant.

Dessert!

I obviously was dressed for my dining adventure on this day. Luckily I didn't burn myself on the scalding little pillows off goodness. And I also managed to keep the drippy honey off my embroidered blouse... bought 20 years ago at a thrift shop and used for very special occasions. What a yummy and sticky treat!

Our Waiter, Matt

I was delighted when Matt saw our cookbook and laughed. He actually recognized it! He said he had been working at La Placita for 10 years, starting in high school. He was sad that his days with the La Placita family might be coming to an end soon. He had just graduated from college

He couldn't rave enough about the family who owns the restaurant. His favorite working memories revolved around Christmas and the festive decorations and the families who came every year on Christmas Eve and posed beside the tree. It made me want to come back in December.

Best Server on Trip

Matt showed us around a little before we left. We told him that we were reaching the end of our 4-week road trip and he was being highly considered as our favorite server of all the places where we'd dined. He disappeared and came back with a great little book that included La Placita history and recipes. He chuckled as he handed it to us. "Not that I'm trying to sway you with your decision!" He grinned as we read where he had signed the inside of the book...

"From: Matt (Top Candidate for Best Server Award) September 24, 2105

Yep, Matt won!

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Atomic Lunch in Los Alamos, NM

9/30/2015

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September 2015

I made Don take a little detour on our western road trip. We didn't exactly have a dining adventure in Los Alamos, but we picked up some lunch there.

Why Los Alamos?

I was curious. I had just read the book, The Wives of Los Alamos. I was curious about this community that grew on the top of a desert plateau, where wives mostly raised families and husbands secretly created the atomic bomb. As we pulled into town, I made Don stop so I could take a photo and text it to my book club. Then I got on TripAdvisor, and looked for a place to catch a quick lunch.

Chili Works

In a town that now has a population of over 17,000, you'd think we could have come up with something better. But it was drizzling and there was some frustrating traffic and we were hungry. So we trusted the good reviews for this hole in the wall joint and headed over for carryouts.

Creepy?

Well, sort of. But there were a lot of regulars rushing in and out. Some looked like office workers carrying lunch for a crowd. That's usually a good sign.

Through Screen Doors

I like a place with screen doors. The green one lead into the tiny ordering place. The other door opened to a small, crowded patio.

Placing My Order... Quickly

The man at the tiny window did not look patient. He was not in the mood for any hesitation, so I asked no questions and ordered the breakfast burrito and a beef burrito. I had read good reviews, after all.

I was very brave and snapped a quick picture, which does not capture the bustling activity in the crowded kitchen. Oh well.

Burrito Picnic
Don and I headed out of town and found a lovely spot in a State Park, with a self- pay fee-box, to pay for our park usage.

We didn't have any small bills, so we figured we'd just rush our unpaid picnic by splitting the breakfast burrito... which was lukewarm at this point. They should have called it the green pepper burrito. We kept digging down to see if there was egg anywhere?

Burrito #2 in a Cave

That evening we arrived at our Kokopelli Cave Hotel and toted our burrito in a paper bag and a couple backpacks down the rocky pathway to our cave house entrance. We stopped earlier and bought some salad fixings and wine and thought we'd heat up that second burrito for a taste treat. After each taking a bite we had the same reaction. "It tastes metallic!" We were convinced the burrito was atomic and put it in the trash.

Lab Tricks?

I'm sorry, Los Alamos. I tried to embrace your town and support a local establishment. But I can't say we had a good food experience. Of course, we don't really believe our burritos were atomic, but I was reminded of a LAB FOOD story from over 35 years ago...

Don was working in a chemical lab in St. Louis when we were first married. He and a few co-workers had some fun with a White Castle burger one day. Don came home and laughed about how they put the burger in a container and purged it with a little nitrogen to make it airtight. Their experiment was to see if any "self-respecting mold" would grow on the ultimate junk food.

So hopefully no ex-lab worker got a job at The Chili Works! Science geeks can have a very funny sense of humor.

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Food, Drink & Friends in Tucumcari

9/29/2015

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Route 66 in New Mexico

Earlier this month Don and I spent one night in Tucumcari on the old Mother Road. There were so many neon signs and intriguing options, it was hard to decide where to dine.

This place with the stucco sombrero seemed like a fine choice, until I walked inside. Only one man was dining and the waitress, who was also running a flower shop seemed overwhelmed. We moved on.

Lounge at the Pow Wow Inn

Our host at the Blue Swallow Motor Court recommended this restaurant & bar at a nearby 1960's motor inn. Only on Route 66 will you find a blend of "Native American themed" motel with a "lizard themed" cocktail lounge!

The Lizard Lounge

Don shook hands with the fine lizard woman in the bar mural. Yogi, our bartender said that she wasn't the Lizard Woman of the wall image. Her Uncle Pat, who was sitting at the bar, said it was another one of his nieces.

We decided to sit right down at Yogi's bar and enjoy some of the locals, since we were already talking. Don had a local draft and I had the "Blue Swallow" margarita, named for the iconic motel, where we were staying. I'm not sure why it looked green. The Lizard Effect?

Lounge Decor

We enjoyed some of the ambience around us. There was a whole wall of history nearby. And a peek into the restaurant revealed some pretty curious painted walls near the booths. The artwork made it look like people were sitting in the empty booths. Wish I'd taken a photo.

Chatting With New Friends

I had a question for Rudy, who was seated a couple stools away. "Since you were born in Tucumcari, do you know anything about a water tower collapsing in 1951?"

(I'm not sure where I heard about this, but I figured it was a good conversation starter)

Rudy wasn't old enough to actually remember, but knew the history since he now lives next to the replacement tank. Rudy said the tank exploded in '51, flooded the town and caused one death. He looked at the picture wall with me and pointed to happier memories. "I used to work at El Rancho Bar!" He had fun pointing out the long gone buildings he remembered fondly.

Uncle Pat's Memories

"Uncle Pat" pointed to the photo of "Sands-Dorsey Drugs" in 1956. He said the building burned down, but he has good memories of the wonderful malts!

I would have asked my other bar buddy to point out his favorite building, but I didn't want to trouble him. He had just gotten his collapsable cane (with spotlight) tucked away. Instead, he stayed seated and told me a story about how that cane got stuck in an elevator door once and they had to get someone to come pry the doors open. "I was just trying to hold the elevator! Those doors close too fast!"

One More Friend

Don and I were honestly touched by the sincere pride these folks revealed when talking about their small town. They wanted us to be sure to visit the museum before we left town. "And don't forget to drive by the old theatre." And before leaving the lounge, they made sure I had a visit with the mechanical lizard, that came to life with the push of a hidden button!

Dinner?

We had a lot of fun over 1 drink, but figured we should move on to experience one more Route 66 joint.

It was dark and the neon was all aglow when we arrived at Del's down the street.

The place has been around since before I was born, but the inside updates made it less iconic. We were tired of chitchat and ready to eat. I got a salad bar and chili. Don got the raspberry chicken with mashed potatoes. All tasty enough, but we were no longer needing a dining adventure. Eat and run... back to the Blue Swallow for a good night's rest... with "100% Refrigerated Air!"

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Diverse Dining in New Mexico

7/16/2013

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Two Very Different Styles of Southwestern Cuisine

Abe's Cantina y Cocina

In the winter, the parking lot of this little restaurant/convenience store/bar in the Village of Arroyo Seco may look a little different than when we visited in June. Instead of expensive SUVs belonging to skiers coming to and from Taos Mountain, we saw mostly weathered cars and trucks belonging to workmen and ranchers in the area... folks who know good food!

Gum, Medicines, Tamales and Burritos

Our table was right next to the counter. We could peek in at Lina who was cooking our tacos and burritos. We didn't get to do much chatting because she was very busy. Lina's father started working here in the 1940's when his aunt and uncle owned the business. He took over at some point and although he is now in his 80s, he still works in the bar which is attached. I would have gotten a photo of the cave-like bar, but the gentleman sipping away at noon did not look like the kind of person who would put up with my camera.

Food on Foil

Don couldn't look much happier about his meal. We had to wait a while for our feast served on foil, but it was worth the wait.

I wish I'd taken a look at the 2 other tables nearby. An old man with faded overalls and beard ate while reading the paper at one table. A father and son (guessing) sat at another table dressed in work clothes with identical sleek braids down their backs. (Almost identical since one braid was black and the other black and gray.) There was something so at home about the other diners who had obviously come in many times before. I'm sure they have their favorites and why didn't I see what they were?

Burrito

I'm afraid my photo doesn't make my beef and guacamole burrito look exciting at all, but it was. It was also incredibly messy, which was part of the fun. I wanted to reach into one of the nearby freezers for a dessert popsicle or ice cream sandwich, but we had dinner to look forward to in Taos. Maybe next time I'll sample Lina's famous tamales with a freezer dessert!

Dinner at Doc Martin's in Taos!

Luckily we ate early lunch at Abe's and had room for our feast at Doc Martin's. This was by far our best meal in New Mexico. It helps that the restaurant has some history to go along with the good food. The restaurant was once the home of Dr. Thomas Martin who was the only physician in the area for 40 years.

Once Doc's Home

This wonderful restaurant with its unique wood ceiling and colorful chairs and art was once the home and office of Doc Martin and his wife. They arrived in Taos by horse and buggy in 1890. They bought the biggest house in Taos and turned it into their home and doctor's office.

So Cozy!

At night the atmosphere was an ideal mix of travelers and locals. There were a few tourists who made me feel okay about pulling out my camera. And there were enough locals greeting the bar tenders and each other that let me know we'd picked a good place. There was an energetic buzz in all of the cozy rooms, yet the feeling was relaxed and almost peaceful. Our waiter was efficient and friendly and even looked pretty festive in his bowler hat and black vest. Wish I'd gotten a photo.

Margaritas

Doc Martin's has a tiny bar tucked into the end of the main dining room, as well as the Adobe Bar within the attached Taos Inn. Both offer 14 margaritas with names like Horny Toad and Baby Buddha. I'm no margarita expert, but I know these do not taste like your syrupy sweet chain restaurant margaritas.

Food!

Sometimes I get so caught up in my surroundings that I forget about the food. Not here! We started with an appetizer of rattlesnake and rabbit sausage with ancho chile dried cherry sauce. I ordered the blue corn beer battered chile relleno with green chile and goat cheese cream, sprinkled with pumpkin seeds. This is the dish they are known for and I see why. It was crunchy and just rich enough. Good pintos and rice as well!

Patio
It was too warm to have a fire in the adobe fireplace near our table, but it was perfect weather for dining out in the courtyard. This picture was taken in the morning when all was quiet, but this is where I'd like to sit next time! I do love outdoor dining!

Hope to Return

We will miss this wonderful cluster of buildings that makes up Doc Martin's Restaurant and the Historic Taos Hotel. Nothing like fat walls of adobe surrounding delicious food & drink along with a nightly offering of live music!

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Two Breakfasts in New Mexico

7/10/2013

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Taos Favorite

Michael's Kitchen was the perfect place to start our first day in Taos. I was pleased to find a place we could walk to from the hotel and a restaurant that was packed with locals.

Beams and Poles

So many of the buildings are old in Taos, but their age is somewhat masked by the painted stucco and adobe. You have to step inside sometimes to see the old ceiling beams or warped floors to feel the age. It turns out this building was built in 1957 (young for Taos) but I'm a big fan of that year since I was born in it. I loved seeing the log beams on the ceiling. I also loved the way they built a table right around the wood pole that seems to be holding up the building. Cozy. And look at the sweet server with her hair in a braid and her arm resting on the chair. (or shoulder) The folks working here were very friendly.

Breakfast Counter and Bakery

We didn't sit at the counter, but I love a breakfast counter with stools that swivel. Maybe it's just a childhood nostalgia thing, but I'm always tempted to swivel back and forth when I'm eating. These men were politely eating without any motion. They must have had a grandmother who hinted "Honey...don't." when they were small. If I'd been them, I would have spun all the way around every third bite, just to have a quick glimpse of the case of sweets behind them!

Food

If we hadn't stuffed ourselves on monster pancakes, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and oatmeal, we could have had room for some of these on the way out.

Next time!

Las Vegas, New Mexico

Charlie's Spic and Span won my vote for best breakfast spot. I love the silly éclair on the front of the blue and white building. The restaurant is named for the owner Charlie, but the spic and span part refers to the fact that this building once housed a Laundromat! I love it that Charlie honors that piece of history.

Charlie?

We didn't get to meet Charlie, but a chalk drawing of his face is behind the counter. Our server Nicole did point out Charlie to us. He was rushing around quite a bit. I love an owner who pitches in. Nicole by the way was the most delightful, upbeat and efficient server we had on our 13 day trip. I told her that on the way out.

Local Color

Lots of color and lots of locals. I love the muted pastel walls, pink cushy booths and colorful murals. Even the dishes were multi-colored. You could tell most of the diners in this colorful atmosphere were locals by the way they chatted with servers or each other. Regular diners don't stare at the walls and study the menu for hours. (Like some of us)

The Bikers Arrived

I pretended I was taking a photo of Don as he stood to pay, but really I was capturing a glimpse of the line up of about 20 bikers who had just entered the restaurant. (You can only see the last of them heading into another room) I had to chuckle at the way they paraded in with little fanfare after skillfully backing their bikes up to the curb in a very choreographed manner. Charlie must have been expecting them because minutes earlier, he
opened the doors to a private room, allowing the group in black leather to march in like important VIPS.

Stuffy for Breakfast!

I was planning on eating some oatmeal or something less filling when I sat down. But when I saw stuffy on the menu, I became quite curious. My homemade sopapilla came stuffed with eggs and bacon, smothered with red chiles and cheese and served with papitas! Don's macahaca with shredded roast beef, eggs, tomatoes, green chiles and onion was equally filling. Nicole surprised me with a piping hot tortilla, fresh off the machine. "Here!" she said as she slapped the rising upper layer down with a fork. "You have to at least try one of our tortillas!" I wish I could have taken leftovers with me in the car. There's no way I could even eat half of this crazy feast.

Sweets?

I'm not sure what possessed us to purchase one more thing on the way out, but we bought a giant brownie to go.

Many, many hours later, as we drove into Texas, we fondly dug into our chewy brownie while we reminisced about Charlie's Spic and Span. Hope to go back!

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La Placita, in Albuquerque

Atomic Lunch in Los Alamos, NM

Food, Drink & Friends in Tucumcari

Diverse Dining in New Mexico

Two Breakfasts in New Mexico

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