C AN YOU BELIEVE the size of that sweet roll from Michael's Kitchen in Taos (above)? I tried to put the creamers in there for scale but you still can't really tell that the thing was the size of a pie plate. And it was delicious: the not-sweet dough was slathered with cinnamon inside and topped with just the right amount of sweet frosting. I shared it with with a table of six and we still couldn't finish it. Michael's is a treasure.
Reader Warren writes in to recommend Gourmet Today, a new little café that has taken over the little space between Rio Chama and the Pink Adobe. It’s only open for breakfast and lunch right now, from 7:30 am until 2:30 pm. The menu includes some retro surprises like broccoli and cheese soup, a “good ole fashioned pimento cheese” sandwich on raisin bread ($8) and a plate of cottage cheese and fruit (which I last saw inhabiting the “lite” section of a diner menu). But the sweets are extremely appealing, including Texas chocolate sheet cake and a pie of the day that rotates between traditional favorites like pumpkin, Southern pecan, buttermilk and coconut chess. A piece of pie costs $6.50 and whole pies cost between $45 and $55.
And reader Susan has a letter of recommendation for the Olive Grove, that little gourmet store over on Cerrillos Road, upstairs in the same complex as Ohori’s, across and down a little from State Capital Kitchen. Susan was wowed by the selection of olive oils, vinegars, salts—and truffles.
Have you made your Valentine’s Day dinner reservations yet? I looked at OpenTable today and saw under Geronimo “Booked 54 times today!” There was only one seating left for the 14th and that was at 9:30 p.m. If you’re too late to get a table on Tuesday night, don’t sweat it. It’s a freaking Tuesday anyway. You can go celebrate any night of the week. What about brunch? Brunch is awesome. Stop by the Olive Grove and get some truffles for a fancy pasta to make for dinner. You can open a bottle of Gruet and finish it and nobody has to drive anywhere!
And if you're single this year don't let a stupid Hallmark holiday wreck your week. Make a date with a group of friends and go celebrate how awesome it is that you get to do whatever and whoever, whenever you want. That is so worth celebrating. ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN!
Mark your calendar now for the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show, which is happening March 3-5 at Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque. Never been? Like hot stuff? You should check it out. It's part trade show (the biggest one of its kind in the country) and part personal journey to see how much hot stuff you can eat in one day and not die. (Full disclosure: I used to work for Fiery Foods & Barbecue Magazine, run by the same genius, Dave DeWitt. SO I KNOW. There is beer available. You will need to bring some Pepto.)
This year's show also includes a special edition of 505 Food Fights, in which six of New Mexico's top chefs compete in a tournament-style cooking competition. One of those chefs is Carrie Eagle of Farm and Table in Albuquerque. She just won $10,000 on an episode of Chopped! Tickets to the show cost $15 for adults and $5 for kids 7-18; kids 6 and younger get in free. Entry to the 505 Food Fight is an extra $10 (proceeds go to benefit Project Lunchbox) but if you buy a ticket in advance for $20 you get into the Fiery Foods Show free.
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