A Gustatorial Stroll Through Santa Fe
Category: Food... Travel...
Posted Monday, March 01, 2004 at 09:40 PM [GMT-6]

Skiing, hiking and snow shoeing are just excuses for the only legitimate reason to spend six days in Santa Fe: eating. It's important to balance caloric intake and output while simultaneously increasing both in exponential fashion.

I know what you're thinking. You're wondering, "what do Lunatic Texans on Skis like to eat when they're chillin' in The City Different?" Well, actually, that's a little personal, don't you think? But I'll meet you halfway and tell you where we ate (and provide some menu item recommendations in case you ever find yourself retracing our tracks). Grab your Pepcid and follow along.

Day 1: Breakfast - Pasqual's; Lunch - Brown bag from the Plaza Bakery, consumed at the ski lodge (thereby avoiding the food lines and the chili dogs); Dinner - Guadalupe Cafe (the best mid-priced restaurant in Santa Fe).

Day 2: Breakfast - Tia Sophia's (OK, this is all you need to remember: blueberry pancakes, and the short stack will be plenty. Trust me on this.); Lunch - 'nother brown bag from the Bakery (say hi to Fred -- he's from New Hampshire, you know -- and grab a cranberry muffin if they're not all gone; otherwise, the strawberry yogurt muffin is a separate but equal answer); Dinner - The Pink Adobe (my pal Wallace over at Streams goes for the green chile-smothered steak, but the grilled tuna with pineapple salsa is my favorite)

Day 3: Breakfast - Plaza Café (one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the city; they've pretty well figured things out by now); Lunch - The Shed (yeah, I know...everyone eats there; there's a reason for that); Dinner - La Sena Cantina (try the chicken fried ribeye while listening to the waiters belt out show tunes)

Day 4: Breakfast - Tia Sophia's (need I repeat myself? Yeah, they're that good); Lunch - you gotta be kidding...go to a movie and have a tub of popcorn, willya?); Dinner - Upper Crust Pizza (man does not live by piñon nut encrusted quail bellies alone)

Day 5: If you're fortunate, it's Sunday, which gives you only one real option - Brunch at the Chocolate Maven (Cream cheese French toast with peach compote; there are about 50 other items on the menu, but why bother?); Dinner - Harry's Roadhouse (giant burgers, homemade cream pies, and an hour's wait no matter when)

Day 6: Breakfast - Plaza Café for one last fling; if you're feeling penitent, order the fruit and yogurt parfait; if you're feeling defiant, order anything on the menu that comes with green chile.

There...that should just about cover things. I think I gained three pounds just posting this. Hope it was equally good for you!