SantaFe.com

Imagine a moment like this: you are walking down Marcy Street in the bustling downtown plaza neighborhood of Santa Fe. It’s a late summer morning. Chef James Campbell Caruso, a white apron tied loosely around his waist, is outside of his new restaurant, La Boca, watering the red geraniums in the flower box, or perhaps sweeping the front walk. He greets you cordially, his smile an invitation to pursue your curious thoughts of “What happened to Paul’s?” or perhaps, “What is this new place?” and “Who is this guy?” Sunlight streams through the flung open top half of the Dutch door to La Boca,...

Tuesday, August 1, 2006
by Emily Beenen • localflavor magazine

When July and August roll around and temperatures heat up, most wine aficionado’s taste turns toward zippy whites, like a Loire Sancerre or a Basque Txakolina. So when the Editor asked me to do a feature on Doc Martin’s restaurant and their new chef, I could hardly restrain my amusement at his name...Zippy White.

Born Gary White, Zippy grew up in Marin County in a household where food was not a big thing, often cooking simple fare for his mother and younger brother. College then led him to Colorado University in Boulder, where he found the environment even more woo-woo than in Marin.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
by Tom Hill • localflavor magazine

On a hectic, hot July night, our weekend guests asked to take us to a restaurant that met the following criteria: cozy, patio if possible, not too stuffy and excellent food. There are only a handful of restaurants in Santa Fe that would satisfy but one stood out in my mind as ideal: 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Situated on the one of the most famous streets in Santa Fe, Old Santa Fe Trail, the patio for 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar is in front of the restaurant, right on the street. Not that you would ever notice, with all the lovely flowers, vines, umbrellas and general bistro mayhem going...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Lunch or dinner at the four-star Anasazi Restaurant is always a delight. Since 1992, this fabulous restaurant has been turning out ‘Foods of the earth from the Native American, foods of the soul from the Northern New Mexican and foods of substance from the American Cowboy.’

A long hectic week prompted this well-deserved Friday luncheon and what better way to start than a glass of champagne? For only $4/glass of New Mexico ’s own Gruet sparkling wine, this was an easy choice. (A delicious raspberry sparkling wine is also available for $8/glass.) No less than 18 wines by the glass were...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Andiamo, tucked away on Garfield Street in the same modest house that was once the Garfield Grill, is a favorite dinner spot for locals and a word-of-mouth surprise for visitors. Open only for dinners, seven nights a week, this self-described "neighborhood trattoria" offers a balanced menu that includes nine appetizers, a selection of pizzas, and thirteen entrees that range from fish of the night to vegetarian lasagna. Acoustics were never an outstanding feature of this building, especially when the three rooms are crowded with diners (almost every night) , but modifications have been made...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Have you been wondering if trans-global, corporate chain coffee shops are taking over the world? Have no fear, locally-owned, only one in the universe, funky little coffee shops are still going strong. The Aztec Café is one of the proud and unique places that thrive in Santa Fe. They have hammered out a niche by being exactly what those corporate chains aren't.

The Aztec Café is located in the Guadalupe District, near the railyard, southwest of the Plaza. Tucked in on Aztec street, this café makes it's home across from a consignment store and around the corner from a popular night spot....

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

First let me say that I LOVE lunch in Santa Fe. And I especially love trying new places. So, I was thrilled to check out the new restaurant at The Inn & Spa at Loretto, also known as Hotel Loretto to you old –timers. The advertisements announcing the impending opening for Baleen were so whimsical and unique that my interest was certainly piqued.

Baleen appears to be associated with the Noble House Hotel Group and can be found in four of their hotels: Miami , San Diego , Naples and Santa Fe . However, there is none of the chain-restaurant feel to Baleen. For those of you who remember...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Guadalupe Historic District has emerged within the past ten years to give Canyon Road and the Plaza a run for their money as a shopping/dining haven. This blossoming neighborhood, weaned on eclectic boutiques, avant-garde cinema and good, strong coffee met new friends along the way, some like Borders, others like the Farmer’s Market. Large fashionable friends moved in like Outside Magazine and Café San Estevan, generally raising the level of sophistication of this young dandy. Now, on the eve of great change with the new Railyard Community progressing daily, the locals watch...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

If you want to taste a different side of something familiar (to New Mexico) and you or someone you’re dining with needs a green chile fix, get thee to Café San Estevan. Located at the edge of the SanBusco shopping center, Café San Estevan has a warm and pleasant atmosphere and wonderful food. The menu is a hodgepodge, its selection ranging from standard New Mexican fare to hamburgers, spaghetti and meatballs. There truly is something for any appetite, and what really differentiates Café San Estevan from other New Mexican restaurants in Santa Fe is that everything you order is simple,...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

We had scheduled a birthday lunch and the weather cooperated. In Santa Fe it usually does and we arrived at our destination, The Compound, on a perfect fall day ready for a long slow lunch. The Compound delivered that to us magnificently.

The restaurant is located almost smack in the middle of Canyon Road and is a pleasant walk their from town. It is always fun to stroll past the galleries and shops and peak in the windows at the fabulous items found within but we had opted to drive we would have found plenty of parking there. The building is tucked in a couple of hundred feet off the...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008