WIAW: Santa Fe Style

Are you sick of hearing about my 3 day vacation to Santa Fe?

Get over it, because you’ve got one more day to get through.  3 days, 3 posts, right?

Don’t worry, at least this post includes actual food.

And a party.

But really, this is more like a “What I Ate and Drank Wednesday”

Award for best rooftop bar goes to…

La Plazuela at La Fonda.

As does the award for most vegetarian friendly.

“Local Squash Blossoms: stuffed with crab and New Mexico goat cheese, tempura battered and flash fried, served with roasted red pepper butter sauce.”

According to Joey, this goat cheese tasted like “it came straight from the goat.”  I don’t know what that means but I don’t think it’s a good thing.  I happen to disagree and think it all tasted great!  I also didn’t realize they had crab in them until I just copied the description…

“Stuffed Roasted Red Pepper: beluga lentil salad stuffed in a roasted red bell pepper, including sautéed spinach, broccolini, assorted baby vegetables and local garlic, quinoa pilaf, sweet corn flan and roasted tomato vinaigrette.”

Bell pepper: meh.  Everything else: fab.  I could have drank that vinaigrette.

“Burrito La Plazuela: a flour tortilla filled with your choice of shredded beef or chicken and topped with your choice of local Hatch red, green or Christmas chile.”

Guess which one was mine.

A sopaipilla may have been shared afterwards.

The “Looked Better than it Tasted” award goes to…

The Guadalupe Cafe

“Breakfast Tostadas: two crisp yellow corn tortillas cups filled with anasazi beans and spinach and mushrooms. Scrambled eggs on top. Served with home-cut potatoes and toast or muffin.”

Fact: Drowning something in cheese doesn’t make up for bland beans, veggies and chile.

Fact: I should have ordered the half-size portion.

Fact: The cinnamon raisin bread totally redeemed the Guadalupe Cafe.

Bottom line: Always order the migas.

Joey’s equally lack luster huevos.

Award for best mid-day treat, most unique and most needed in Colorado goes to…

Kakawa.  Duh.

And if you don’t know what Kakawa is, you should probably skip on over to this post and get a clue. <—Shameless self plug.

Marie Antoinette Elixir

Fact: Drinking something called “elixir” makes you feel extra sophisticated.

And even more so, if it’s out of a tiny cup.

Award for most fun dining experience goes to…

Don’t be silly, of course it goes to Maria’s.

How could somewhere offering over 100 margaritas not be fun?

Veggie fajitas.

Don’t let this picture fool you.  There was also guac, pork green chile stew and yet another shared sopaipilla involved.

Sometimes it’s okay to be stuffed to the max.  And that time is totally your birthday.

Then I proceeded to wake up the next morning at 6:45 AM starving.  My appetite amazes me.

The award for hands down best breakfast goes to…

The Pantry.

And if I learned anything from my disappointing breakfast at Guadalupe Cafe it’s: if it’s isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

In other words, I got that same exact thing I got last time.

In my opinion, red chile > green chile.

Have I lost you yet?  Please, feel free to skip over my ramblings and just look at the pictures.  My sister and Joey assure me that’s what they do when they read my blog.  Thanks for the support, guys…

Award for best new foodie find goes to…

Chocolate Maven.

It’s kind of a big deal.

Despite being highly enticed by all the cupcakes, pies and cakes, I managed to leave with only a sandwich for the road.

And in-house baked whole wheat bread.

For $3?!  Chocolate Maven should give Great Harvest a few pointers on bread pricing.

And maybe a cookie, too.

Peanut butter chocolate marble cookie.

Sweet end to a sweet trip.

How do you feel about Mexican food?  If you hate it, then what’s your favorite type of cuisine?

Red or green chile?

Don’t forget to thank our hostess and join in on the party!