Salida Brewing (Boathouse Cantina) ~ Salida, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

Yep - you guessed it - we should have come here. After leaving High Side, we walked along the river to Salida Brewing. I just presumed this was a little microbrewery, but we came to find out it's the house beer for Boathouse Cantina. Unlike the mostly empty High Side, Boathouse Cantina was very busy. And the food coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. Boathouse is a very large restaurant with multiple rooms. We sat at one of the two full bars and enjoyed a beer with a cider for Mrs. RJG. For certain we're beelining here next year. Salida will be a new destination spot for the RJG's starting next year.

And with that - I'm finally caught up! It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Normally I would be able to keep up real time in Santa Fe, but the work week made that an impossibility. The trip to Boulder was also jam packed, so the updates started to pile up. I'm determined to keep up with this blog and not let it rot as I have in the past. Even if we have fewer readers, it's a great reference for us at a bare minimum.

6/19/23 (new entry)

High Side Bar & Grill ~ Salida, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

We enjoyed a nice morning drive and arrived in Salida around 10:00 or so. Did some thrifting, and then decided it was time for lunch. Drove into town. Much has changed since we were last here 20+ years ago. Salida is really a happening place! It's also discovered, so no deals on housing it appears. But it's easy to understand why given its beautiful mountain setting on the river. We both thought maybe we should have considered Salida for our summer townhome way back in 2009 rather than Denver. It was more isolated from family, and I had to work from there, so it may have been just a fantasy thought. The country wasn't as wired as it is today.

And that's where we ended up eating, right along the banks of the river. That's what the High Side refers to. High Side is a somewhat typical mountain town eclectic American restaurant with a full bar, and outdoor seating. The taps were surprisingly lacking in local product, so we stuck with water. They must have been out of ice, as we each got a glass of warm H2O. Hmmm. I had a cheeseburger and Mrs. RJG had falafel pita. We both agreed our meals were good, but not exceptional. By the time we were done, it felt like maybe we should gone somewhere else. We now have a better idea of what that place might be.

6/19/23 (new entry)

Raisin' Rye ~ Del Norte, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

The primary destination for our trip was the Windsor Hotel. This is a beautifully renovated mid 1800s era hotel that you just don't see too much here in America. The look and feel is that of an old European hotel verse the renovation that the major chains bring to the American old palaces. But this is locally owned, and the vibe is wonderful. Of course the queen bed is cramped, and the walls are thin, but it's all part of the charm. We slept through the night, and the morning felt fresh. A place like this isn't going to offer a coffee bar (it feels more like you're staying at someone's old mansion), so what do we do?

We go next door to Raisin' Rye, that's what. This charming little (micro) bakery is run by Amish (or similar) just like we see in Westcliffe. The blended coffee was excellent. I had the bourbon caramel sea salt, and Mrs. had porter mocha. And no - we didn't get an early start on the liquor, these are alcohol free. Honestly I didn't taste much bourbon, which was fine by me. Mrs. RJG had an almond pastry that she loved (and I tried). We're both thinking maybe we should spend more time at bakeries in the morning.

6/19/23 (new entry)

Three Barrel Brewing ~ Del Norte, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

From Quincys the plan was to drive back to the hotel, and then walk over to Three Barrel, Del Norte's contribution to Colorado craft beer. They're not a brewery we can get here in the Springs, but I have found their beers in Pueblo, so we've tried a couple anyway. Of course the brewery offers far more. We could have eaten here, as the food looked good to us. But we're super glad we went Quincys instead.

Once again, the brewery was packed (quite the opposite experience we're seeing everywhere else). But we were able to sit outside under the canopy, as the sunset was very bright. We enjoyed a couple of beers (cataloged in the Bier Reise above) while watching the human parade and cars go by on the US highway. A wonderful close to a great day.

6/18/23 (new entry)

Three Sister's Tavern and Grill ~ Colorado City, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

Now comes the Juneteenth holiday, and this is my first time to be able to take advantage of the 3 day weekend. Last year, as noted recently, I was still in the process of looking for work. Mrs. RJG suggested we take a quick overnight road trip. She never does that! I proceeded to offer up a drive through southern Colorado. It was impromptu, but we had the freedom to do so.

Our first stop was a place that I say every time we pass through it - we should go here! But it's never convenient. On this morning, we made it the destination for breakfast. Not only the small towns of Colorado City and Rye, but specifically Three Sister's Tavern, which is considered one of the best restaurants in the Pueblo region.

If you didn't know any better, the restaurant seems more like it's in Texas than Colorado. Pretty ladies in tight jeans with cowgirl hats waitressing the tables, country music is blaring, and the dark wood paneling reminded us of Hoffbrau's Steakhouse in DFW. The restaurant is eclectic and serves breakfast through dinner. As such you have what looks like a happening bar, though not going to be hopping in the morning when we were there (well maybe a couple of guys...). I was still in the mood for an American breakfast, and I had the Three Sisters Egg Breakfast. The bacon was chewy, but tasty - and the rest was fairly bland. The eggs didn't have flavor, and the maple syrup came from plastic containers. I had to ask for a side of green chile just to alter the flavor profile a bit. Mrs. RJG had similar, and thought worse of it than I did. I like the vibe of this place, and will have to try for lunch or dinner sometime, but breakfast isn't worth the stop.

6/18/23 (new entry)

Felipe's 109 ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2023

First visit: Jun 2021

As I was reminiscing on the Cy's entry about the celebration of my one year anniversary of receiving my job offer, Felipe's 109 represents my out-of-work life. Last year I had just been abruptly let go in late April, which lead to the current position (nothing I did, just change in business direction, that impacted far more folks than myself). Two years ago I was looking at my very first no-job-but-on-severance situation. That role ended in divestiture, that I was in charge of. I was responsible for my own demise lol. So it's refreshing to visit Felipe's 109 without so much drama in my life.

And I'm happy to report that they did make all the changes I grumbled about in the last 2 years. They now have covered wooden park benches outside (along with the concrete monstrosities for overflow). They also flipped the drink machine so we can self-serve. And all of this at no cost to us - because the food is just as good as before. I stayed loyal and ordered what I always: 2 Tacoburgers, fries, and a drink. I really should go here more often. Not being open on Sunday does impact that situation though.

---4/29/22 update

Time for the annual review, and I'm happy to say that Felipe's is exactly the same as I remember it from last year. Had the same thing: 2 Taco Burgers with fries and a drink. It's a messy meal considering the green chile cheese sauce, but it's very flavorful. And the crispy shell holds up despite this. Just get extra napkins and you'll need that fork. As for the changes suggested from last year, we were largely ignored lol. The drink machine is still filled by the counter person, though at least I received it right away before my meal. The cement park benches still don't have umbrellas. And there's no air conditioning, but fortunately this was a late April day and it was very pleasant inside. The stools are still too big for the tables. But at least now they have regular seating including normal tables and chairs as well. Much more welcoming space than prior.

BTW - worth noting: You can't get here via Academy even though that's the address that it sits on (and you can see it clearly from the road). I made that mistake this time and ended up taking almost a 10 minute round trip to get back. You have to enter via Boychuk off of Hancock Expressway. No wonder the shopping center is empty! There's a megachurch there and nothing else but Felipe's 109. I just followed Google Maps last time, so I didn't realize this until now.

---original 6/24/21 review

Felipe's 109 is an established food truck who recently opened up a brick and mortar restaurant in an old shopping center not too far from one of my thrifting haunts, way down south. Near another RJG favorite Taste of Philly (other side of Hancock), that we have in these very pages. Not sure what this building was before, but they've clearly renovated it. Sleek aluminum tables and hardwood floors. When you walk in, you'll be right at the counter. You'll get a quick walkthrough of their limited menu. We like limited menus! Focus on what you're good at. I already knew I was getting the taco burger combo which includes fries and a drink. Sat down, and had to wait a bit as they had just received some large to-go orders. One downside is they don't allow you access to the drink machine, and they made me wait until I got my order. I was thirsty, so that wasn't good. The stools are also too big for the tables lol. And they still have a pandemic look with way too much spacing and not enough seating. They have 3 fetching concrete patio setups outside, but no umbrellas, so that option was out. And no air conditioning inside, and in this part of the Springs, it gets pretty hot in the summer. Hopefully they'll be able to rectify all of this soon enough. I guess if they keep getting those large takeout orders, they'll be rolling in dough. Anyway, all easy fixes.

Finally my meal and drink showed up. They ran out of ice. Ha - one of those days. They did get some as I was leaving, and offered me another drink (new cup) which was nice. Actually the ladies who work here are very nice. Death metal seemed to be the music of choice for the cook, which gave me a wry smile. I started in on the fries and they were absolutely delicious. And piping hot - yes! The taco burgers are very interesting - and favorable to the RJG.  You get two per combo order (they're $3 each if you want to try one a la carte). They come in a very crispy homemade taco shell with hamburger meat (yes, a cooked hamburger, not like a ground beef taco) with lettuce, tomato, and the best part - a homemade green chili sauce with queso. I could see this becoming an addicting food. The chili was hot in temperature and had a nice kick too. It's a bit sloppy, but that's OK.

So yea, definitely a thumbs up from the RJG. Love new food concepts such as this. I originally put Mexican in the labels, but that's misleading. No tacos y enchiladas here. Taco burgers and creative bowls is their schtick. Try them out!

6/24/21 (new entry); 4/29/22; 6/22/23

Cy's Drive In ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2023

First visit: Jun 2022

Finally back to a normal routine here at the RJG. I didn't mention it below, but my first visit to Cy's came a day after receiving my new job offer. The same company that resulted in the Boulder trip and many others we've written about here since October. I was very relieved at the time because despite what the news media might say, the job market was tight then, as it is now. And I supposedly have "in demand skills". Baloney. Those unemployment numbers are completely jacked. The real total is probably along the lines of 20% (they only count those who apply for unemployment - which is 6 months consecutively at most). Can you imagine how the markets would react if they acknowledged that? But it's the truth. However, careful what you wish for - you might get it! It's not an easy job, and it's not necessarily the best fit for my skillset, but I'm hanging in there as I'm very close to retirement. In any case, this visit represented my first year anniversary of both that job offer and going to Cy's. I didn't plan it that way, but it's interesting how that happens sometimes.

In the interim, I was excited to have Mrs. RJG try it. Much to my surprise, she did not like it on a solo visit not long after mine below. Just proves that even after 26 years of marriage, you don't always know what the other is thinking.

For this visit (on my own), I once again went with a cheeseburger and a "raspberry coffee malt". When was the last time you had a malt? Mrs. RJG didn't even know what that is! Fortunately the raspberry was just a piece of fruit inside - so it was still very good. I quite like Cy's. Maybe not something I need to go to very often, but a quality option when in this part of town.

---original 6/17/22 review

Objectively speaking, Cy's Drive In may very well indeed be the most perfect Regular Joe's Guide place. It's historic, somewhat of a dive, extremely local, and great tasting. Apparently it's been here since 1953 and looks it too. They specialize in "Alaskan Burgers", whatever the heck that may possibly mean. Why I hadn't been here before is a bit of a mystery especially considering it's right across the street from one of my favorite thrift shops that I go to almost weekly to look for record vinyl inventory. But the pandemic wasn't good for places like this, given how small they are. And outside seating is limited. And the parking lot is very small. They have a "carhop" option - something along the lines of turning on your headlights at the window. I didn't want to mess with all of that and went inside on this visit. There was an empty booth, so that was perfect for this visit. Ordered at the counter. Got a cheeseburger and a mocha shake. Since I divulged in the latter, I didn't get fries. Mrs. RJG will get them for sure when she tries it.

The cheeseburger will no doubt be Mrs. RJG's favorite in Colorado Springs. It's her style. Well done, flavorful, with a toasty buttery bun. Not too big, but more than enough to suffice for lunch. A double would be too much for me. I was hoping they had real ice cream shakes, but they're from a machine. But a good machine! I was happy with that as well. For certain the RJG will be regular visitors from here on. We waited much longer than we should have.

6/17/22 (new entry); 6/22/23

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery ~ Colorado chain : Boulder

First visit: Jun 2023 (Boulder)

I wisely planned to take a day off after the meetings, knowing full well the final night would be designated for partying, and all of my predictions came true. I'm an old wet blanket anymore, and usually dead asleep by 9 in the evening. But I knew full well I wouldn't be afforded that opportunity, so I just nursed my last glass of red wine for hours until we could get back to the hotel. But at least I didn't have to get up for anything! After a good night's sleep, I grabbed a Starbucks from the lobby and headed back. The original plan was to run a local trail and sweat out some toxins, when I realized I forgot my running shoes. Nice work dummy! Oh well.

For this visit, I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard, which are normally pretty boring. The first morning I couldn't appreciate it, but now that I have a full day to myself, I realized they have a patio and a balcony. You just don't see that too much anymore. So I went outside on this beautiful cool and sunny June morning and viewed the courtyard with huge pine trees, while sipping my coffee. So peaceful and nice. I need more of that.

My main plan for this day was to look for records in Boulder, since I never go there separately. And I did just that with moderate success. For lunch, I decided on Mountain Sun, one of the oldest brewpubs in Colorado - going back to when Boulder Beer and microbreweries were still a new concept. For whatever reason, I'd never been here before. 

I sat down at the booth and was quickly warned they are "cash only" so that they can "pay their workers a decent wage". I'm getting pretty tired of these excuses from restaurants. Figure out your business plan, but don't make me solve them for you. Whatever the case, I always have cash with me because of the record hobby business. No problem. From there, it was all aces. The beer I had was delicious and the cheeseburger was even better. I'll definitely make an effort to visit one of their pubs in the future. Bring a lot of cash though if going with more than just yourself!

As of this writing, Mountain Sun operates 3 locations in Boulder, one in Longmont, and one in Denver.

This ends the Boulder business trip - not too bad on the whole, though it could have been better.

6/22/23 (new entry)

Flatiron New American (Rosetta Hall) ~ Boulder, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

Rosetta Hall is a unique concept that houses multiple restaurants similar to a mall food court, except the offerings are much more upscale and interesting than Chick Fil-A and Sbarros. They have various food types, but since my diet was wrecked by the lunch debacle, I really wasn't all that hungry for dinner. Options that I normally would have taken a shot at like Thai or Mexican just didn't sound too appetizing. I needed something very basic. Like steak. That's what Flatiron offers.

Not so great really. The steak was tough and the service seemed to be purposefully rude. If you're going to do this, they should take the time to do it right. I suspect the other vendors were all better than what I had. Oh well. And unlike West End Tavern and Cosmo's, this was a fair assessment, because I ordered for myself and had the food served fresh.

We started our Rosetta Hall experience by visiting the rooftop bar (I sense a theme). Beer selection was uninspired, but the vibes were good. I mostly went with wine on this night (also attributed to the lunch mess). Let the drunkenness of the final day of meetings begin! I liked the overall experience, and I'm willing to try one of the other food vendors beyond Flatiron.

6/22/23 (new entry)

Cosmo's Pizza ~ Colorado chain : Boulder

First tried: Jun 2023 (Boulder - 28th St.)

The next day was something of a cluster when it came time for lunch. No plans were made, and our group was too big, and we were too remote, to go out for a quick lunch. Obviously I was not in charge, or all of this would have been accounted for. So I ate some Kind bars to survive the morning. Fortunately I did not run that morning or I would have been eating the meeting table. Finally someone says we should bring in a pizza. Our office manager suggested Cosmo's. It was early in the afternoon (ugh).

This is my first encounter with the chain, and I have to say these are the biggest pizza pies I've ever seen! I had two slices - and I was way too stuffed. My metabolism was completely ruined. Probably added 5 pounds just sitting there. Once again, to-go pizza is not the best way to judge a restaurant. By the time I had my first slice, it was pretty cold. But it tasted awesome. And they use unique and fresh ingredients. This is a place I must try on my own at some point. I don't think Mrs. RJG will go for it. Too thick for her.

I'm just guessing at the location but that's the closest one to our office. Obviously I did not go to the restaurant (or outlet). It's mainly for take-out apparently, but I would still like to enjoy it at home and heated up on our comal. Or eat it immediately coming out of the oven.

Currently there are 6 locations, mostly in the northern environs of Denver, including Boulder, Fort Collins, and Lafayette.

6/22/23 (new entry)

West End Tavern ~ Boulder, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

After the half day of meetings, it's time to congregate the group at a local restaurant. Hosted by one of our partners, they selected West End Tavern. Nice large place with an indoor rooftop patio where we gathered. Nice selection of craft beers (and a full bar that most folks dived in for) and buffet barbeque was on offer. I'm always reticent to judge a place based on a outing such as this, but I had enough to know I'd like to go here again, preferably in a more quiet setting with Mrs. RJG. The meats were very good, but a bit tough, not surprising given how it was served. West End Tavern has quality written all over it. A good choice from our partners.

6/22/23 (new entry)

B & B Cafe ~ Castle Rock, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2023

First visit: Sometime in 1999

---6/22/23 notes

We were only home a couple of days from our trip to Santa Fe, when Mr. RJG needed to head up to Boulder for two days of meetings. Yippee. The first meeting was only the afternoon, so we needed to fend for ourselves for breakfast or lunch. Most folks were flying in from around the country, but I had the luxury of driving up from the Springs. And what better way to start the journey than a breakfast at B & B Cafe in Castle Rock? To be honest I was tired of Mexican breakfasts, and wanted good old fashioned American food. I sat at the bar (as noted below) and ordered a "Full Plate" with two fried eggs, a full ham steak, pancakes, and toast. And a hot chocolate. This is easily one of the best breakfasts in town. So delicious and prepped me for the long day.

---original 6/26/22 review

Summary: Old West breakfast house. Look for the bullet holes while enjoying a smothered burrito.

When we lived in the Pinery area, one of our favorite "out of town" breakfast houses was B & B Cafe. We'd probably go two to three times a year (through 2001), taking the journey west on Hwy 86. Back then they even had smoking, much to the chagrin of Mrs. RJG. I never cared since my dad was always blowing smoke everywhere he could, so I just got used to it. Long ago. Been meaning to try B & B again since we moved back to the Springs four years ago, and that day finally happened. It was record shopping day in Denver, so a quick stop in Castle Rock often kicks off the journey. I was dining solo.

And that's a good thing, as the place was packed with a line out the door. I walked in casually and asked if they had seating for one at the counter/bar. Sure enough, one stool on the end was unoccupied. Perfect. Everything is as I remember it from 20 years ago (according to the restaurant, they've been open since 1930). Classic middle-of-small-town-America diner. There are two rooms, including the aforementioned bar. It no longer smells of cigarette, but otherwise I just transported myself back in time. Worth noting that the bar is made of marble and came from the former mining boomtown of Leadville. Same article goes on to talk about the bullet holes in the ceiling and walls. Yep, it's the Old West that's for sure. The perfect RJG place.

For this visit I ordered the Wrap It Up, which is their version of the classic smothered breakfast burrito. Comes with eggs, thick cut bacon (or you could get pork sausage if preferred), potatoes, and is smothered in a spicy pork green chili covered with yellow cheese. In a twist, it also comes with refried beans. The chili is superb, not that spicy, but with a wonderful tangy flavor. The bacon is better than average adding much needed saltiness to what can often be a bland stuffing. The beans were excellent. They're smooth, flavorful, and not lardy as we usually see. For a drink, I enquired if they had flavored creamers for the coffee. They did not, so I ordered a mocha instead. Out comes this dessert looking hot drink with whipped cream and drizzled chocolate. Good stuff. Friendly counter service as well. Great visit, I'll be back. Maybe with Mrs. RJG like old times.

1999; 2000; 2001; 6/26/22 (new entry); 6/26/23

Little Rox's Ice Cream Shop ~ Trinidad, Colorado

First visit: Jun 2023

Once we crossed Raton Pass (a beautiful drive BTW - done it many times now), we decided on an ice cream dessert. Google Maps suggested Little Rox's. This is a new place that sits adjacent to a boutique vintage store owned by the same person. The ice cream comes from Blue Mountain Creamery here in Colorado Springs, which we've been meaning to get back to for some time (and is yet in the RJG). So for us, stopping at Little Rox's was unnecessary, but if you live in Trinidad, then this is your way of getting Blue Mountain, which is excellent. The owner, by the way, was a delight to talk with. Support her if you can. Perhaps they'll make their own ice cream at some point?

And that concludes our trip. Just in time for the next one...

6/3/23 (new entry)

K-Bob's Steakhouse ~ regional chain : Raton, New Mexico

Last visit: Jun 2023 (Raton, New Mexico)

First visit: Jul 1983 (Abilene, Texas)

I hadn't quite finished writing about our last trip to Santa Fe. Now it's the final day and we're on our way home. The plan all along was to enjoy a lunch in Raton. We had great success with the Ranch House in Santa Fe, so let's try our luck at another steakhouse. This is only my second time to K-Bob's, the last almost exactly 40 years ago! Which is probably a record for the RJG in between visits. I was with my parents and we were heading to Lubbock for summer orientation for my freshman year at Texas Tech. Dad had some business in Abilene so we went that route instead of the usual TX-114. Wow - so long ago.

There was a time when K-Bob's had ~100 locations throughout the south, and their heyday was in the 1980s. This K-Bob's looks all the world like an early 80s steakhouse. Wood paneling, and a "salad wagon". In the old days the salad bar would come with your meal, but no more. I ordered a steak, and it was priced fairly. But sad to say in this case it was a cheap cut of meat. They undercooked it, and I had to send it back. I had a side of rice which was quite bland. Mrs. RJG's experience was the opposite. She had the Chicken Fried Chicken and loved it. And a baked potato that she also enjoyed. She wants to go back. OK, I'm game. I'll get something else next time. Maybe Chicken Fried Chicken? Hmmm....

Today, K-Bob's is down to only 7 locations. They have 4 in New Mexico, including the original in Clovis along with 3 others in Texas. Abilene's locale is long gone. Even popular locations - at least they seemed popular - like the one in Childress, Texas, are now closed. Their website indicates strong ownership and growth. The data doesn't support that though.

7//83; 6/22/23 (new entry)

Pho Kim ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Last visit: Jun 2023

First visit: Sep 2013

It's been 8 years since we last waltzed into Pho Kim. We'd planned this all along, that we would close our Santa Fe dining experience here after having the big breakfast at Valentina's. So after enjoying our Rowley brew, we headed right back to where we started the morning. In the past, we would conclude our first evening here (always on a Sunday after the long journey from DFW) after enjoying a big lunch at Blue Corn, which is sadly no longer (Hidden Mountain just isn't the same).

The first thing we noticed is that we are catching them on their last weekend before taking a 2 month break. Wow! Guessing, then, they're heading back home to Vietnam. Unfortunately, why they no doubt were looking forward to their vacation, the restaurant itself feels tired. As in maybe it's time to close down and call it a day. I had a chicken and rice stir fry, which is different than what I referred to below. It was surprisingly very good. Hot temp and very spicy, which I don't think they advertised, but fine with me! But it had too much of the "stir vegetables" that I had to leave behind. Mrs. RJG had a noodle dish but she said it was pretty limp. Pho Kim was from another era of our Santa Fe experience. We're going to leave it there and find another place next time.

---original 9/8/15 review

As much as we'd like to eat New Mexican food the entire time we're in Santa Fe, sometimes we need a break. And for something relatively light and tasty, we've added Pho Kim to our regular routine of restaurants. This is our 3rd visit in the row, and we always leave happy.

No surprises here, but Pho Kim features Vietnamese cuisine. In general, we've gravitated to their famous soups, and I generally like the meat ball and Mrs. RJG enjoys the chicken. The broth and noodles are cooked to perfection, and the side jalapeno slices are extra hot. While most Vietnamese restaurants provide an admirable pho, we do think Pho Kim is a cut above the rest. However, on this visit, I decided to venture into their chicken and rice dish, which used to be my staple, having been spoiled by the all-time great Kim Ba in Denver. And I'm glad I did, as this was a unique slant on a traditional dish. At least to me it was - as I've not encountered the type of marinate applied. When I first saw it, I could swear it was pork, as it had the familiar purple and red "flank" styled marinate. But no, it was definitely chicken, and very tender. And tasty. And each bite got better and better, as I continued to douse my rice with the Sriracha, while the flavors were bouncing wildly on my tongue. In conclusion, Pho Kim continues to move up as one of the better Vietnamese places we've had in the country.

Drink: No alcohol. Usual assortment of common drinks and Vietnamese fruit laced specialties. As tempting as the iced coffee was, we stuck with water (beer drinking session was ahead!).

Location: On West Alameda, west of St. Francis (US 84). On the north side of the street. As you can see from the fine photo I stole above, they have a unique store front in an otherwise drab strip mall. Inside it's brightly lit, with some attempts at mood spotlights. It's better than the usual convenience store lighting most Vietnamese places have, but not by much. It's a full service restaurant, so just find a seat when you arrive.

Notes: Pho Kim is one of many Vietnamese restaurants that seem to enjoy a sophomoric play on words (though admittedly hilarious). Once you realize that Pho is not pronounced "foe" but rather "fuh", then you're in on the joke (read the restaurant name again more quickly). Keller's own Pho King Way pulled a similar stunt, before ultimately closing down a few years ago.

9/14/13; 9/7/14; 9/8/15 (new entry); 6/10/23

Rowley Farmhouse Ales ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Maclovia St. @ Cerrillos Rd.

First visit: Jun 2023

It's Friday afternoon, and I was done thrifting and record shopping. I didn't have near as much time to shop as in years past, as the work week ended up picking on me. Oh well, they don't pay me to not work right? Sometimes it's just the way events go. Gotta take care of business first. And I did. Which made me appreciate the free time that much more.

Why don't we go back to what we used to do in old times. Grab a beer at happy hour to celebrate the oncoming weekend! I'd tried one Rowley beer when we were here in early 2021. But that was a pint can from a liquor store. Otherwise, you don't see this brewery's offerings much in New Mexico. Part of that is that they are specialists in what are known as Farmhouse Ales. Or Saison's if you prefer. They're very yeast heavy ales and appeal to a certain seasoned palate. The RJG's don't possess that, but fortunately they do at least make IPAs for us less sophisticated types. The setting is very nice, as they repurposed an old warehouse into a restaurant and brewery. The food looks good, something we might want to consider on a future visit. I'm sure they'll always have a beer to our liking.

6/10/23 (new entry)

Valentina's ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: Jun 2023

First visit: Apr 2022

Valentina's is a restaurant that I was very excited to revisit. Last year was our first try, and we had a great experience. We also knew that it would be a lot of food. Having eaten sensibly the night before at The Ranch House, and getting our 3 mile run in, we were ready to tackle the big breakfast that Valentina's offers. And I'm happy to report everything is just as it was in 2022. Incredible chips and salsa and a monster burrito smothered in red, which was blazing hot spicy as was the salsa. With a big ol' ham steak jammed in there too. Last year I mentioned the green was more typical, but Mrs. RJG persisted to try it again and this time it was better than I remembered. And honestly burying everything in the red is just too much of that one flavor. I'm going back to Christmas. Valentina's is currently one of our favorite Santa Fe restaurants. No trip can go without at least a visit here.

If you read at the bottom of the below review, neither Sunrise nor Tortilla Flats made it to the itinerary. Just too many great places to eat in Santa Fe!

---original 4/14/22 review

Despite going to a number of restaurants in Santa Fe this week, we had yet to try something new. Our Airbnb host left a sheet behind of recommend places to try. La Choza was on there for example, so we knew the recs were probably spot on. This was the only other New Mexican place on the list. 

Oh yes, this is definitely a great recommendation!

First off, Valentina's sits in a shopping center, so there's actually a place to park. In fact it's the same one that houses Pho Kim, a Vietnamese place we enjoy but haven't gone back to in some years (it's in the RJG). Walking in, you'll see a relatively large restaurant painted in bright colors with unique art. Very much an Hispanic atmosphere pervades. 

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you'll be provided with a large menu. We ordered chips and salsa to start on this particular breakfast outing. Whoa! These are some of the best homemade corn chips we've had in sometime. And the salsa is very spicy and has an incredible chile flavor. In fact the taste experience reminded us of a place in Nampa, Idaho called El Rinconcito. It's a combination of a blazing salsa against the corn taste that just explodes in your mouth. We were regulars to that restaurant when the RJG had a consulting gig at Boise State in the latter half of 1998 and early 1999. On a return visit in 2014, it wasn't the same, and I see now it's out of business. What a shame. In any case - thank you Valentina's for ensuring that flavor still exists! Both Mrs. RJG and I remembered it exactly the same without leading the witness. Well that certainly set the mood right.

Now time for the main entries. I had the breakfast burrito with eggs, ham, and potatoes, smothered in Christmas. OK, these guys are just showing off now. This is larger than the others ones we've tried, and the ham is not just diced but rather cut slices from a fully cooked ham steak! Wow. The green was good, but rather non distinctive. It's the red that gets the shout out. A very dark variety loaded with flavor. I'll be sure to smother my next ham & eggs burrito in the red only on my next visit. Mrs. RJG went with her staple of Huevos Rancheros. Her experience was similar, though she was more favorable to the green, but preferred the red as well. She liked the refried beans, only lamenting she wished they were of a hotter temperature. We always want Abuelo's hot!

All in all, a super first encounter. With Tortilla Flats making a comeback, and now Valentina's, did Sunrise just get knocked out of contention? 

4/14/22 (new entry); 6/10/23

The Ranch House ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

First visit: Jun 2023

Continuing on with our latest trip to Santa Fe... It was time for dinner and we needed a break from New Mexican styled food. Breakfast was at the New York Deli, and we were very hungry by dinner time. How about a steak? Now that's something we never do when traveling, but a wholesome piece of meat and a side of potatoes sounds damn good. But we're in Santa Fe, probably they're all $100-per-person kind of places that we don't particularly enjoy that much. Nope. Right across the street from our hotel is The Ranch House, and the prices look reasonable. Let's try it!

Finally a regular restaurant with parking spaces (it's not like Santa Fe has an amazing public transportation system either lol). The building is in the Santa Fe adobe style, and is very large. And popular. Even though we got there around 5, it was fairly crowded. Not too many restaurants can claim that at the moment. Filled with locals too. Even though they tout BBQ as their primary cuisine, the menu is eclectic. They have a nice set of local New Mexico taps, so we started there. Then we each had a salad. I got a half order of the Caesar, which was more than plenty - and delicious too! All for 5 bucks. In Santa Fe? We each ordered a 6 ounce steak and I added a skewer of BBQ shrimp. And for a side? Can you believe cheese enchiladas with Christmas. So much for me avoiding that. But to get enchiladas with steak and shrimp is just too cool. Mrs. RJG stuck with the potato staying true to course. The steak was cooked perfectly and was tender and tasty. The shrimp was superb. Even the red and green chili sauces were excellent. All for $23. In 2023. No way. Mrs. RJG loved her meal as well.

The Ranch House is the best deal in town and all the locals know it. Go here if looking for a diet diversion.

6/10/23 (new entry)

New York Deli Southside ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: Jun 2023

First visit: Sep 2013

Looks like the "power outage" has been settled lol. No matter, we were looking for something more American than what we'd been eating, and this Jewish Deli has been a favorite of ours for years, I went back to have hot pastrami on rye with brown mustard. Pickle and chips on the side. And a big glass of orange juice. That's all I need! I did try a small piece of Mrs. RJG's bagel. Delicious. Mrs. RJG switched omelet's to the Baja, and she loved it. Excellent green chile (even the Jewish Deli's have a good green in Santa Fe) that wasn't super spicy but possessed excellent flavor. She said the avocado was really good too. New York Deli continues to be our favorite divert-from-New-Mexican breakfast/lunch place.

--- 4/12/22 update

First time back to the New York Deli since 2016, we decided on an early breakfast versus our usual brunch hour. Because of this I decided to pass on the pastrami sandwich and go with 2 scrambled eggs and corned beef hash. This is the real deal with finely cut corned beef, hash browns, and onions. Perhaps too much of the latter for my tastes, but still a good interpretation of a classic dish. Mrs. RJG went with the Western Omelet which was more like a scrambled egg patty on top of ham, peppers, and onions. Not her favorite she stated. We each got a sesame seed bagel, which was deliciously chewy. Still the best bagels around! Overall a good visit, not our best, but primarily because of what we ordered. Next time it will be back to what we enjoy most.

---original 9/10/15 review

One doesn't normally associate Jewish deli's with Santa Fe, New Mexico, and yet the New York Deli is one of the finest the RJG has been to outside of New York City itself. This is our 3rd year in a row to go, and sometimes we visit twice on the same trip. Especially since it's right around the corner from our chosen hotel (the Doubletree - which we highly recommend primarily because they have balconies to enjoy the beautiful cool weather. And maybe with a beer or three...)

New York Deli is an old fashioned Jewish delicatessen, with a strong Italian slant. Well that just about covers the Mob of the 1940's eh? Whether it's fat kosher deli meat sandwiches, Italian hot subs, or a traditional breakfast with the best homemade bagels you've ever had, New York Deli is the elixir to the New Mexican food hangover. And since we overindulge on the local cuisine, we welcome the diversion. As I presume the locals do as well. Their portions are hearty, at a fair price. and very good. The hot pastrami on NY Rye with brown mustard and a kosher pickle is the best I've had outside the 5 boroughs. Mrs. RJG loves their omelet's, and is always one of the highlights of her trip. This is a place where you schmear your butter on your bagel!

This particular New York Deli is in a strip center on the NE corner of Rodeo and Cerrillos - across the same parking lot as the Blue Corn that we covered recently. The interior is bright and cheerful. And how refreshing to hear the quaint instrumental muzak tones of the 1960s. Everything here is a throwback. How we tire of pop music in a restaurant!

Though the sign says "since 1931", that refers to their heritage in New York City and Long Island. They also once had a Bagelmania in Florida in the 1970s. Ultimately they ended up in Santa Fe in the early 90s. The New York Deli Upper East Side is the other location and apparently was a Baglemania originally.

9/16/13; 9//14; 9/10/15 (new entry); 8/4/16; 4/12/22; 6/5/23

Fire & Hops ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: May 2023

First visit: Sep 2015

The day from hell continued into the night, with frantic calls while eating dinner. Like I said, time to retire. Before jumping into the review, this would be a good time to let you all know that yes, Mrs. RJG and I ran over 3 miles every morning while in Santa Fe. We like the La Tierra Trails for that. It's about a 15 minute drive each way from the hotel. The weather was very pleasant, with a little bit of rain, but mostly sunny and cool in the early mornings. This allows us to eat more food than usual. For whatever reason, Fire and Hops seems to be the place that reminds us we're not young anymore.

I was thinking of ordering something else other than the Cubano. The hamburger sounded good, but doggone it if that isn't what I had for lunch. And for a gastropub, their offerings are awfully static. I would expect some menu rotation, but that doesn't happen here. The food is exactly what it was last year, and I just can't finish the potatoes. I didn't struggle slurping down two beers however...

But Mrs. RJG decided to branch out and try the Thai Curry. Last year's Sesame Udon Noodle Bowl was a huge hit, so I was surprised she diverted. And it was a disaster. She said it was nothing like a Thai Curry and it seemed like they used Valentina sauce or something similar to make it red. Yuck. She hated it. And she also declared Fire and Hops is going down to the minors. Both restaurants on Wednesday had a bad day. Fine with me, the parking is still a nightmare at Fire & Hops.

--- 4/14/22 update

For the original review I stated boldly "We will be back again next time!". Wellll, this is our second visit. We didn't go in 2016 for whatever reason, and the following subsequent visits were too short. Didn't want to forego this opportunity, and glad we didn't, as this proved to be one of the better meals of the week so far. I stuck with the Cuban - yet again - which was very good as described below, though probably still behind Second Street and Starr Brothers versions. But better than Hidden Mountain's. The salt and vinegar potatoes were also good, though once again I couldn't finish them. I'll have the hamburger next time I think. The big hit, at least in terms of enthusiasm, was the Sesame Udon Noodle Bowl. Not really my style of dish, but Mrs. RJG devoured it with much glee, stating it was perfect in every way. And it's spicy, so always a plus. Seems Fire & Hops has moved up a few rungs in the RJG Santa Fe hierarchy.

BTW - parking still sucks. We had to go a few blocks away and look for metered parking. Fortunately most of the meters are broken lol. It was a cold windy walk to and from though.

---original 9/10/15 review

Each time we visit Santa Fe, we like to try a few new places (for us) as well as our favorites. This was the first one on this particular visit. And the conclusion? We will be back again next time!

Fire & Hops is a classic Craft Tavern (fka Gastropub), with focus on locally grown ingredients, small and large plates, and of course, craft beer. Seems as if these places were designed specifically with the RJG in mind! The definition of "small plate" wildly varies from place to place. In San Francisco, it means a small appetizer, whereas at Fire & Hops it means a full meal. And a large plate means we couldn't finish it. And what was my massive dinner? A Cubano sandwich. It was giant! I was expected a regular size sandwich with a handful of homemade potatoes. Well I got a bushel full of those as well. And they were delicious! The sandwich was almost perfect, especially the bread, but the pork was unfortunately a bit tough for a sandwich, and I ultimately pulled it out and cut it with a knife. But the flavor was fantastic. Mrs. RJG went with the Ground Burger, which received a huge thumbs up and the hand cut fries were out of this world. She did comment "I'm eating and drinking like a guy" as we both waddled out. Somehow I sense we're dining on salad all next week... There are many other mouth watering items on the menu that we're hoping to try in the future.

New Mexico doesn't have the most robust craft beer culture, but it's rise has been slow and steady. As such, many of their beers are brought in from Colorado and California. But we were defiantly going all New Mexico, and I had my first beers from a brewery in Albuquerque called Bosque Brewing. Both the Scaletipper IPA and the Riverbank Brown were superb for their respective styles. In addition to beer, Fire & Hops has a fine selection of wines and ciders.

Fire & Hops is in a trendy area of central Santa Fe on Guadalupe, north of Alameda and south of Paseo del Peralta. Not far from the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. As usual with places such as this, finding parking is a pain in the butt. Just drive around until you find something that isn't prohibited. The earlier you go, the better your chances. The restaurant itself is in an old house and is very comfy and charming. Patio seating is also available.

9/10/15 (new entry); 4/14/22; 6/5/23

Shake Foundation ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: May 2023

First visit: Sep 2015

Wednesday ended up being my workday from hell (there's some irony in that sentence, but I'll leave out the details). I could barely get away to eat. I knew lunch was the only option because if I did have any spare time, I was supposed to be sitting in an all day meeting that started at 8 in the morning. That's not realistic. Anyway, we escaped for an hour so I could eat something. We skipped going to Shake Foundation last year, and my notes from the 2021 visit were nothing more than it was still good.

I guess I could write the same thing, but we have come to the conclusion that this might be our last visit here. Part of it is the employees that work here. They clearly aren't interested in having paying customers. That means they have to do their jobs, ya know? So the attention to detail is severely lacking. I thought the green chile cheeseburger was good, but Mrs. RJG said it lacked seasoning, perhaps salt. Even the soda was flat she stated. I had a coffee milkshake that was pretty weak honestly, but still decent. You have to be an A+ player to get on the RJG Santa Fe Social Register. Shake Foundation has found its way to the minor leagues.

--- original 9/11/15 review

If you spend enough time in Santa Fe, you'll learn that another local favorite meal is a green chile cheeseburger. Shake Foundation has a good rep in town, and it was lunch, so let's check it out!

Food: It's burgers and fries, and all made with strictly fresh ingredients. They also have burgers beyond the usual beef, including lamb, turkey, and Portobello mushroom. We each went with the traditional "Junior Foundation" which is a simple cheeseburger (and good size for lunch) and jack cheese with... green chile. The chile is added similar to a condiment, so it's not overly sloppy. The buns are buttered (a Midwest tradition) and lightly toasted which is another differentiator. Just a superb tasting burger, and the chile is very hot (spicier than the norm for Santa Fe). Which works for the RJG! And that spiciness continues to penetrate, and thus opens up the flavor of the burger that much more. Also, special mention goes to the fries, which are of the super thin shoestring variety, crispy, and delicious.

Drink: Given the name, it should come as no surprise that handmade shakes are also a specialty here. Mrs. RJG and I were very tempted to share one, but since it was near the end of our trip, and we were not feeling svelte by this point (witness the prior reviews), we decided to pass. Next time we will most certainly indulge. The reviews are very positive, and their shakes have a variety of flavors.

Location:  Apparently this location housed a gas station for many years. As such the lot is large, with plenty of parking (finally!). Order up at the window and sit on any of the picnic tables, under the big trees. Very pleasant outdoor dining.

Notes: The owner/chef of Shake Foundation has a long history in Santa Fe. Like our own Tim Love, he wanted to create a high quality alternative to what is usually considered "fast food". Shake Foundation opened in January 2014.

9/11/15 (new entry); 9/19/21; 6/5/23

La Choza ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: May 2023

First visit: Sep 2014

You had to see this coming. And what's more is that we are here to celebrate Mrs. RJG's 50th birthday! It is her favorite restaurant in the country. It is, as it turns out, my favorite restaurant in the country too. Neat how that works. What isn't revealed anywhere below is that I went here for my 50th birthday too! Way back in 2014, when we first discovered La Choza, I made the decision to come back for my birthday. It was the second visit on the same trip, something we never do. Now no trip to Santa Fe is possible without a visit to La Choza. If we can't come here, we don't want to come to the city. It's that simple.

We've also learned to time our visit perfectly. Just as last year, we got here 20 minutes before opening, found easy parking, got our name on the list, and were seated promptly at 4:30. I wish they would open up the bar again like they used to. What we didn't know is that La Choza isn't as packed as every other time we'd been for the last 9 years, including last year. Perhaps the ultimate example that inflation is destroying the restaurant industry. When we left, there was nobody waiting. I've never seen that before. Still, I wouldn't want to chance it. And besides we like to eat dinner early anyway.

You can read below on what we had for dinner and drinks. I made one mistake though. Since it was Mrs. RJG's birthday I thought it would be nice to upgrade our margaritas from the usual House to a Premium choice. Not a great plan. Too boozy for us. We like the cheap stuff! lol. I finished her first one, and she ordered a House and was happy again. The other diversion this time is that they buried everything in red chile. That includes the beans, rice, and lettuce. I prefer that they leave those plain. But it's hard to complain about having too much of the greatest red sauce we've ever had. So not a demerit, but an anomaly. We think it was something we said. Something akin to "bury it in red". Haha.

Still the greatest restaurant in the country for our tastes.

--- 4/13/22 update

Back for our first visit since 2019. 2020 was closed and we tried in 2021 twice but the lines were insane due to social distancing laws. Though things are back to normal for the most part, we decided to arrive at about 4:20, 10 minutes prior to open. Oh wow, look at that, a place to park! They take names at the door, and then proceed to wait for your name to be called starting at 4:30. Planning ahead works again. We were about 6th in order, and were promptly seated at a quiet table by the window. Started right off with a couple of house margaritas, delicious as ever. Amazing how much better a margarita is when they actually put tequila in it. We proceeded to get the chips and salsa, as delicious as we remember it. The salsa packs a pretty mean punch. I went with my staple of 2 chicken adovada enchiladas, rice (substituted for the posole), whole pinto beans, and lettuce. Buried in red chile. Meal came out blazing hot and stayed that way through the duration. Perfectly cooked, perfectly spicy. Mrs. RJG had almost exactly the same thing except she stayed with the posole (instead of rice), which isn't soupy, but rather fully cooked hominy with small chunks of pork. We were completely silent as we devoured our meal, leaving nothing on the plate as we were both scraping the last vestiges of chile off the plate. Sopaipillas make the perfect dessert as we added honey to each bite. Did I mention we had a second margarita each? Absolutely no downturn in quality or service, unlike just about everywhere else. Simply the best restaurant there is.

---original 9/10/15 review

Unlike the other restaurants we've reported on so far in Santa Fe, La Choza is consistently rated as one of the top dining spots in the area, and is very well known. Is it tourist hype and group think? Not at all. In fact, the RJG is close to rating La Choza as our favorite restaurant in Santa Fe as well. We've now been 5 times in a four year period, and it gets our coveted 5 star rating!

La Choza has to be considered one of the gold standards for New Mexican cooking. We've smothered a few items in their famous chile's, and never have we left without huge smiles of happiness. In general, regarding the chile, I've stuck with the Christmas standard. Their green is slightly spicy and I would consider it good to very good in flavor. Their red chile is quite simply the best I've ever had - and one of the best food items I've ever had. It's so velvety in texture with flavors that continue to explode as time goes on. It's not particularly spicy either (though hotter than the green on average - it's seasonal). Remember my comment on the Horseman's Haven review about "It's not about the heat, it's about the flavor"? I think they can't get La Choza out of their head. And, yea, I can understand that too. Chips and salsa are an extra purchase, which we've done in the past (recall being excellent but too long ago), but eschewed this time around. All meals come with a sopaipilla (or garlic bread or a tortilla - c'mon get the sopaipilla), that they deliver steaming hot at the end of the meal. I darn near burned my face opening it up this time! Can't really recommend anything beyond this: You must order something that is buried in the red chile. I'm salivating as I write this.

For drinks they have tequila, margaritas, wine, and even craft beer on tap. Like a total dope, I ordered the frozen margarita. When will I ever learn that no one does frozen margs better than what we have in Texas? Of course, it was watered down. My fault. I knew better. Mrs. RJG, on the other hand, being the smart one in the marriage, ordered a house margarita on the rocks. I had one sip and was envious all night. Delicious, and plenty of tequila in there too!

As mentioned at the top, La Choza's reputation is well earned, is featured in every magazine imaginable, and as such, it fills up quickly. Reservations are recommended (2022 update: which they don't take anymore), or you can do what the RJG does and show up not long after opening (we always go for dinner). As well, it seems that all great New Mexican restaurants in Santa Fe come with difficult-at-first parking. The restaurant is hidden behind the Santa Fe Railyard at the mobbed intersection of St. Francis and Cerrillos. Get your trusty Google Map App out, and wind your way to the back roads. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant and through the fenced area. Like the restaurant, it fills up quick.  If you go early, easy breezy. Otherwise, it's street parking. The restaurant itself is the old headquarters of a former ranch. It has many rooms, and outside seating as well. And a bar area, which you can dine in as well. Very comfortable surroundings. La Choza first opened in 1983, and has been gathering awards ever since.

9/9/14; 9/10/15 (new entry); 8/4/16; 4/22/17; 10/21/18; 3/22/19; 4/13/22; 6/5/23

Weck's ~ New Mexico chain: Santa Fe

First visit: May 2023 (Sante Fe)

Locations: 14 (10 in the Albuquerque area Weck's locations plus one each in Farmington, Las Cruces, El Paso, and this one in Santa Fe).

HQ: Albuquerque (Founded: 1991)

As surprising as it may sound, this was our first visit to the venerable chain from Albuquerque that started back in 1991. You can't miss it, sitting at one of the busier intersections in Santa Fe. And with lovely grounds to boot, filled with trees, flowers, bushes, and other greenery. For whatever reason, I had it in my head that Weck's was more like a Denny's rather than an indigenous New Mexican breakfast house. A bad assumption. The problem is - our Santa Fe restaurant dance card is all filled up! Even some favorites from the past don't get a visit from the RJG's these days. Places like Maria's New Mexican Kitchen, Sunrise Restaurant, and The Pantry. We can only eat so much - and only so much New Mexican chile at that.

The original plan (to be revealed in the next entry) was to eat breakfast at our old reliable New York Deli Southside, so we could save up for dinner. But they were suddenly closed due to a "power outage". Really? You must be kidding. We're beginning to learn that "power outage" is a euphemism for "employees don't show up for work". I just saw the same thing at a Jimmy John's yesterday. Funny - none of the other restaurants nearby suffered from that. Hmmm...

As we were pondering our options, I had remembered Weck's. You see them everywhere in Albuquerque, and I keep saying I want to try it. I was really more in the mood for an American breakfast with eggs and pancakes, so Weck's became an obvious choice. Once seated, we noted they have a $4 special for Huevos Rancheros. I mean - seriously - when was the last time you saw a great deal like that? Weck's is winning our hearts and minds quickly. It's not a full order, but it sure ended up being plenty for Mrs. RJG. I went with a New Mexican styled omelet (I can't seem to help myself), and ordered it Christmas. We both loved the red and green chili's. And they do have flavored creamers, so we enjoyed more coffee too. Excellent place that the locals know about - and all the tourist's can see it. But do they know it? We do now. Finally. We'll be back.

6/5/23 (new entry)

Second Street Brewery ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: May 2023

First visit: Sep 2013

And finally we have arrived to our beloved Santa Fe for a full week of work and play. That is - Mr. RJG works and Mrs. RJG plays. Especially this week as it turned out to be hellacious. I really need to retire... But it's still a holiday night and I was optimistic for a slower week that went unfulfilled. This time we stayed at the Hyatt Place, a hotel we inexplicable missed in the past. Last year we rented a casita through Airbnb. Mrs. RJG had some issues with it, and so rather than chance another place, we stuck with a hotel chain. The Doubletree and Courtyard were too expensive, but the Hyatt Place was reasonable. And it proved to be our favorite place to date (though we both missed the balcony that you get at the Doubletree). I had a separate work area, which ended up being quite fortuitous.

We decided to repeat exactly what we did last year, and start our Santa Fe dining week at Second Street. And, yes, back at the Rufina location. Parking is a nightmare, and we suggest that you look for street parking first, rather than try to squeeze in the lot with no outlets in case it's full. We started with the chips, and they were just as good as last year (and the habanero still doesn't taste like a habanero...). As for dinner, I went back to the Cuban which was also as good as I wrote about last year. And Mrs. RJG had the Fish and Chips. She asked for the half order and got the full. Ugh! So we struggled to finish it all, though the yummy beers made the experience more pleasurable. As if we needed more reminders that inflation is killing us, the restaurant was much emptier than last year. Sad to see really. It's not the quality, it's definitely the high prices that are keeping people away. For the RJG, Second Street remains one of the foundations of any good trip.  

--- 4/10/22 update

We're back in our favorite eating state of New Mexico! Not since 2016 have we spent a full week here - working remotely and dining out. Since 2017, we've only stopped by for a weekend or one night, except in 2020 when the governor completely shut the state down unnecessarily for the remainder of the year (while we had much more freedom in Colorado).

For our first night, knowing full well we have a week of New Mexican food ahead of us, we went back to one of our favorite brewpubs. Ah, but there's a twist. We arrived on their final night in their original location on Second Street. Looks like there was a rent dispute, and so Second Street will carry on with their other 2 locations. So this marks our first try at their Rufina locale, which is actually closer to where we're staying anyway. Even more spacious than the original, Second Street was bustling on this Saturday late afternoon.

We started with the chips, homemade fried tortillas essentially and worth the $4 by themselves. We had 2 salsas ($3 each): A green tomatillo and a red habanero. The former mixes in avocado for a creamy consistency. We both thought it was OK. And the habanero definitely had a kick but it didn't have the fruitish flavor associated. Having remembered that Fish and Chips were the big hit, Mrs. RJG and I decided to split 2 meals: A half order of the Fish and Chips (2 large pieces of fish) and a Cuban sandwich. The fried cod is indeed very good, crispy and fluffy, and the fries are traditional. The big winner is the Cuban, which packed an immediate delicious flavor. High end deli Black Forest ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, chipotle mayo, mustard, butter, and pickles. All pressed crispy on fresh bread. Perfect brewpub food! We had 4 beers, all excellent as well. All in all, perhaps our best experience at Second Street, so we're very glad to have tried this other location.

---original 9/20/15 review

On our first visit back in 2013, Mrs. RJG and I just stopped by to try one of their handcrafted beers before dining elsewhere. While there, we noticed they had a special on green chile chicken noodle soup. I can honestly say it was the best chicken noodle soup we've ever had! And very spicy! It's too bad it's not a menu item. They offer a similar green chile chicken stew, but it's a bit different (still very good though). In any case, we vowed to come back for a full meal on our next visit to Santa Fe (we were wrapping up our trip at that point). In 2014, we decided to have a mid-week lunch here. I tried their grinder, which was outstanding. And I want to say they had the chicken noodle soup again, which I had along with the sandwich. Their version of the classic grinder, is very much like an "Italian sub" or "hero". I remember loving the bread and the seasonings, and of course you can't go wrong with mortadella and capicola. And the homemade potato chips were excellent as well. So it was with much anticipation that we returned for our final meal in Santa Fe for 2015. This time we ventured for dinner. It occurred to me that we had yet to try their New Mexican food, beyond the soup. So along with the green chile stew (as mentioned above), I tried their New Mexican Style enchiladas. Ummm.... yea, this isn't Casa Chimayo or La Choza that's for sure. They were OK, and the red/green chiles were decent recipes, but to be brutally honest, this isn't Second Street's forte. I suspect they have it on the menu out of obligation more than passion. I think pub fare is where their heart is. The whole black beans were good, but the rice was a BIG MISS. They weren't cooked - like waaaay undercooked. Crunchy and down right annoying as I kept eating it by accident since it was sprinkled into my chile sauce. We were fortunate (or unfortunate depending on one's perspective) to be seated at a table next to the kitchen. And the wife and I noticed that about 75% of the dishes coming out of the kitchen were Fish and Chips. Big blobs of brown food. And we were salivating just looking at it. I'm sure each meal comes with a co-pay card to the nearest clinic, but you only live once, and you might as well go down happy. Mrs. RJG for her part, was wise and stuck more to traditional brewpub offerings. She had the Patty Melt made with buffalo meat. She let me have a couple of bites, and I have to say it was absolutely delicious. And the fries were great as expected. This is exactly what Second Street is good at. I really love this place, so now I know better on what to get. Rule: Avoid New Mexican food at Second Street. Get Pub food instead.

I'm sure they have other things to drink, but unless you are alcohol intolerant or the designated driver, one really should sample their crafted beers. I've tried about 8 each now, and every one of them was delicious. Click the link above for the ones Mr. RJG had to date.

9/19/13; 9/12/14; 9/20/15 (new entry); 6/25/18; 4/10/22; 6/5/23

Frost Gelato ~ national chain : Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: May 2023 (Albuquerque - Uptown)

In following the same pattern as the day before, we wanted some ice cream for dessert. Let's stop back in ABQ on our way to Santa Fe. It's not too far of a diversion, and it's always good to stretch the legs. Uptown is an outdoor shopping center that is a shrine to 90s styled consumerism. If you can think of a retail chain that became famous during the decade, then it's likely to be here. With a handful of 2000's creeping in. It's quite refreshing from the usual smelly 70s & 80s indoor malls, that are mostly rundown today. And no big box discount stores to ruin the experience. The Sheraton hotel we stayed at is part of this development. Unfortunately there were very few people here on this sunny Memorial Day. No one can afford to go here anymore, so it won't be long before the lavanderia's and cash-now shops appear. I really miss the optimism of the 90s as we are slowly declining into a 3rd world country. There's always hope, but we need strong leadership, of which we are sorely lacking I'm afraid to say. And have been since, well, the 90s.

But enough of that doom and gloom - time to be 8 years old again and have some ice cream! Or in this case, gelato, which we tend to prefer more these days. I had the Espresso Chip and Mrs. RJG had the Butter Pecan. Creamy and delicious. This store had much more of a crowd than anywhere else, so a bright spot for the shopping center. If I see Frost anywhere else, I'll be sure to go. Arizona seems to be their base and I'm there occasionally. 

Speaking of that, Frost currently operates 4 shops in Phoenix and 3 in Tucson, with one each in Austin, Irvine-CA, Richmond-VA, and this ABQ locale. Take away Richmond, and they are truly regional.

6/5/23 (new entry)

Yo Mama's Grill ~ Socorro, New Mexico

First visit: May 2023

We can't seem to stay away from Socorro! We had originally planned to have breakfast in Las Cruces, but since we didn't go for a run in the morning, we weren't particularly hungry like we usually are. And we knew to lay off Mexican food since we'll be eating plenty of that once we arrive in Santa Fe. Let's just hit the road. About the only excitement on the route are the large pistachio tree farms that dot the highway, though mostly that is between Socorro and Albuquerque. Oh - and the Border Patrol checkpoint on I-25. That's a weird one - you drive through very slowly like a car wash, with camera's everywhere. And that's it. Very Orwellian. They're looking for certain things and have the equipment to do it. Guessing then that our big old orange blanket covering our suitcases and Mrs. RJG's extra shoes weren't of concern lol. 

Now once again I was circling El Camino Lounge, but they aren't open on Mondays. And this Monday happened to be Memorial Day, so not every place we might want to go will be open anyway. We had seen Yo Mama's while eating at Sophia's only the day prior. We should go there.

We arrived not too long after open, and were promptly seated. We were the first guests apparently for the day. Nice restaurant space, and they have a bar area too with some nice looking taps. Nothing new for the RJG though, so I stuck with water. We each went with a green chile cheeseburger, and I had fries and the Mrs. had the chips. The latter are homemade and excellent - better than the fries that we split. The cheeseburger was cooked perfectly for Mrs. RJG and the green chile was extra spicy on this visit, which they warned us about. That warning was met with a big smile of happiness from both of us, and we enjoyed every bite.

Yo Mama's opened in 2015 and is owned and run by husband and wife restaurant veterans. This is a really excellent spot to have lunch or dinner. Wow - that's two great places we've tried and El Camino is for certain to be excellent as well. Who knew Socorro was so interesting?

6/5/23 (new entry)

Caliche's Frozen Custard ~ New Mexico chain : Las Cruces

First visit: May 2023 (Las Cruces - Roadrunner Pkwy)

Locations: 5 (3 in Las Cruces, 1 in Alamogordo, and 1 in Roswell).

Got ahead of myself here. Before going to Lorenzo's, when we first arrived in Las Cruces, we decided an ice cream treat would be in order. Caliche's showed up quickly on our app and off we went. Caliche's was founded in 1996 in Las Cruces by renovating an old burger place and converting it to a frozen custard stand. They even admit that "concretes" were a new concept for the area, much more known in the Midwest. They offered sundae's and other large treats. But if you just wanted to try the custard and one mix-in, it doesn't appear they offer that. We don't have the appetite to eat large meals with a Blizzard like dessert, so we each settled on 2 scoops of simple custard - chocolate and vanilla. Excellent flavors for both, though I could have used a little espresso syrup :-)

Caliche's goes for the 50s retro look. You can walk-up (always love that option, which is what we took advantage of) or use the drive through. They also have hot dogs and turkey sandwiches if you're hungry for more than dessert. Neat place that we'd be certain to go to again if in the area.

6/5/23 (new entry)

Lorenzo's Italian ~ Las Cruces, New Mexico

First visit: May 2023

The RJG has been pretty much everywhere in the United States, but never the southern part of New Mexico. Once we drove south of Albuquerque, it was all new to me, including the aforementioned Socorro. Many years ago, way back in early 1988, I had traveled to El Paso with my dad not long after graduating from college (and still looking for work). And honestly Las Cruces is like a smaller version of El Paso. If you go to Google Images, the mountainous backdrop is quite stunning. Even on this day in May, the temperatures were already soaring into the 90s. I do not miss the heat of Texas for even one second. Nice to get my second reminder in the same month (the Austin trip being the other). Also New Mexico State is located here, keeping the town young and vibrant.

We stayed at the Best Western Mission Inn, which was a blast from the past. My dad loved places like these with "down and out" rooms where he could bring all his stuff inside including his infamous "boozy woozy" bag. The room was predictably dark when you pull the drapes closed. Drapes! The room rate is the cheapest I've paid since the 1990s. And the grounds are well kept. Great for a one or two night stay, though not practical for longer.

For dinner we opted for something different than Mexican, though that seems to be about 80% of the restaurants available to us. On that trip to El Paso so long ago, Dad and I went for a great Italian meal (he didn't like Mexican anyway...), and so I thought that would be a good thing to do here in Las Cruces as well. There's a few choices in town surprisingly, and Lorenzo's looked like the winner, so we gave it a whirl.

It's a newer restaurant, so it's not really old school, though the menu kind of is. I stuck with my tried and true Chicken Parm that comes with an opening salad. Fairly basic with an oily vinaigrette that was surprisingly low on vinegar. Good not great. I was happy with the chicken, though once again not a stellar example. The penne was well cooked, and the overall dish was very saucy. I quite like their "Sugo" sauce, which is fairly sweet. Mrs. RJG also knew to stay basic, and she had the spaghetti and meatballs. The pasta was a bit thick for her (though cooked properly) and she wasn't as fond of the sauce (too sweet). The two meatballs were really weird as they mix in raisins, so once again it comes out very sweet. Seems the food is geared for children almost, though it most certainly isn't. A nice diversion and certainly a good option, though if we return to Las Cruces (not planning on it, but you never know), we'll most assuredly try something else.

6/1/23 (new entry)