H appy Thursday, Fork followers! This week, we find Taos in the midst of New Mexico Restaurant Week, discover that the Food Network wants to know if Santa Fe and Albuquerque chefs have the chops to compete on its popular show Chopped, look to Albuquerque to make our coffee and chocolate dreams come true and more.
El Meze-ing Around
The list of Taos dining spots involved in New Mexico Restaurant Week may seem comparatively short when leaned against recent offerings in Santa Fe, but through Saturday, March 5, the Taos restaurants participating in the annual event aim to please. Take chef/owner/food historian Frederick Mueller's three-course dinner at his restaurant El Meze ($30 per person before tax and tip). Choices, choices: Chicharrones or rajas? Pan-seared ruby trout, pasta e fagioli or buffalo tamales in chile sauce with Tucumcari-produced feta cheese? Dark chocolate soufflé cake or almond semifreddo? You can think about those choices on the way to the restaurant. In the meantime, please do the restaurant, and others in Taos, a solid by making a reservation.
Cable Network Seeks NM Chefs for Fun, Humiliation, Prizes
Producers of the Food Network's popular show Chopped are seeking chefs from Albuquerque and Santa Fe for an upcoming season of the show, which pits contestants against each other in a series of mystery-basket challenges, judged by some of the world's culinary elite. These judges don't hold back when the ingredients in the basket wind up tasting more like the basket after being prepared, but when competing for $10,000, a little hard truth may be worth it. Any New Mexico chefs thinking of competing? You have until the end of May to apply, and even amateur chefs can get in on the action.
You Gotta Keep ’Em Caffeinated
Chocolate addicts and coffee lovers will flock to the Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque March 19-20, and this year, the vendor spread looks divine. Now the nation's largest consumer festival for chocolate and coffee, this event boasts tasting booths, cooking demonstrations and seminars, baking and chocolate-eating contests, live music and lots of free fun for the kiddos.
Through the Bean Prism
Speaking of coffee, Fork follower, food enthusiast and all-around nice guy Michael Schneider tipped us off to Prismatic Coffee, a new third wave coffee roaster and café on Bellamah Avenue in Albuquerque. The third wave of the booming coffee revolution is described on the website thusly: "Third wave coffee takes precision and intention on every level. From the farmer, to the roaster, to the person making the final product, third wave coffee is about craft. Albuquerque is dedicated to craft excellence in beer, and is now ready for that same excellence in coffee. Beer at night, coffee in the morning." Hours are currently limited, but you can keep your eyes on the business's Facebook page for updates.
Like Frybread Putty in Your Hands
On March 10, the Pueblo Harvest Café & Bakery at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque hosts a frybread-making workshop in conjunction with Albuquerque Restaurant Week (March 6-13). The class, $15 per person, requires reservations by calling 724-3510.
A Pie (Pi) a Day…
Hankering for a road trip? Pie-O-Neer Pies, in the small west-central New Mexico community of Pie Town, is happy to announce the March 14 (Pi Day!) opening of its new Pi/pie bar, which will offer a larger selection of pies to enjoy, both buffet-style by the slice and by the whole pie to go.
When Irish Beers Are Pouring
Santa Fe Brewing Co. has St. Patrick's Day clearly on its radar with the March 5 release of its Irish Red Ale, available on tap only at the main brewery location out NM 14 way, and only for a limited time. Swing by between noon and 6 pm on March 5 to ring in the release, with rockin' live music by Sean Healen and company between 4 and 6 pm.
Grocery Evolution
Epicurious writer Eve Turow wants you to know that your favorite supermarket is adapting in a world where a larger chunk of food purchases are being made online, away from the brick-and-mortar experience. Is it good news for localists? Well, it depends on how you like to shop.
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