The New Dumpling Gang
In November 2015, The Fork told you about the then-soon-to-be-open State Capital Kitchen, an artisanal dim sum house at 500 Sandoval St. in Santa Fe (in the former home of Infierno and Café Café). Unfortunately, remodeling and other delays pushed the opening all the way into late February. Well, it’s finally downtown dim sum time! Congrats to chef Mark Connell (formerly of Arroyo Vino) and his team for bringing locally sourced, cart-to-table-service dim sum and other intriguing dishes, such as suckling pig with pickle, rye and mustard-y sauce to the City Different! (PS: The sale of alcohol is pending.)
Ditch the Corned Beef and Cabbage—At Least for Now
March is perhaps best known for the St. Patrick's Day holiday and some kind of madness surrounding basketball, but it's also Irish-American Heritage Month. On March 3, Santa Fe Culinary Academy celebrates that heritage by hosting a special pop-up Irish dinner party. Although the menu is subject to change, diners can look forward to dishes like house-cured salmon with vegetable chips, leek and almond soup with cabbage roll, braised lamb shank with sweet-and-sour carrots and mint gelée and fried sheep cheese with honeycomb and elder flower. The dinner is $45 per person before tax and tip, and beer and wine will be available for purchase. And have you tried the French bistro-inspired lunch in The Guesthouse, the academy's student-run restaurant located on the premises? Only open for lunch 11:30 am-1 pm Thursdays and Fridays through March 11, the restaurant is serving up some serious classics, such as a Croque Madame sandwich, cassoulet, a ratatouille tart and Meyer lemon soufflé.
Stay Classic
After we informed you last week about the James Beard Award semifinalists, a decent handful of which hail from New Mexico, there's even more good news for our state from the James Beard Foundation. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the JBF announced that Rancho de Chimayó Restaurante has been graced with the prestigious 2016 America's Classics Award, which, according to the foundation, "is given to restaurants that have timeless appeal and are cherished for quality food that reflects the character of their community." Only five restaurants from around the country are given this special honor every year. The restaurant in Chimayó, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, overcame a devastating fire in 2008 and rebuilt, with a lot of help from the community. A pride of Northern New Mexico since it opened, it's also where The Fork got a first taste of New Mexico green and red after moving back to Santa Fe in the 1980s.
L'Olivier French Restaurant Honored Again
For the second year in a row, L'Olivier restaurant has been selected as one of only 1,500 restaurants in the world (and the only restaurant in New Mexico) to participate in the annual Gout de France/Good France event sponsored by the French government. The annual French cultural celebration culminates with a March 21 dinner served at all 1,500 restaurants, and L'Olivier chef/owner Xavier Grenet tells The Fork he is proud to be chosen to serve it again. Reservations for this très special event are required.
Tour de Fe
Also on Feb. 24, USA Today Travel tipped a serious hat to the Santa Fe School of Cooking for having some of the best urban food tours in the country. The tours are an experience that even locals love, because diners get special access to the restaurant and, often, the staff.
Spaced Out In the Name of the Perfect Pour
Albuquerque recently welcomed the Deep Space Coffee Shop to southwest Central Avenue, and boy, these folks are serious about their coffee! Welcome to the neighborhood!
The Breakfast Taco Is Not Where Someone Thinks It's From
"Ask A Mexican" columnist, author and cultural food historian Gustavo Arellano recently read a piece about the origin of the breakfast taco, and contrary to what Austin bloggers claim, he ain't havin' it.
