A s January winds down, things are looking extremely up around the state’s food and beverage landscape. This week brings us a special cart at the Anasazi Restaurant in Santa Fe to exalt the arrival of National Hot Chocolate Day. A manufactured holiday to sell more of the stuff? Sure. But it's hot chocolate, which is delicious, so who cares? The Food Depot, Northern New Mexico’s food bank, gears up for its annual Souper Bowl competition and fundraiser. And if you missed your chance to try Santa Fe Spirits’ Atapiño-brand limited-run liqueur before it ran dry, fear not: It has risen! Plus, a few other news items to titillate the taste buds. Have food news? Please share!! You can send it to [email protected]. And if you want your friends to join the party, please send them this way.
Hot Tub Chocolate Machine
To celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day on Jan. 31, the Anasazi Restaurant, Bar and Lounge at Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe is setting up an adult-flavored hot chocolate cart, and some of the offerings are a chocolate lover's dream. The Anasazi has never been shy to present pop-up spirits-based events, so this comes as no surprise. First, there is a distinction that must be made between hot chocolate and hot cocoa, and not just because Hot Cocoa Day is on Dec. 13, and that would make us look stupid. Hot chocolate contains milk with real chocolate, while hot cocoa uses powdered cocoa and some liquid, usually water or milk. The folks at the Anasazi don't skimp on the good stuff (milk and real chocolate!). Look for the Kentucky Hot Tub Hot Chocolate, made with a dash of Ancho Reyes ancho-chile liqueur, and the Lucha Libre, crafted with Republic Reposado tequila, Kahlua, Mexican hot chocolate and cinnamon whipped cream. Expect to see a rotation of hot chocolate-centric cocktails throughout the winter.
Slurp to Save Lives
The Food Depot's annual Souper Bowl professional soup competition is upon us (Jan. 30), and the list of of more than 30 competitors this year is impressive. At around $30 a head, it may seem a bit steep. But it's for a good cause. And then there's the math: It's about $1 for each sample, with no angry chefs at the table denying you a second taste before casting your final votes. Online tickets, a list of competing restaurants, soup categories and more information can be found here. Tip: Get there early to park and line up. There will be a few tickets available at the door, too.
Rollin’ Deep-Hearted
The Food Depot is also on wheels, and on Jan. 22, it rolled into Los Alamos to launch its mobile-food program. Crunching the embarrassing numbers regarding food insecurity in the state, The Food Depot did what it always does: It stepped up.
A Stout Order
Also in Los Alamos, the Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op, in cahoots with the New Mexico Brewers Guild, is preparing for the state's first Stout Invitational on Feb. 20. Sample 12 New Mexico stouts, get schooled on stout in educational talks with top brewers and grab a souvenir pint glass. Need a ticket?
A Spirit in the Pines (Again)
Santa Fe Spirits' small-batch, whiskey-based, oak-soaked Atapiño liqueur—made with local piñón nuts, Silver Coyote single-malt white whiskey and resin made from local, hand-collected ponderosa pine—ran out quickly when it was introduced during the holidays last year. Good news! A new batch has arrived, and Santa Fe Spirits invites you to celebrate its return from 5-8 pm on Friday, Jan. 29, at its main distillery on Mallard Way.
Gelato on the Move
On Jan. 21, Ecco Espresso & Gelato officially announced its reopening in a new location at 128 E Marcy St., next to Cheesemongers of Santa Fe. It's just a hop across the street from its original location, but getting settled in took a good month. Happy Opening!
Can’t Finish that Beer? Make Dessert
There are many times when and many reasons why one must put down the pint glass before it's empty, but there is no reason to let the brew go to waste. Hoard that mighty liquid, and make beer-toffee sauce!
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