They say that timing is everything. So when local restaurateur, Quinn Stephenson, saw the opportunity to acquire the notorious SantaCafé in April 2019 during what he describes as, “a booming economy”, no one could have anticipated the pandemic waiting just around the corner. “Like most of us, I started in the industry with summer jobs like washing dishes at the (Santa Fe) flea market and busing tables at El Nido and Pranzo. It wasn’t until I was bartending at Coyote (Cafe) that I started falling in love with tasting wine and I started to appreciate what I was a part of. Seeing people in the r ..read more

Long before Chainés Gourmet Cookies could be found at 131 West Water St. in downtown Santa Fe, owner Chaine Peña, could be found watching her mother Bernadette Peña, make special mermaid and bunny shaped cakes by hand or helping her grandmother Vi Ortiz, make tortillas from scratch as she peeked over the counter while her little feet tiptoed on a step stool. “I’ve always been interested in baking. When I was a little girl, I remember helping my grandma make tortillas from scratch back when she used to make them. I also remember being so impressed with my mom’s ability to make cakes that looked ..read more

Whether you grew up in New Mexico, visited at some point, or relocated to our Land Of Enchantment, there is one thing we all have in common... The memory of your first bite of the warm little pillows of fried dough topped with sweet caramel colored honey that we call Sopapillas. There are many theories as to how the Sopapilla or "Soup Catcher" came to find a home in Southwestern cuisine and more specifically in New Mexico. The most adopted theory comes from the olive oil soaked Sopaipa that originated in Spain from the influence of Jewish and Moorish cultures and eventually found their way to ..read more

Growing up in Santa Fe and spending more than a decade in Albuquerque I feel like I have a pretty well-rounded perspective when it comes to the food scene in both cities, respectively.  Like I tell our guests, my cooking may be average but I'm really good at eating and I imagine that makes me somewhat credible when it comes to good food! Truly that's come with the many emails, social media comments, and phone calls with all the foodie questions. The number one question we get on our culinary tours is, "Which city has better food, Santa Fe or Albuquerque?".  You can imagine this to be ..read more

Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three, come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination when taking your first steps into the Kakawa Chocolate House in Santa Fe New Mexico. Your eyes may see a Santa Fe style house nestled off the beaten path but your nose will tell you that you've arrived at one of the cities favorite hidden gems. Nostalgia runs wild as you enter the turquoise portal, and though you won't find a chocolate river and everything is NOT edible, you may find yourself dreaming that it was. I was fortunate enough to befriend Kakawa Chocolate House owners, Bonnie and ..read more

Five years ago at a friends birthday dinner I was drowning myself in some of the most delicious pork belly I’ve ever had. I eventually took a second to breath and wipe the tears of joy from my face with just enough time to meet the infamous Chef Marc Quiñones during his time at Bien Shur restaurant at the Sandia Hotel and Casino. His passion for cooking entered the room minutes before he did and I could tell by his enthusiasm and love for food that we would become great friends. We bonded over pork belly and I instantly became a fan. It wasn’t until his move to Executive Chef at Luminaria in ..read more

There’s something about ordering the perfect drink, at the right time of day, in an enchanting place that helps our minds inspire the senses to design a memory that is forged in our mind for a lifetime. Can you recall such a memory? Maybe it was a piña colada while enjoying the silky sand on a desolate beach in the Bahamas? Maybe a hot toddy in the midst of a winter wonderland, while staying in a mountain chalet in Wyoming? How about savoring a robust Cabernet in Napa while overlooking the vast sea of grape vines? Well, when you visit Santa Fe, it has to be a margarita at the Bell Tower Bar ..read more

In late 2015 I brought the culinary tour concept to Albuquerque. Albuquerque has so much to offer travelers that I hoped our tour guests would appreciate it as much as I do. Though you can find many delectable gems that provide a unique insight into our culture, cuisine, and history Albuquerque's Old Town tends to get overlooked by locals. Our first tour launched in Old Town and we ate everywhere! Several times. It wasn't hard to find the top restaurants in Old Town and create a memorable experience before we had an influx of visitors on our tours. One of our favorite restaurants in Old Town ..read more

You cannot be involved with the food scene in Santa Fe without hearing the name, Cheryl Alters Jamison. Cheryl, along with her late husband Bill, has received a James Beard award on multiple occasions for cookbooks that have sold over 2 million copies. She has several years of experience as the food editor for New Mexico Magazine, become an award-winning writer and a contributor on national television and radio programs while appearing with celebrity chefs. Cheryl also sat on the board for Cooking with Kids, which a non-profit that provides unique, hands-on food and nutrition education progra ..read more

They say that timing is everything. So when local restaurateur, Quinn Stephenson, saw the opportunity to acquire the notorious SantaCafé in April 2019 during what he describes as, “a booming economy”, no one could have anticipated the pandemic waiting just around the corner. “Like most of us, I started in the industry with summer jobs like washing dishes at the (Santa Fe) flea market and busing tables at El Nido and Pranzo. It wasn’t until I was bartending at Coyote (Cafe) that I started falling in love with tasting wine and I started to appreciate what I was a part of. Seeing people in the r ..read more