Believe it or not, my most favorite thing at Porky’s Pride BBQ was the little cup of “Three Beans” that came with my enormous platter of meat.  An incongruous mixture of red, pink and LIMA beans well-seasoned and studded with rich ground beef, they teetered on the edge of being chili, save for some tomato.  They know their beef, from putting it in the beans, to some fantastic brisket.

Despite that, I still had to take a snapshot of the little mascot on the counter between the drink station and the dining room - is its name “bacon bits”, or is it meant to indicate the availability of additional toppings to accompany those beans?  I might not find out unless I go back for another visit, and that certainly could happen….

In another example of why it is, in some cases, risky to eat food from any restaurant, whether a large chain or a mom & pop place, not one, but two Duke City locations of IHOP have turned up employees with Hepatitis A.

They are warning the public that diners of the Wyoming or Montano locations should see a doctor if they feel ill.  It can be contracted by eating contaminated food and over time can do nasty things to your liver.

Ick!

So, just what is unavailable in the otherwise very decent culinary offerings of The Duke City?

Fourteen kinds of oysters on the half-shell, plus clams just for variety.  Bountiful spread courtesy of Neptune Oyster in the North End of Boston.

I often have the thought that I don’t visit certain restaurants enough. Really, though, there are only so many meals in the week and calories I can ingest before I start to inflate.

Even in a city as “small” as Albuquerque, we have a good number of restaurants, most of them worthy of patronage any day of the week. So when I visit an old favorite and realize that I really still like them, inevitably I feel a pang of guilt for not eating there more often. In small ways, I hope that I can help them out by encouraging others to go instead through my writing, blogging, and just conversations with friends.

Slate Street Cafe is one of those great spots, with pleasing food and stylish decor. I was writing about them earlier today and had the occasion to describe where they existed in the local restaurant scene, “They are a go-to place when Artichoke is too fancy, Relish is too casual, and you’ve forgotten that Chef du Jour exists.”

That sums it up nicely, while even giving props to that other go-to gem on San Pasquale.

The brewpub’s popularity cannot be stopped.

Case in point: Kelly’s patio on any evening that is not 5 degrees and snowing.

Case in point: An hour-long wait at Chama River most evenings.

Case in point: A NEW brewery and restaurant, called Marble Brewery is opening just north of the downtown area, quenching the thirst of all of we office workers whose drive home looks long when viewed from happy hour.

The owners (part of the Rio Chama group) will keep things simple, offering their own crafted beers along with a small menu of sandwiches from Chama River, completed onsite. The location couldn’t be more convenient - between Lomas and Mountain on Marble Ave, perfect for these summery evenings as the sun is getting golden.

Soft opening (which means they’re testing the waters and the menu) was yesterday evening, and once things really start rolling I hope the feedback is all good.

As of last week, the Nob Hill Bar & Grill is open for business and one more piece of the upper crust dining jigsaw is back in place where it ought to be.

Occupying the former Graze space, the muted yellows and greens have been gutted and darkened for the more testosterone-heavy feel of the menu.  Dark wood floors, high-backed booths, and an open ceiling should convey to anyone eating here that they’re in for a thoroughly modern take on pub fare.

The menu is full of great flavor combinations that I hope taste as good as they sound - savory baklava with shrimp and mascarpone sounds divine, and Wild Turkey beef stew simmered in its namesake could be a great pick-up on a cool stormy summer evening.

On the other hand, Sam commits one of the big atrocities in my book - grinding up Kobe beef for burgers.  This is one trend I’ll not be condoning anytime soon - let the unctuous marbling stay where it belongs!

Still, I’ve missed this kitchen crew’s food so I’m extremely excited to visit and start sampling.  If you’ve been, let me know and give us all the scoop on how everything tastes.

The triumphant return of the Duke City’s favorite celebrity female chef is upon us!

jennifer james 101

. . . is the name of the new spot, opening on April 29th in the up and coming stretch of Menaul, right next to Ruby Shoesday.

I first ate at the original Jennifer James on San Mateo after it had opened up in the old Cafe Spoleto house. I missed Cafe Spoleto dearly and was slightly dubious about this “newcomer”, yet I had heard it was good so I made a reservation and went for it. I had vegetables that were actually prepared correctly, salad greens dressed properly, and rabbit so tender you’d hesitate to call it a game animal. Multiple visits ensued, and then Graze happened - James’ vision of small plates and lots of sampling by everyone at the table. It did well among foodies, but Albuquerque either didn’t have enough of them or those devotees didn’t have enough cash to visit time and time again, and ultimately it closed less than six months after Jennifer left the kitchen.

She has been cooking at Chef du Jour in the interim and doing fabulously, but now it is time for her to wow us all with her own solitary vision again. I cannot wait to see the menu, as it should hold all of the inventiveness I’ve seen before coupled with seasonal ingredients and a love of the craft.

See you all there, and let’s make this a truly powerful comeback with our support.

jennifer james 101
4615-A Menaul NE
505-884-3860
Tues - Sat 5pm - 10pm

You live in Albuquerque, and you visit your usual restaurants. Why not try a little detour this evening (or any evening, for that matter), by heading just another 15 quick minutes to a cooler and more refreshing neighborhood - Cedar Crest.

You head east on the freeway, and enter the canyon towards Tijeras, exiting there and heading north towards the Ski Area. Just 3 miles up the road you’ll see a cloister of new buildings - our gorgeous new grocery store, a yummy pizza joint, and . . .

The Greenside Cafe.

Started a year ago by Jay Wulf, one of the founders of the Range Cafe and a former partner at the Standard Diner, Greenside is a mecca for casually elegant meals in a truly relaxing setting.

The bonus for this evening only is that it is Jay’s 40th birthday! Stop in and wish him many more, for once you try his food you’ll hope he stays in the restaurant business for decades to come.

Of course, you can always plan a visit to the Cafe, they host wine dinners on a regular basis - the next one is April 12th, 17th, and 26th, featuring French wines and classic bistro dishes. Held at 6:30pm, it is only $58 per person for 4 course with wine pairings - a bargain. Call to reserve your spot: 286-2684.

Happy Birthday, Jay!

(OK, that might be an overstatement, but hear me out and you’ll get the idea….)

I love coffee. I adore a good pull of espresso. And yet, when you or I search Google for “best barista” albuquerque, you will get a post that I wrote on my older blog website about DENVER. Denver, fer gawd’s sake. I need to hang my head and beg forgiveness with that nonsense….

Instead of pumping up the abilities (good as they may be) of baristas in other cities, I should be using my knowledge and whatever influence I can muster up to improve the situation here in my favorite city, my adopted hometown of Albuquerque.

This morning I changed my Saturday routine slightly and avoided my usual bout of loitering and absorbing the scene at Flying Star over magazines and just so-so coffee, to spend some time at a much homier shop called Cup O’ Joe. I hadn’t been by in an embarassingly long time, but promptly said hello to George and got on with my espresso swilling, lounging decompression.

George pulls a really good shot - not perfect, but certainly worthy of a visit or two or three. And - get this - he charges a BUCK for a shot. How can you not come by and check this place out now?

Cup O’ Joe is on Eubank, almost at Montgomery, next to a Farmer’s Market store.

…if you’re visiting from somewhere else, but quite possibly even if you live here.

We have good food.

Further, it will keep getting better, with new places like Nob Hill Bar & Grill opening in less than a week, and Jennifer James’ new spot poised for summer 2008.

Much to sing about, indeed.