It begins like this,

"Albuquerque, NM, August 27—Back from a nearly a year-long sabbatical, Jennifer James returns to the Albuquerque culinary scene! "

Then, for a whole page, it talks about travels, family experiences, and Jennifer's own local history before finally alluding to a new collaboration with her old mentors at Chef du Jour. 

Beginning September 6th with a pre-fixe menu, the cooking gets started.  But how long does it last?  Is she in the kitchen for good?  Is she buying the place?  These questions are not answered easily by reading the press release, and frankly, I hope for more from Jennifer in the local business scene, but perhaps this is just the start.  Once I get Kelly on the phone I hope to clear some of this up, but for now you can just drool over the menu and call for your reservations…..

UPDATE:  I got Jennifer on the phone and found out some excellent details – the trio of Kelly Burton, Nellie Bauer, and Jennifer James is entering a partnership with the owners of Chef du Jour (Buddy Murzyn, Ralph Garcia, and Heather Caine) to bring the experience of Graze and Restaurant Jennifer James back to the lovely exibition kitchen at Old Town's "most neglected" restaurant.  The old sous-chef, Deb, is leaving but everyone else is still on board, and I think it will be a fanstastic revision.  Not that I didn't love Deb – I wonder where she is going!?

Chef du Jour

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Pre-fixe menu for the grand unveiling weekend is $60, including wine but not including tax or tip.

So, the Chilacas in the NE Heights of Albuquerque (Juan Tabo & Montgomery) is now closed, and soon to be replaced by….

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….another burrito joint?  The name is Empire Burritos, from the Santa Fe Peppers people. 

You'd think that if a restaurant closed, it would be because the right people were not patronizing it, and opening a new name with the exact same type of food seems…. like a long shot.  Good luck, guys!

Pick up your coffee early in the morning, have a fortified breakfast, and head out – there are lots of great things going on in Albuquerque this Saturday, starting with the crack-o-dawn Farmer's Market.  Late summer is the time that everything explodes in local gardens and farms, so if you've not been so far this year, I can forgive you this time…. just don't let it happen again.

Next, Thai treats and PIE at the Neighborhood Market, behind the downtown Flying Star.

And since you're already downtown, why not have lunch at my new favorite NM hole – Cecilia's Cafe.  Great Huevos, if you've got a hankering for a 2nd breakfast.

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When it comes time to have a morning fix, really, any cup of hot brown water will do.  Or, for that matter, a no-doz or anything else heavily spiked with the magical chemical known as caffeine.  Like being dumped out of a cot in a leaky tent during a rainstorm, it will get the job done, certainly.

But on those mornings when rather than just rudely wake up you'd like to be roused from mental fatigue by a battalion of nursemaids with fluffy robes waving fans around the room to soften the heavy air whilst plying you with gentle daylight and footrubs, you need a higher breed of coffee.

For this, you can go to The Grove Cafe.  However, when you don't have time to linger, you can still get an acceptable level of satisfaction at your home or office:  pick up a bag of Intelligentsia when you're at the Grove (or order online from the company directly), brew in a good machine with filtered water, top off with a hint of half & half or just drink it black.

Sit back, start plowing through the email and task list, and take little sips from your favorite mug with a smile on your face.

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…and then you can start wondering when you can fit in a trip to the new sushi place from the Amerasia people.

Its Ecco vs (Berry)Ocean.

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Two very new-to-Albuquerque shops, one in Nob Hill and the other in the NE Heights.

One with more flavors, one with more unique flavors.

One very bright and cheery, one more refined and urban.

Whose flavors will reign supreme?