Prior to 2009, it was pretty damn hard.   

Santa Fe is known for a lot of touristy things, but one of them is not catering to the desires of those who like to eat, drink coffee, or shop past 8pm on weeknights.

If you happened to be awake in Santa Fe on a Saturday or Sunday morning and wanted portable coffee, where did you go?  O’Hori’s has some of the best beans in town.  Closed weekends.  Santa Fe Baking Company?  Sequestered away next to the Trader Joe’s (still, probably your existing best option and its close to St Francis if you’re driving through town).  Holy Spirit Espresso?  Closed weekends.  Dunkin Donuts?  Hey, at least its open!

When Flying Star opened in 2009, it expanded the drinkable coffee options in Santa Fe to a significant margin, especially in the evenings.  A few other local places open early and serve coffee, true.  But stay open late?  Not typically.

Now, a pissed off employee set the place on fire.  Why?  Who knows, but the reaction has been to blame Flying Star’s food and their “intrusion” into the local dining scene. 

I say WTF, and will continue saying it.  Flying Star is not the best restaurant around by a stretch, and I will keep saying that, as well.  But they are reliable, diverse, amicable to picky diners, cook organic meats and eggs, have great pastries, serve decent coffee, and are open many many hours every single day.  And, they are LOCALLY owned. 

What more do you slow food people want?

One of our local news outlets – KASA – is sponsoring a giveaway for a $50 gift card to Calico Cafe.

Calico Cafe is tucked up in the near north valley and offer some amazing comfort food and killer brownies, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Give it a whirl, and do your best to stay off KASA’s email spam list after that.  Heh heh.

Sadly there have been a few restaurant robberies in the last week, targeting the manager’s office for cash while brandishing weapons.

Interestingly, it has been at two chain restaurants, both with Texas in the name:  Texas Land & Cattle, and the Texas Roadhouse.

Might other steak places be next?  Or just other large chains that potentially carry cash (though I can’t imagine any restaurant keeps much around for this very reason) . . .

I hope the culprits are caught and no more incidents occur.

I’m the maid of honor for my brother’s wedding and as part of my tasks I am making all kinds of snacks for the guests to nibble on the evening of the reception as we wind down, keep drinking, and listen to the music while (hopefully) dancing and having a grand old time.

In the list:

• Marshmallows in funky flavors to make Smores
• Truffles, more decadent than imaginable
• Crackers, from olive cheddar to savory herb
• Mexican Wedding Cookies, natch
• Roasted/spiced nuts, at least 3 kinds from sweet to spicy to savory and combinations thereof

I love making snacky foods – it is such a personal touch.  Local bakeries could provide this, and if I were going that route I’d call up Flying Star, Le Paris, Just a Bite, and a few others to supply those treats.