So…. there’s a pretty well regarded chain of “upscale” burgers moving into Albuquerque.  Not sure about their prospects, given that the Duke City already has a huge number of really good burger places where we can get our fix of either gooey green chile cheese or the truly squishy and delicious Otis Burger at Standard Diner (fried egg and all).

Per the NMBW, “For hamburger aficionados hungering for gourmet beef chains to arrive in New Mexico, the wait is over. Five Guys Burgers and Fries, a fixture on the East Coast, is invading the Land of Enchantment with 15 restaurants over the next five years.”

So what can Five Guys do that we already cannot?  (Apparently one thing they do that I applaud is print their nutrition info – that’s one thing that the chains have been browbeaten into doing in recent years and I don’t think it is a bad move.)

My hope is that if they do well, it is not at the expense of gems like Little Red Hamburger Hut and Bubster’s and heck, even places that are more refined like Independence Grill and Route 66 Malt Shop (yes, I called them refined – its the burger, not the atmosphere, that I’m assessing).

So where is it?  In that weird little nexus of Louisiana, San Pedro, and Paseo Del Norte that I had very little reason to frequent previously (Trader Joe’s) and now I’m pretty much never up there.  Guess I’ll be making another visit.

Hard to believe that the holidays are HERE.  AGAIN.  Whatever happened to 2009?  (Heck, what happened to every thing since 2001???)

Soothing your spirits is key, so head up to the heights on Saturday for some candles, lights, holiday specials from local retailers, and delicious Tea from A Tea Co (otherwise known as Kung Fu Cowboy Tea).

They serve hot teas as well as delectable sandwiches, soups, and pastries, with a Gluten-free option every single day.  Neato!

Scottsdale Village Champagne and Lights - 4pm – 7pm

In a development that I can only describe as surprising yet good, Albuquerque will soon be home to a new restaurant whose concept is. . .  salads.

Salad Bowl, a small franchise with only 5 locations so far across Texas and Colorado, has set their sights on many locations right here in New Mexico, with the first to be on San Mateo & Academy (is this the old Sweet Tomatoes location?  Nope, looks like a former massage therapist.)

Whoa.  In this economy, with food prices at record highs and dining options getting tighter?  I hope they do well, but in the “more is more” eating mantra I fear that many diners will check them out a few times, then retreat to Sweet Tomatoes or Souper Salad for volume.

Best of luck to Salad Bowl – I’ll be there checking out the variety!

Salad Bowl Business Information

I don’t mean the run-of-the-mill, daily kind of craving where you’re just sort of in the mood for some chips or you think that some cheese would taste good right about now.

Rather, I mean the completely out of the blue, laser-focused urge that hits you like a slap from Goliath leaving you panting and gasping for sustenance.  The kind of craving that usually originates from a systemic overload of output and imbalance of input – diet deprivation.  Not dieting per se, but just something that you do not eat often and could fill a nutritional need once in awhile.

So it was tonight in my yoga class that I was inspired by Federico’s.  Barely 10 minutes remained in class and I was more dehydrated and depleted than usual.  My feet were cramping and I wasn’t feeling particularly hungry, but WHAMMO and all I could think about was a big fat stuffed tortilla in my grubby paws.  The last time I have had a burrito – not just taking bites but really inhaling a burrito from start to finish – must have been at least 2 years.  But just the same I was struck by how good an idea it sounded. 

I decided that if I still felt that way as I approached the Juan Tabo exit, I’d go for it.  The next 30 minutes I started playing together the combinations in my head, trying to figure out which ingredients would hit the spot and put me in a happy zone.  Eggs?  Hell yeah.  Something rich?  Mmm, yes.  And something fresh…. I have it!

Ultimately, I invented a breakfast burrito and damn if it isn’t amazing.  This is it:  eggs, guacamole, pico de gallo.  All swaddled in that ginormous indescructable yet still tender tortilla, I did yet another completely bizarre thing for me – I ate IN THE CAR.

This is what food can be.  Sustaining, timely, happy-making.  If its another few years before I have the same craving, fine.  Maybe next time it will be something different.  But tonight it had to be that glorious burrito and it HAD to be eaten immediately, fear of drippage tossed aside into the night air.

Federico’s Mexican (open 24 hours – a rarity around here!)

“The Tenacious Burrito”, as listed on the receipt: 

1 Bean burrito, minus beans, plus huevos, plus guac, plus pico.  $4.19 and well worth it.

How many times have I eaten at La Nortenita?  In short, a lot.  Maybe more than most restaurants in Albuquerque, with the exception of my routine lunch spot which right now shall go unnamed.

In the cool of autumn, the dead of winter, the chill of spring, or, hell, ANY old time, I just love La Nortenita’s menudo.  Breaking from appropriate accoutrements, I get corn tortillas instead of bolillo bread and just let all the masa-rich aroma penetrate the lime-spiked zing of the red chile broth.

You could eat this even if you weren’t a fan of tripe if you only could ignore the various bits floating in the bowl.  But typically they are front and center and make no mistake about it, they used to be part of an animal.  Thank you, steer.  You are most delicious when stewed in red chile.