A few new tidbits have made my radar – stay with me and we’ll explore all of this new fun stuff together!

FIRST, do not forget that this weekend is the Fiery Foods Festival at the Sandia Resort & Casino. More Scoville units than you can shake a tall glass of milk at and all the outstanding vendors that make hot stuff!

For the show, local favorites El Pinto have created the WORLD’S HOTTEST SALSA. Even CNN got in on the reporting of this story.

Ha. We’ll see about that.

Next, in the space formerly occupied by Delicia’s Diner (where I had some darn good tamales a few years ago), there will be Jamon’s Frybread Cabana – this sounds really interesting. Chef James Trujillo, formerly of the restaurant at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, is going to offer Frybread, of course, but also “Brasilian Street Food”. His heritage just couldn’t be contained any longer and I’ll tell ya, this is awesome news.

The children are our future…chefs! At the end of March (the 28th), the New Mexico Restaurant organization will be putting on a competition for high school culinary wizards where they compete for huge scholarships and the chance to compete nationally. The ProStart Invitational looks for excellence in cooking and restaurant management. Cooking skills = life skills, regardless your future career.

…”all the way over” in Cedar Crest is a gem of a restaurant founded by one of the dudes behind The Range Cafe and Standard Diner.  I say “all the way over” because really, Cedar Crest is about 10 minutes from town – closer than most stuff on the Westside.  But I digress.

I like this place but don’t go a ton, but when I receive their emails for specials and new ideas, it always makes me happy they are doing well against the likes of really mediocre Chinese food and other less worthy options.

The owner and cook is Jay Wulf, and the place is Greenside Cafe.

On Valentine’s Day, Jay is offering a 4 course meal with wine pairings for $65 – yum!

Here’s the menu, to get you salivating enough to make reservations:

Courtesy of nearly zero work on my part and a good assemblage of options from the city’s website, I present to you a smattering of Valentine’s Day dining specials. Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend.

Andaluz (Lucia): February 10, 11 and 14. A four course chef’s menu. Seating times are from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Call 505-923-9080 to reserve, or via Open Table. Cost is $65 per person.

Nativo Lodge (Spirit Wind Cafe): February 10, 11 or 14, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Featured items, plus a live guitar player on Valentine’s Day, if you like that kind of thing. Cost is $49 per person. Call 505-798-4300 to reserve.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (Pueblo Harvest Cafe): February 14th from 4pm – close.  $45.95 per person or $100 per couple, including sparkling wine. To make reservations, please call 505.724.3510.

Sandia Resort and Casino: Options for special menus are two: The Council Room restaurant will have an a la carte menu as well as a special menu for couples. Cost is $70 per couple.
The Bien Shur rooftop restaurant features a five course dinner. Cost is $125 per couple. Reservations can be made by calling (505) 796-7500.

Savoy Bar & Grill: Prix Fixe menu February 10 – February 14. $65 per person with wine pairings. $39 without wine.

Seasons Rotisserie & Grill: February 10, 11, 12, and 14th. Seasons will offer a special tasting menu in addition to their regular menu. Four courses of food with matching wines. $100 per person, which includes tax and gratuity.

Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown: February 14th. A three-course meal with four different entree options. Prices range from $24.95 – 29.95. To make reservations, please call 505.349.2520.

St. James Tearoom: February 14th. Three-course meal in the full afternoon tea tradition, long-stemmed red roses in a vase, and boxed truffles – all for only $52 per person. 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm or 6:30pm.

Torinos’ @ Home: February 14th. A cooking class and dinner on Valentine’s Day. Make ravioli, eat amazing food, take home chocolate! $95 per guest, plus gratuity. Call 505.797.4491 to make your reservation.

Tucanos Brazilian Grill: February 10, 11, 13 and 14th. What could Tucanos do? Add more meat, of course. Oh, and put roses and linens on the table. Not a bad deal, really. Lunch is $17.95 and dinner is $25.95. Reservations are being accepted at (505) 246-9900.

Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro: Februrary 14th. Zinc has extensive specials from 5 to 10pm. The Cellar Bar at Zinc will be hosting two four course dinners. Wine pairings and live music, too, for $65 per person (tax & gratuity additional).

On one day next weekend (September 25th), bRgR will donate 10% of all sales to Creative Albuquerque, a group fostering the growth of creative types all over town.  In short, they want urban “enlightenment”, and bRgR is just the sort of place to help out, what with that so-bizarre-its-cool wallpaper and chandeliers.

Here’s what Creative Albuquerque says about themselves, “Creative Albuquerque’s mission is to grow the creative economy to ensure a more dynamic and prosperous city.”

Here’s what I say about bRgR:  ”. . . you could imagine yourself at an eatery in Denver until you spot the Chile Bliss burger ($6), accented with smoked cheddar for extra punch . . .”

Cupcakes are soooo 2004.  What is even more quaint than the cute but lowly little cupcake?  Yes, indeed, we have a new pastry/baking/sweets spot in town, this one focusing on that most retro of baked goods: the Bundt Cake.  It’s called Nothing Bundt Cakes and is a franchise based out of Las Vegas.

Think you know the history of the Bundt Cake?  Yeah, me neither.  But that’s O.K. – all you need to know is that Nothing Bundt Cakes is located at Wyoming and Academy – near the 5 Star Burgers and Whole Foods, etc.

And, don’t forget the FREE – I will be giving away a YEAR of “Bundtlets”, individual cutesy cakes, one per month.  Just comment below and you’re in the running – I’ll give away the certificate this weekend!  If I get a crapload of comments I’ll decide who deserves the cake the most.  If I get just one, well…. you get it!

I’m not going to attach the press release because it’s kind of PR overload, but here are the details you need:

Today, 8/17:  ribbon-cutting ceremony

Friday 8/19: Animal Humane NM benefit – go on this day and help out critters to the tune of 20% of anything you buy!

Saturday 8/20: First 50 customers get free cake, AND more benefits for Animal Humane.  Yay!

5901-X Wyoming Blvd NE
505.924.4444
albuquerque@nothingbundtcakes.com
Monday-Friday: 9AM-6PM; Saturday: 10AM-6PM