Opening NEXT WEEK in Rio Rancho is the new spot opened by a Seattleite (they know coffee, don’t they?): Cafe Bella Coffee

According to their website and press info, Cafe Bella will feature locally-roasted beans (from where? I’ll find out!). But that’s not what interests me.  What interests me is that the owner, Michael Gonzales, will be pulling shots on a crazy expensive Italian espresso machine, and also that he was trained by the Italian World Cup champion barista while they both lived in Seattle.

Will Guiseppe’s be feeling some competition? I hope so. This metro area is far large enough to support several excellent espresso shops.
The cafe side of things will be featuring as much locally grown produce as possible, working with farms and small businesses to get the kitchen’s raw ingredients.

So, it all sounds good – I’ll haul myself up the hill and check the place out, and probably post photos to Twitter, too: @dukecityfood

Café Bella Coffee

2115 Golf Course Road S.E. #102 in Rio Rancho

http://www.cafebellacoffee.com

I had mucho love for Frattelli’s Pizzeria. Shortly after I reviewed them they closed, which made me both unhappy and frustrated with the situation (landlord/tenant dispute). Not only that, I could no longer get the amazing NY Pizza that they churned out for legions of Rio Rancho fans.

This summer, another Pizzeria opened in the same space (near as I can tell from the address): Bambino’s Pizzeria.

No one has yet posted reviews, though one guy apparently loves it and has posted a tantalizing photo of some massive slices:

With more reviews and more feedback, time will tell if this place is decent or even (hope, hope) the same folks as Frattelli’s. So, has anyone been? Good stuff or just oversized triangles of aspiration?