For as long as I can
remember, the city of Albuquerque has proudly touted its tri-cultural
heritage, celebrating a 250 year plus history of Native Americans,
Hispanics and Anglos living and working together. In truth, the
city has been a multi-cultural melting pot for generations, but only
recently are other cultures being celebrated and making inroads toward
being recognized as being viable, contributing parts of the city's
culture and flow.
Summer fest events
celebrate those divergent cultures as does the influx of so many ethnic
restaurants in the Duke City. In May, 2004, the very first soul
food restaurant in the city was launched and for that we're ever so
grateful.
Soul food first touched
our souls in Mississippi and in recent years, we've only been able to
get it in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our inaugural African-American dining
experience in Albuquerque was indeed memorable, in part because we were
the only diners in a restaurant that seats 64. I predict this
restaurant won't be lacking for patrons for long.
Not only is the food
outstanding, but staff and management are cordial and attentive.
For dinner, you'll be hard-pressed to choose from among the entrees and
appetizers (even though there are only two of these).
We opted for the hot
links and cheese platter which featured perhaps the best hot links we've
had in the Duke City. Sliced diagonally, they were sassy and
scintillating with just the right amount of heat. The cheese was
cubed and served with crispy crackers.
If it's on the menu,
you'd be well advised to order the spare ribs, a third rack of some of
the best smoky, sweet and tangy ribs we've had in town. The meat
falls off the bone and the sauce is so good, I poured it atop the baked
potato which came with those ribs. Also served with the ribs is
sweet buttery corn and griddle cakes so good you might want to ask for
syrup.
Also quite good is the
spiced rubbed grilled pork chop entree, a generous platter in which fat
seems unwelcome. A four course dinner is available with
reservations for $27.95. We'll soon avail ourselves of that meal.
The lunch menu offers
relatively few choices, but what is offered is generally wonderful.
You can have, for example, the hot links lunch in which two frankfurter
sized links are served between honey sweet buns to provide a taste
contrast and complement you'll truly savor. The hot wings, even
sans sauce as asked for by my Kim, are also delicious.
