Category: Spanish

El Farol – Santa Fe, New Mexico

Gil GardunoDog Friendly, New Mexico, Santa Fe, Spanish, Tapas

For over a quarter century, the most popular section in New Mexico Magazine (the nation’s oldest state magazine, by the way) has been a humorous column entitled “One of Our Fifty is Missing.” The column features anecdotes submitted by readers worldwide recounting their experiences with fellow American citizens and ill-informed bureaucrats who don’t realize that New Mexico is part of the United States. Some travelers from other states actually believe they’re leaving their nation’s borders when they cross into New…

Pig + Fig Cafe – White Rock, New Mexico

Gil GardunoAmerican, Dog Friendly, New Mexico, Sandwich, Tapas

In its eighth season, the brilliant sitcom Seinfeld helped introduce casual comic book fans to the concept of Bizarro world, a setting which is weirdly inverted or opposite of expectations. In other words, a Bizarro world is a mirror image of conventionality, logic and reality, everything being reversed. Jerry Seinfeld’s polar opposite Kevin, for example, was depicted as kind, selfless and reliable in contrast to Jerry’s indifference, self-absorption and forgetfulness. Gene was quiet, studious, polite and giving while his Bizarro…

The Cellar – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoAlbuquerque, New Mexico, Spanish, Tapas

While touring Granada, Spain during a 2013 episode of CNN’s Parts Unknown, Emmy award-winning celebrity host Anthony Bourdain bemoaned that “we will never have tapas culture in America.” Then, to emphasize his contention even further (and perhaps to rankle the ire of American foodies who frequent “tapas” restaurants across the fruited plain), he challenged viewers: “You may think you know what a tapa is, like if you’ve had small bites at some fusion hipster bar where they do a whole…

Mas Tapas Y Vino – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoAlbuquerque, James Beard Nominee, Spanish, Tapas

Had Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra written Don Quixote in the 21st century, the title character’s quest in life might not have been to revive the chivalric virtues and values of adventurous knights. His quests might well have instead taken him on tapas bar-hopping adventures throughout Madrid, Spain. In his edible escapades, he would have fought the commercialization of the Spanish tapas traditions. Instead of tangling with windmills, he would have squared off against golden arches. Quixote’s sidekick Sancho Panza would…

Cosmo Tapas – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)

Gil GardunoAlbuquerque, Closed in 2013, Gone But Not Forgotten, Spanish, Tapas

Some of the world’s most elegant and refined cuisine has its genesis in very humble circumstances.  Today, Spanish tapas are widely regarded as sophisticated and exotic, but they didn’t start off that way.  In fact, Spanish tapas are an excellent embodiment of the axiom that when life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade.  The words “tapa” (singular) or “tapas” (plural) are derived from the Spanish word “tapar,” which means “to cover.”  In Spanish, a tapa is also the literal…

Conrad’s – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)

Gil GardunoAlbuquerque, Closed in 2007, Spanish

There was a time when the name “Hilton” didn’t conjure up images of a ditzy blonde airhead whose celebrity is based largely on promiscuity. Well, maybe not. More than 50 years ago, another ditzy blonde, Zsa Zsa Gabor honeymooned at La Posada in Albuquerque with her then husband Conrad Hilton, a New Mexico native and founder of the historic downtown hotel in which Conrad’s is housed. Since the hotel’s launch in 1939, the guest registry at La Posada de Albuquerque…