October 2026 - Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Asian Fusion Japanese New Mexico Rio Rancho Vietnamese

Street & Spice – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 31, 2026October 31, 202612:01 AM

Before writing any of my missives, especially about a restaurant from a culinary culture about which I have not previously written, I take inventory of what I know about that culture. The September, 2026 launch of Street & Spice provided the opportunity to assess what I knew about Indonesia. It wasn’t a very long list. Undoubtedly the coolest thing (to me, at least) about Indonesia is that some of its islands are home to the Komodo dragon, a large lizard-like apex predator that may have inspired Star Trek’s “Gorn.” I also knew that Indonesia is made up of about 17,500…

Hawaiian New Mexico Rating: N/R (Not Rated)Rio Rancho Seafood

Line + Tide Poké Bar – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 25, 2026October 30, 202612:01 AM

For young people starting their first corporate jobs, it doesn’t take long before idealistic naivete is dealt a cruel blow by the reality of the corporate world. They soon discover a measurable disconnect between a company’s ethical values and actual operational behavior. While the stated purpose of mission, vision and values statements is to “inspire trust and guide strategy,” they function more as marketing shields and public relation tools rather than true operational framework. Mission, vision and values statements ring hollow when a company pledges to prioritze employee well-being (how many times have you heard or seen the phrase “people…

Albuquerque Mexican New Mexico Rating: Very Good Tacos

La Reforma Brewery – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 21, 2026October 22, 20263:27 AM

When my friend Schuyler saw the name of the restaurant on this review, he teased me that my life of dissipation, debasement and debauchery finally caught up with me. “39-year-old juvenile delinquents like you belong in a reformatory.” Being the mad scientist cerevisaphile he is, he also told it’s about time I ended my teetotaling ways. “You’ve tried everything else. Why not beer?” Frankly, when my friend Ryan “Break the Chain” Scott first told me about La Reforma Taqueria, Brewery and Distillery, I had no idea what the context of the term “Reforma” meant, but doubted it had anything…

Italian New Mexico Rating: Outstanding Rio Rancho

Joe’s Pasta House – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 16, 2026October 18, 202612:02 AM

Much as they might wish for it to happen, no restaurateur can make their restaurant THE hometown favorite. It happens organically and it happens only by the unanimous will and consent of the people. Similarly, it takes the acclamation of the dining public for a restaurant to become THE heartbeat of a community–where residents go to interact with one another in a convivial spirit of sharing a great meal. A restaurant has to prove itself every single time with every single guest. It must offer a combination of memorable food, a homey look and feel and mostly, personable, attentive service. …

Albuquerque Breakfast Brunch Japanese New Mexico Rating: Outstanding

Shoku House – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 14, 2026October 16, 202612:01 AM

My friend and frequent dining companion Bill Resnik has plied his project management skills throughout the world. His travels afforded him the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of cuisine and wine. You might think his culinary memories would be reserved for foods of the fine dining category. You would be wrong. One of the foods he frequently waxes poetic about is a simple egg salad sandwich that came from a vending machine at a convenience store in Japan. It made such an impression on him that he obsessed about figuring out how to duplicate that sandwich. With his engineering…

Albuquerque Italian New Mexico Pizza Rating: Outstanding

Seemo’s Slices Pizzeria & Market – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 13, 2026October 14, 202612:01 AM

College students are known for their poor and unhealthy eating habits. Without mom to ensure they get some semblance of a balanced and nutritious diet, students indulge in copious amounts of cheap foods such as burgers, ramen and pizza. A recent study found that 13 percent of Americans consume pizza on any given day. Right now college students are at the top of that list. About 20% to 22% of children and teens eat pizza on any given day, according to studies published in the medical journal Pediatrics. That doesn’t mean every single student eats a slice every 24 hours.…

New Mexican New Mexico Rating: Excellent Santa Fe

The Pantry Restaurant – Santa Fe, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 9, 2026October 13, 202612:09 AM

“Although the skills aren’t hard to learn, finding the happiness and finding the satisfaction and finding fulfillment in continuously serving somebody else something good to eat, is what makes a really good restaurant.” In 1948, just three years removed from the second “war to end all wars” Santa Fe was hardly the sophisticated and cosmopolitan tourist haven Conde Naste Traveler magazine readers have named one of their favorite travel destinations for 21 consecutive years. With a population of around 25,000 citizens, Santa Fe’s art, cultural and architectural attractions weren’t nearly as well known as they are today, but then, the…

Donuts New Mexican New Mexico Rating: Very Good

Charlie’s Spic & Span – Las Vegas, New Mexico

Gil GardunoOctober 6, 2026October 10, 202612:01 AM

Time–and the woke movement–haven’t left Las Vegas, New Mexico behind. It may seem that way when you hear locals–even Highlands University students–frequent usage of the term “the spic.” They’re not using the term in a derogatory manner to refer to someone of Hispanic descent. They’re using it as a term of endearment for Charlie’s Spic & Span, probably the most popular restaurant in Las Vegas. Everywhere else “the spic” may be a derogatory term, but not in Las Vegas–at least when talking about Charlie’s Spic & Span, one of New Mexico’s most beloved and venerable restaurants. If you’ve never…

Colorado Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Italian Rating: N/R (Not Rated)United States

Paravicini’s Italian Bistro – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Gil GardunoOctober 5, 2026October 10, 202612:01 AM

Para vicini translates roughly from Italian to “for the neighborhood.” Paravicini’s Italian Bistro isn’t located in just any Colorado Springs neighborhood. It’s located in the heart of Old Colorado City, the historic west side of Colorado Springs. Founded in 1859 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, Old Colorado City was the first permanent settlement in the region and briefly served as the first capital of the Colorado Territory. In 1917, it was annexed and incorporated into Colorado Springs. Today, the former wild-west town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and functions as a pedestrian-friendly arts and dining…

American Colorado Dog Friendly Rating: N/R (Not Rated)Sandwich United States

Shuga’s – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Gil GardunoOctober 4, 2026October 10, 202612:01 AM

Gastronomes shall not live on great restaurants alone. Sometimes, our souls need to be fed, too. Few cities can accomplish both feeding our bodies and nurturing our souls as well as Colorado Springs, a city of incomparable beauty and endless outdoors opportunities. As a “foodie” destination, WalletHub ranked the city 70th overall from among 180 major U.S. cities (Albuquerque ranked 49th). In terms of diversity, accessibility and quality, the Springs ranked 63rd nationally. For affordability, it ranked 79th, indicating dining out and food-related costs are slightly higher than average. Colorado Springs has a rapidly expanding independent culinary scene, food trucks…

Colorado Deli Rating: N/R (Not Rated)Sandwich United States

East Coast Restaurant & Delicatessen – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Gil GardunoOctober 3, 2026October 10, 202612:01 AM

“I’ll have what she’s having.” Can it really be 35 years since Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal created their famous fake la petite mort scene from When Harry Met Sally? The scene was filmed at New York City’s Katz’s Delicatessen where sumptuous sandwiches are skyscraper tall and absolutely delicious (my sole visit was in 1978). Unlike Meg’s character, most of us wouldn’t have to fake our “excitement” with one gander of the sheer size of Katz’s pastrami sandwich. A Katz’s, the world-famous pastrami sandwich is enormous, featuring about one pound (12–16 ounces) of hand-carved meat stacked between rye bread. The sandwich…

Month: October 2026