El Palacio Imperial – Albuquerque, New Mexico
“Tradition is everything. It’s very important. But we need to remember that the traditions of today Were the modernity of the past. And that the things we think are very science fiction type of things Will be the traditions of tomorrow.” ~Chef Jose Andres Chef Jose Andres was the founder of the World Central Kitchen which provides large-scale relief to communities affected by natural disasters and conflicts around the world. He’s one of Time Magazine’s world’s 100 most influential people. He earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his altruism as well as for being the Spanish-American culinary innovator who popularized tapas in the United States. His list of accomplishments and the reach of his philanthropic efforts mark him as one of those rare human beings whose influence and impact extend far beyond the kitchen. Several years ago, my Kim and I visited China Poblano, a spectacular restaurant launched by Chef Andres in Las Vegas, Nevada. This eatery pays tribute to the concept of East meets West, serving both Mexican and Chinese foods. Las Vegas Weekly called China Poblano “quite simply the perfect restaurant for today’s hipster foodie.” China Poblano is not a fusion restaurant per se in that it doesn’t…