Carnitas Archives - Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Los Cuates – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJune 9, 2026June 10, 20263:18 AM

Of the five variations of twins that occur commonly throughout the world, the most common fraternal (non-identical) occurrence is male-female twins which transpire in about 40% of all twins born. Fraternal twins may share up to 50% of their genes and generally are no more similar or dissimilar than any other two siblings. Although technically not twins because they were “born” four years apart, the Duke City’s most famous twins are the Los Cuates restaurants (cuates being the Spanish word for twins), named for Antoinette and Marcus, the fraternal male-female twins of founder Frank R. Barela, an inspiration for all…

Arizona Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Mexican Rating: N/R (Not Rated)

Salsa Brava – Flagstaff, Arizona

Gil GardunoDecember 21, 2025April 6, 20262:55 PM

As the feminine form of “bravo,” brava translates from Spanish and Italian to “well done,” “excellent,” or “good.” Brava is often used to praise a female performer, often in conjunction with or preceding requesting an encore for a performance well executed. Stemming from Italian and Spanish, brava can also be used to mean brave, angry or fierce. I’m one of those Hispanic gents who expects…make that demands, salsa to be fierce and angry. I want my salsa to bite me back, to reenforce through its potency and piquancy that pain is a flavor. That’s especially true when a Mexican restaurant…

Albuquerque Mexican New Mexico Rating: N/R (Not Rated)Tacos

Arriba Shihuahua – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJuly 24, 2025April 6, 202612:01 AM

“How do they get away with using the name “Shihuahua” instead of Chihuahua,” I pondered, noting to myself that wokeism and cultural sensitivities have declared offensive virtually any term that is perceived to diminish a culture or an individual (that perception usually being in the eye of the offended). Surely, the National Mexican-American Anti-Defamation Committee would take umbrage at that name, much as it did more than fifty years ago when Frito Lay introduced the Frito Bandito. For those of you not geriatrically advanced enough to remember the Frito Bandito, he was a cartoon mascot who spoke broken English and robbed…

Albuquerque New Mexican New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail: 2011 Rating: Very Good

El Bruno Restaurante Y Cantina – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoAugust 20, 2023May 1, 20267:46 PM

At about 75 miles each way, Cuba, New Mexico is almost equidistant between Albuquerque and Farmington. Regardless of starting point, the drive to and from Cuba is one of the Land of Enchantment’s most spectacular. A preponderance of scenic vistas and an otherworldly, multi-hued topography make the drive a sightseer’s delight. The stratification of multi-hued earthen layers, will remind you of colorful Navajo sand paintings while hulking hoodoos (columns or pillars of bizarre shape caused by differential erosion on rocks of different hardness) will inspire awe, none more so than the nipple shaped Cabezon Peak, a dramatic 7,785 foot volcanic…

Dog Friendly Food Truck Mexican New Mexico Rating: Excellent Rio Rancho

No Te Rajes – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMay 26, 2023April 5, 202612:01 AM

As the eldest of six, I had the wonderful blessing of having spent more time with our dad than my siblings did. Dad was the embodiment of the term “gentle man,” a patient mentor and nurturing exemplar of how to be a father and friend. During our many outings, dad always had the radio tuned to KDCE, “The Station That’s All Heart” out of Espanola. KDCE played the New Mexican and Mexican songs dad grew up with and loved. Among his favorites (frequently on KDCE’s repertoire) was Ay Jalisco No Te Rajes by Jorge Negrete. It became one of my…

Albuquerque Closed in 2023 Dog Friendly Gone But Not Forgotten Mexican New Mexico

El Cotorro – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)

Gil GardunoJuly 17, 2022April 12, 202312:01 AM

There’s a scene in the 2006 lucha libre (Mexican professional wrestling) comedy film Nacho Libre in which Nacho’s ectomorphic tag team partner Esqueleto (“the skeleton”) orders two grilled, buttered and chile-dusted elotes (corn-on-the-cob) from a street vendor. Esqueleto graciously attempts to hand one to Nacho who rebuffs the offer, knocks the elotes to the ground and bellows “get that corn out of my face!” That antagonistic act so enraged Esqueleto that he leaped on Nacho’s back and attempted to throw his corpulent partner to the ground. The sight of the two golden elotes tinged with red chile on the ground…

Albuquerque Closed in 2023 Gone But Not Forgotten Mexican New Mexico Tacos

Taqueria Los Amigos – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)

Gil GardunoJune 21, 2022December 9, 202312:01 AM

“On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air” ~Hotel California, The Eagles in 1977, when the Eagles’ immortal rock anthem Hotel California was released as a single, most radio hits clocked in at about three minutes. Three minutes is just about as long as Hotel California’s hauntingly compelling intro and the legendary guitar-duet-slash-duel-slash-musical-conversation between Don Felder’s double-necked Gibson EDS-1275 and Joe Walsh’s Fender Telecaster. The high voltage, era-defining song with its intensely intricate instrumental work, soaring harmonies and enthralling lyrics make Hotel California an iconic indictment of the dark…