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

Albuquerque Breakfast Breakfast Burritos Mexican New Mexican New Mexico Rating: Outstanding

La Sierra New Mexican Restaurant – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJune 27, 2026July 1, 202612:01 AM

“I eat uno, dos, tres, quatro burritos Pretty soon I can’t fit in my Speedos Well, I hope they feed us lots of chicken fajitas And a pitcher of margaritas” ~Taco Grande by Weird Al Yankovic While perusing the slogans–One Bite And You’re Hooked; Cooked Slow, Served Hot, Loved Fast; Hot Chile makes Everything Better” on the windows of La Sierra, I half expected to see lyrics from the “Weird “Al Yankovic song “Taco Grande” (a parody of the song “Rico Suave”). What I didn’t expect was for La Sierra to live up to its self-aggrandizing hype. Of course, diners always hope a restaurant is as good as it professes to be, but all-too-often an eatery doesn’t live up to the hype. La Sierra does…and then some! Albuquerque’s very first instantiation of La Sierra (not to be confused with the venerable Mac’s La Sierra) launched in July, 2025 on the corner of Menaul and University at the site of a former Little Anita’s. Some nine months later, a second La Sierra opened its doors. This one is located on Alameda just west of Corrales Road. You may recall that this location once housed The Whole Enchilada which was later renamed…

Albuquerque American New Mexico Rating: Very Good Sandwich

The Sandwich Company – Albuquerque, NE

Gil GardunoFebruary 11, 2025April 4, 202612:01 AM

In 1967, John Poppy introduced the term “generation gap” in Look magazine. Still used widely, the term refers to the “the chasm that separates the beliefs and behaviors belonging to members of different generations. This gap often manifests in varying thoughts, actions, and preferences between younger and older generations.” According to Investopedia, “Differences may exist in politics, values, pop culture, and other areas.” Among the ways in which a generation gap exists is in culinary exploration. TouchBistro, “an all-in-one point of sale and restaurant management system that makes running a restaurant easier” conducted a survey of more than 2,600 diners which revealed a wide expanse between generations when it comes to dining out. TouchBistro discovered that younger generations–“56% of Gen Zers and 47%–of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.” Sadly, 35% of respondents from my…

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

La Zenita – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoAugust 12, 2024April 6, 202612:01 AM

In his immortal play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare used two lines to convey that the naming of things is irrelevant: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” My friends Bruce and Loren Plata like to remind me that in Hebrew, the name “Gil” represents a “small goat,” an animal that definitely doesn’t smell quite as fragrant as a rose. My retort, of course, is that “goat” is an acronym for “greatest of all time.” So, relevant or not, names do have meanings and can provide a lifetime of notoriety. Most of us just hope our names aren’t something that can be made fun of. In Hebrew, the name “Zenita” means “gift of God.” Now, that’s one lofty name to aspire to. Someone christened with that name would probably be expected to have pretty divine qualities. A restaurant bearing that name might be expected to serve food that’s heavenly. No, not manna and quail, but food that’s delicious and filling. When I asked about the genesis of the name, the restaurant’s personable owner explained that the name is a play on two words. First, it’s a…

Burgers Dog Friendly New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail: 2009 Rating: Very Good

Burger Boy – Cedar Crest, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJune 30, 2023April 5, 20269:17 AM

The vividly hued threads that comprise a beautiful community tapestry are its diverse and unique characters. Some are quirky and eccentric, some are brash and loud, others are indistinct and don’t stand out, but all are essential in weaving that beautiful community tapestry, that compendium of personalities that make up a whole. One of the most vivid threads in the rich and diverse tapestry that is the alpine community of Cedar Crest, New Mexico was prolific artist, carver and tinkerer Ross Ward. Before settling in New Mexico, Ross was a show painter for carnivals, traversing the country for more than three decades. It was in Cedar Crest that Ross built Tinkertown, a folk art environment replete with an impressive array of miniatures and memorabilia of all kinds. Note: The next best thing to visiting Tinkertown is learning all about it on New Mexico True Television (Season 3, Episode 3) which is thankfully still available online even though the wonderful program no longer airs. Tinkertown is his legacy, the manifestation of his belief in self-determination and freedom. Now a roadside attraction, it welcomes thousands of guests each year. One of Ross Ward’s most well-known artistic endeavors hangs not on a wall…