{"id":85,"date":"2016-10-22T19:24:03","date_gmt":"2016-10-23T01:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=85"},"modified":"2026-04-05T19:59:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T01:59:57","slug":"chocolate-maven-bakery-cafe-santa-fe-new-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=85","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate Maven Bakery &#038; Cafe &#8211; Santa Fe, New Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<figure style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 700px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 700\/467;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven11.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven11.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 700w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven11.jpg?size=128x85&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven11.jpg?size=256x171&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven11.jpg?size=384x256&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven11.jpg?size=512x342&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven11.jpg?size=640x427&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Award-Winning Chocolate Maven in Santa Fe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">In the polytheistic world of the Mesoamerican cultures (which include the Aztecs and Mayans), Quetzalcoatl was revered as the creator deity and patron of priests, merchants and rulers. Known as the &#8220;feathered serpent,&#8221; Quetzalcoatl was also associated with the cocoa bean and with chocolate. Great temples were erected in his honor and chocolate was offered to him. Montezuma, the 16th century Aztec ruler revered him. In Montezuma&#8217;s great city of Tenochtitlan (which the Spaniards later renamed Mexico City), chocolate was considered a luxury drink reserved exclusively for gods and the ruler class. It is believed that Montezuma&#8217;s daily constitution included 50 goblets of a finely ground, foamy red dyed chocolate flavored with chili peppers, vanilla, wild bee honey and aromatic flowers. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Today, chocolate is no longer considered exclusive to a privileged class and the celebrity-worshiping modern world no longer holds Quetzalcoatl, the &#8220;god of chocolate&#8221; in reverence. No longer are temples built in his honor or sacrifices of chocolate made in his name. Modern temples celebrating chocolate are ubiquitous in the modern world. One of New Mexico&#8217;s most renown and revered chocolate temples is the Chocolate Maven Bakery &amp; Cafe, situated in an edifice which, from the exterior, more closely resembles a warehouse than a bakery and cafe.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 700px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 700\/467;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven15.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven15.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 700w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven15.jpg?size=128x85&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven15.jpg?size=256x171&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven15.jpg?size=384x256&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven15.jpg?size=512x342&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven15.jpg?size=640x427&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chocolate Maven&#8217;s Magnificent Baked Goods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">In November, 2006, a modern-day goddess visited this revered chocolate temple and paid it homage for a larger audience than ever worshiped Quetzalcoatl. Giada Delaurentis, the pulchritudinous Food Network star of the television series <em>Giada&#8217;s Weekend Getaway<\/em> made the Chocolate Maven one her several stops during a late autumn visit to the City Different. While we braved the frosty air standing in line waiting for the restaurant to open for Sunday brunch, it was amusing (but not at all surprising) to listen to several in the queue practically gush with anticipation over dining at a restaurant once visited by the celebrated Ms. Delaurentis. One particularly awe-struck woman credited Giada with &#8220;teaching me how to cook.&#8221; Others, including some Santa Fe residents, had never heard of the Chocolate Maven until having watched <em>Giada&#8217;s Weekend Getaway<\/em> on the Food Network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">That surprised me because the <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sfreporter.com\/\">Santa Fe Reporter<\/a><\/strong>, <\/em>a very well written alternative newsweekly has named the Chocolate Maven one of Santa Fe&#8217;s top 40 restaurants every year since 2002. It also saddened me a bit because those people have been deprived the sheer pleasure of perusing the weekly musings of Gwyneth Doland, whose goddess-like talents in writing about food I have long admired.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">The Chocolate Maven, by the way, was on my ever-expanding &#8220;must try&#8221; list for years, long before Giada Delaurentis made it a &#8220;happening place&#8221; for devotees of her show. Unlike Giada, we were unable to finagle a table by the windows which provide a view of the bakery where all the creativity really takes place. Giada remarked that the bakers &#8220;look like they can do this in their sleep,&#8221; &#8220;this&#8221; meaning turning out &#8220;award winning homemade pastries and succulent desserts.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 690px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 690px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 690\/460;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven12.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven12.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 690w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven12.jpg?size=128x85&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven12.jpg?size=256x171&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven12.jpg?size=384x256&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven12.jpg?size=512x341&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven12.jpg?size=640x427&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The best view from the first floor dining room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Our table was on the second floor in one of the restaurant&#8217;s three dining areas. To get there, we had to ascend one of two of Santa Fe&#8217;s miraculous circular, winding staircases (the other being in the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lorettochapel.com\/stair.html\">Loretto Chapel<\/a><\/strong>). The miracle here is how the restaurant, in Giada&#8217;s words, &#8220;smells like home.&#8221; The fragrant bouquet of baking breads and pastries permeates every square inch of this distinct bakery and cafe (by the way, the Chocolate Maven started off as a bakery then in time added a cafe which explains why it is situated in the warehouse district).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">While the restaurant&#8217;s name might conjure up images of decadent chocolate, you can also indulge in fabulous breakfast, brunch and lunch fare. No matter what your pleasures be, a great way to start is with a glass of <em>Aztec hot chocolate<\/em> laced with red chile. In the 15th century, Montezuma drank goblets of chocolate before visiting his concubines as it was believed to have stamina enhancing properties. The hot chocolate didn&#8217;t make me feel particularly vigorous, but this smooth semi-sweet treat certainly provided an endorphin &#8220;feel good&#8221; rush, especially when the red chile warmed the back of my throat.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 680px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 680\/416;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven14.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"416\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven14.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 680w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven14.jpg?size=128x78&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven14.jpg?size=256x157&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven14.jpg?size=384x235&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven14.jpg?size=512x313&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two Goblets of Aztec Hot Chocolate with a Cinnamon Roll<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Another warming sensation is provided by the Chocolate Maven&#8217;s <em>Chilaquiles<\/em>, layers of yellow and blue corn tortillas saut\u00e9ed in a red chile and tomato sauce then topped with two eggs any style. Chilaquiles is considered the quintessential Mexican breakfast dish and in New Mexico, we&#8217;ve had none better. The Chilaquiles dish (pictured below) also includes skillet potatoes, but these are certainly not the &#8220;run-of-the-mill&#8221; boring skillet potatoes for which a template seems to exist at lesser restaurants. These are tender red potatoes fried to perfection and imbued with the savory sweetness of white onion and carrots.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 454px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 454px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 454\/325;vertical-align: middle; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; border: 4px solid black;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/nm\/american\/Images\/Maven06.jpg\" alt=\"Chilaquiles\" width=\"454\" height=\"325\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chilaquiles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">No matter what you order for yourself, ask for a short-stack of <em>pancakes<\/em> to share with a dining companion. Griddled to a golden hue and sprinkled with just a tad of powdered sugar, these fluffy orbs are absolutely delicious. The Chocolate Maven does commit one cardinal sin by serving these pancake treasures with hard butter in packets. We can live with unheated syrup, but when you can&#8217;t slather melting butter on steamy pancakes, it&#8217;s a definite downer. Next time we might sneak in our own melted butter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Light, fluffy eggs are certainly an integral part of the restaurant&#8217;s <em>breakfast burrito<\/em>, but it is the red chile that steals the show. While not especially piquant, the chile is seasoned with just a hint of Mexican oregano and tastes like chile which hasn&#8217;t had much shelf life. It&#8217;s got a wonderfully earthy taste that doesn&#8217;t come across in every red chile served in the Land of Enchantment.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 435px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 435px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 435\/316;margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; border: 4px solid black;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/nm\/american\/Images\/Maven07.jpg\" alt=\"The Chocolate Maven's breakfast burrito\" width=\"435\" height=\"316\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Chocolate Maven&#8217;s breakfast burrito<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">A slight departure from New Mexico can be had with a breakfast order of <em>migas<\/em>, a traditional Tex-Mex breakfast dish originally crafted as a meatless dish for Lent. Migas consist of scrambled eggs with torn ribbons of tortilla chips, sliced chiles, diced tomatoes and cheese plus sour cream and salsa. The Maven&#8217;s version would please the most persnickety of Texans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">While the lunch portion of brunch is often short-changed in many restaurants, the menu at the Chocolate Maven includes several lunch-type entrees such as salads and sandwiches. Vegans will definitely not feel left out thanks to a generous number of meatless entrees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">On your contented way out, a stop at the bakery case is in order. It&#8217;s a wonder this bakery case isn&#8217;t covered in drool or tongue trails because the chocolate display under glass is replete with decadent temptation in the form of frosted cakes, unfrosted brownies of several varieties and formed chocolate. The <em>Belgian chocolate brownie<\/em> has the rich taste of semi-sweet cocoa and includes walnuts. It is one of the bakery&#8217;s most popular offerings, but my preference is actually for the <em>chocolate and orange truffle brownie<\/em> which adds a zesty citrus taste that complements the cocoa wonderfully.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 680px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 680\/333;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven13.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"333\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven13.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 680w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven13-300x147.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven13.jpg?size=128x63&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven13.jpg?size=384x188&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven13.jpg?size=512x251&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cinnamon Roll and Chocolate Croissant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Yet another bakery case showcases fruity pastries that would make for an excellent breakfast treat. Shelves of cookies in white paper bags also beckon. The <em>chocolate pi\u00f1on cookies<\/em> have a prominent cocoa taste and are so good, you may just polish off an entire bag in one sitting. <\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Montezuma would have loved the Chocolate Maven. So will every chocolate fanatic. It is truly a bakery and cafe worthy of the gods!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small; color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana;\">Chocolate Maven Bakery &amp; Cafe<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">West San Mateo Road<br \/>\n<strong>Santa Fe, New Mexico<\/strong><br \/>\n(505) 984-1980<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemaven.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Web Site<\/strong><\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Chocolate-Maven-Bakery-Cafe-111071922296919\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Facebook Page <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>LATEST VISIT<\/strong>: 22 October 2016<br \/>\n<strong># OF VISITS<\/strong>: 3<br \/>\n<strong>RATING<\/strong>: <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Excellent<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 High quality dining experience; very good to excellent food, attentive service, and a well-maintained atmosphere; worth a detour.<br \/>\n<strong>COST<\/strong>: $$<br \/>\n<strong>BEST BET<\/strong>: Bistro Sandwich, Pancakes, Chilaquiles, Belgian Chocolate Brownie, Orange Truffle Brownie, Aztec Hot Chocolate, Migas<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the polytheistic world of the Mesoamerican cultures (which include the Aztecs and Mayans), Quetzalcoatl was revered as the creator deity and patron of priests, merchants and rulers. Known as the &#8220;feathered serpent,&#8221; Quetzalcoatl was also associated with the cocoa bean and with chocolate. Great temples were erected in his honor and chocolate was offered to him. Montezuma, the 16th century Aztec ruler revered him. In Montezuma&#8217;s great city of Tenochtitlan (which the Spaniards later renamed Mexico City), chocolate was considered a luxury drink reserved exclusively for gods and the ruler class. It is believed that Montezuma&#8217;s daily constitution included 50 goblets of a finely ground, foamy red dyed chocolate flavored with chili peppers, vanilla, wild bee honey and aromatic&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121,540,544,141,563,142],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bakery","category-breakfast","category-food-network-eats-new-mexico","category-new-mexico","category-rating-excellent","category-santa-fe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Chocolate Maven Bakery &amp; Cafe - Santa Fe, New Mexico - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=85\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chocolate Maven Bakery &amp; Cafe - Santa Fe, New Mexico - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the polytheistic world of the Mesoamerican cultures (which include the Aztecs and Mayans), Quetzalcoatl was revered as the creator deity and patron of priests, merchants and rulers. Known as the &#8220;feathered serpent,&#8221; Quetzalcoatl was also associated with the cocoa bean and with chocolate. Great temples were erected in his honor and chocolate was offered to him. Montezuma, the 16th century Aztec ruler revered him. In Montezuma&#8217;s great city of Tenochtitlan (which the Spaniards later renamed Mexico City), chocolate was considered a luxury drink reserved exclusively for gods and the ruler class. It is believed that Montezuma&#8217;s daily constitution included 50 goblets of a finely ground, foamy red dyed chocolate flavored with chili peppers, vanilla, wild bee honey and aromatic&hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=85\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nmgastronome\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-10-23T01:24:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-06T01:59:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Maven13.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"680\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Gil Garduno\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Gil Garduno\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=85#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=85\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Gil Garduno\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/423b9c3eeeb199e43ab4f1f584fa67bf\"},\"headline\":\"Chocolate Maven Bakery &#038; 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