new mexico

new mexico! such a cool, unique & authentic place. i have wanted to come here for so long and it did not disappoint! the food, above all, was such a highlight. it blew us away and this was one of my favorite eating trips EVER. maybe rivaled by greece! alongside the food, it is a beautiful place with such a great sense of appreciation for the earth & environment, a great art scene, and just a distinct feel that you can’t get anywhere else. we loved road tripping through albuquerque, santa fe, and taos. below is a little itinerary of what we did, and some photos below that!

NEW MEXICO…
tastes like: green chile, blue corn & pine nuts
looks like: the bluest skies & red adobe buildings
smells like: fresh tortillas + melted cheese
sounds like: quiet enough to pay attention to nature
feels like: a lost in time place with a whole culture of its own

..mini guide based on what we did..

Albuquerque :
Food
SAWMILL Market– you could eat only here and be happy in ABQ! It’s so well-curated and every single booth we tried was incredible. Try not to miss the green chile pasta at Tulipani, the pizza place, bakery, and Cacho’s. Can’t go wrong – and love that there is some red/green chile fusion on each menu here.
Mary and Tito’s Cafe
Duran Central Pharmacy: Awesome classic pharmacy with a diner on the side, serving up authentic amazing food that you can tell all the locals love. 
Range Cafe for blue corn pancakes
Seared ABQ
Brixens
GREEN JEANS FARMERY
Cocina Azul for chile relleno
Los Poblanos – hotel AND the amazing restaurant
Golden Crown Bakery
El Pinto- prettiest restaurant with Mexican food
Sadie’s
Blake’s Lotaburger – you can’t beat a green chili cheeseburger from here.
Flying Star for amazing desserts – try the bread pudding

Hotel
I’d probably recommend Hotel Chaco. We stayed across the street at its sister Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town which was also charming, but Chaco is a bit newer. Both are right across from Sawmill Market which was the highlight of our time there with that food :), but they are a few minutes walk to the more charming part of Old Town just FYI. 

Sights
Old Town – plaza, shops, restaurants, galleries. 
Albuquerque Museum Sculpture Garden
Stroll along river on Paseo del Bosque Trail
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park to see sandhill cranes
Valle de Oro wildlife refuge
Sandia Peak Tramway
Hikes- La Luz Trailhead Albuquerque

— SANTA FE —
Food:
Tomasitas: This is in both ABQ and Santa Fe – we went to the one in SF by the train station. We loved the enchilada, chile relleno and sopapillas with honey butter, and the MUST TRY is the piñon cheesecake!
Santa Cafe in Santa Fe – higher end but amazing for the vegetarian relleno or anything else!
Cafe Pasquals: 
Tia Sophia’s: Right off the Plaza, this little place is unofficially the birthplace of the breakfast burrito. Try it “Christmas style,” which means topped with half and half red & green chile!
Plaza Cafe for blue corn pine nut pancakes. Slather them with the orange butter!
Todos Santos Chocolates
Fiesta Oaxaca

Sights
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Galleries
Loretto Chapel to see the Miraculous Staircase
Ghost Ranch

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Drive the “High Road” to Taos


TAOS
Breakfast or any meal at Guti’s
Taos Inn 
Love Apple
Guadalajara Grill
*Sol Food in Arroyo Seco was SO yummy but the longest wait. FYI if passing through!


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Pie Town