volume 7, number 11 November 2002
New Mexico's Premier Food, Arts and Lifestyle Magazine

Taos Ski Valley & Resort

Six Taos restaurants will definitely serve you Thanksgiving dinner this year, and another seven will open at the drop of a snowflake (lots of snowflakes). The "definitely open" few are listed first, followed by "it depends," followed by holiday bakers and Thanksgiving Day brunchers, and finally by holiday closures. If a restaurant is not mentioned then it will probably be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

At Lambert's of Taos (309 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, 505-758-1009), Thanksgiving is the only day Zeke Lambert carves up Embudo organic turkey, and, it's nearly the last Lambert's fix we get before their holiday, the first week of December. Scott Radek of Doc Martin's in the Historic Taos Inn (125 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, 505-758-1977) guarantees a menu that will knock our holiday socks off, and Exective Chef Lillian Silva at Apple Tree (123 Bent Street, 1 block north of the plaza, 505-758-1900) will try to top anything Scott dishes out. The promised Thanksgiving buffet at Don Fernando's de Taos Holiday Inn (1005 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, 505-758-4444) has Chef Gilbert Vargas laying-in cinnamon-glazed Virginia hams, tom turkeys, sweet potatoes and more. Ogelvie's Bar & Grille (on Taos Plaza, 505-758-8866) roasts over 20 turkeys, and serves mountains of gravy, stuffing, potatoes and cranberry sauce. Due to popular demand, their Friday and Saturday night prime rib special is back. At $15.50, this 12-ounce cut, with horseradish sour cream or au jus, garlic-mashed potatoes and veggies is a great buy. If turkey makes you sad, the Alley Cantina (Taos Plaza, 121 Teresina Lane, 505-758-2121) will "definitely" be open with their regular menu. Ricky's Restaurant (615 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, in the Ramada Inn, 505-758-3589) will be open 7am to 3pm, with a traditional Thanksgiving turkey lunch, along with their regular New Mexican menu.

Snow at Taos Ski Valley determines many Taos chefs' decisions to open on Thanksgiving, potentially one of the biggest weeks of the year. If TSV opens, so will Rhoda's (505-776-2005), The Bavarian Lodge & Restaurant (505-776-8020), The Inn at Snakedance (505-776-2277), Antonio's (1017 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, 505-758-9889), Orlando's (1.8 miles north of Taos Plaza, 505-751-1450), Roberto's (122B Kit Carson, 505-758-2434) and Old Blinking Light (Mile Marker #1, Ski Valley Road, 505-776-8787).

The flour is flying for holiday baking at Sugar Nymphs Bistro (15046 State Highway 75, Peñasco, 505-587-0311). Try Pastry Chef Ki Holste's famous maple-chocolate-pecan pie, alchemized from pure butter and Scharfenberger chocolate (yum). Seth Klein of Taos Bakery (1223 Gusdorf Road, 505-751-3743) recommends that you order baked goods a day ahead and though they'll be closed on Thanksgiving, all during the previous week the ovens will be going 24/7 filling holiday orders of sinful chocolate mousse tarts, pecan, pecan-pumpkin and bourbon pies. Karen Todd of Dragonfly Café and Bakery (402 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, 505-737-5859) says, "Have breakfast with us, then pick up your pies and go home for dinner with your families." Serving breakfast and lunch Thanksgiving Day, 7am to 3pm, the pie-making fools at Dragonfly beg us to place orders 3-5 days in advance (try the pumpkin-cheesecake—it is to die for).

Holiday closures of a week or more include Highway 68 BBQ and La Luna Ristorante (322 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, 505-737-0920), closed Thanksgiving week; Hunan Chinese Restaurant (Taos Plaza in La Fonda Hotel, 505-751-0474), closed November 26 through December 3; Gypsy 360 (downtown Arroyo Seco, 505-776-3166), closed November 9 to 19; Michael's Kitchen (304 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, 505-758-4178), closed November 3 to December 13; and Vista Grill (9 Ski Valley Road, 505-776-0775), closed Thanksgiving Day and December 2 through 8. Except for turkey Thursday and December 7, Vista Grill offers "ladies night" Thursdays where ladies get free admission to the three-band extravaganzas between 8:30 and 10pm, and half-price admission thereafter.

A sexy martini menu starts this month at Momentitos de la Vida (just south of Arroyo Seco on Ski Valley Road, 505-776-3333). Look for Godiva liqueur, Bacardi rum, and platinum gins and vodkas, featured weekly at reduced rates. Momentitos is closed Thanksgiving. I'll let you know soon what a "Pink Squirrel" and a "Raspberry Truffle" martini tastes like. (Me? I like my Bombay in a blue glass.)

Bravo Fine Wine, Food and Spirits (1353 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, 505-758-8181) will throw a gala holiday show, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2 to 6pm, featuring imported and domestic chocolates, wines and gourmand gifts. Radio KTAO will host, announcing giveaways throughout.

The lighting of the Taos Christmas tree and plaza farolitos kicks off Yuletide in Taos, a month-long affair of yuletide arts, crafts and gifted festivities. Last year's Festival of Trees auction at the Fechin Inn (227 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, 505-751-1000) was standing room only. Info: 800-732-8267 or 758-3873. www.TaosChamber.com.

Taos tease and erudite professor Larry Torres presents "Monsters and Boogeymen of Taos" at Caffe Tazza (122 Kit Carson Road, 505-758-8706), Friday, Nov. 1. Don't miss it!

Also, the correct number for Downtown Bistro is 505-737-5060, sorry Marco.

If you have information for the Taos Scoop e-mail foodnews@lacocinita.com or call 505-346-0660 ext. 245.

<< Santa Fe Scoop

November 2002 Contents

Say Cheese >>