I am back from my trip to Santa Fe. I returned the night before last, after an unexpected left turn to 108° Phoenix. It was a very successful trip, could not have been happier, bought well, sold well, in a booth about a third of my normal confines.
I got to see my friend Jonathan Hill, who I was worried about, if only for a split second and I am happy to report that he is thankfully still kicking.
But I got really sick with some respiratory thing at the end, a buddy came into the booth that shouldn't have and I picked up what ever was bothering him. Feel a a little bit like strep, I am taking antibiotics, maybe not the right one.
Anyway I was all set to regale you with swashbuckling tales of mayhem and pillage but I really just want to go home and lay in bed. So you are going to get the condensed cliff notes version, free of all but a few profound witticisms, which aren't so easy to summon when you feel like crap. And yes, I did covid test, twice, so don't ask me again.
It's all starting to fade but let's see, first night Holbrook Econolodge, no issues. I arrived at the Albuquerque show about noon the next day and managed to buy and sell a large Navajo weaving off the floor for a cool 15k.
I think I bought something else or sold something, I don't quite remember but it was a good day. I drove up to Santa Fe that night and checked into my suite, which had been generously gifted by Joseph and Linda. It was incredible.
I called Horsley and asked him to dinner and we bee-lined to what is my traditional first stop in Santa Fe, the Plaza Cafe. We both ordered our favorite dish that we start the shows with, cashew chicken mole enchiladas and to our collective chagrin, they have been taken off the menu for some reason.
We asked why, no explanation. Dinner was just so so and they told us we had been sitting too long after our meal and asked us to leave... Might be a while before I return. I told Friedman and he said he went in to order the same thing and when they told him the bad news he walked straight out. We should have too.
It was a Sunday night, no music in the bandshell but there was a Lakota drum circle in the Plaza, which I listened to and recorded a few snippets of.
Great to be in New Mexico, cooler than home.
The next day I lay in bed and went "damn." I had nothing to do for three days. I am not used to that, I push, push, push all the time. What the heck was I going to do?
I decided to drive up to the Randall Davey Audubon Center and try to photograph a few birds.
And bugs, like the guy you see up top.
I guess this is another ritual of mine, after thirty years or so of making these trips.
I didn't get any great shots but it was nice to be out there.
I didn't bring my good lens but it may just be a case of me running out of talent.
There are four hummingbird species there, two which we seldom see, rufous and broadtail.
This is a rufous.
It looks a lot like an Allen's.
The black chinned hummers are also quite striking.
The next three days I cruised around and ate.
Hit Stephen's, Zaplin and Mackley.
Barry turned me on to a cheap local joint, Piccolino, where I had a very good lamb shank for around twenty bucks.
Barry used to be a comedy writer but honestly he hates jokes and he blanched and moved to the other corner of the waiting room when I started trading wry ripostes with an older Mexican gent and his family.
Some people have no sense of humor.
Ron Winters invited Steve and I out to the Oaxacan place that used to be the blues club, Paloma.
They are famous for their mescals.
I had a little taste, quite good, will say that their chicken mole was incredible.
Another night Barry and I went to Mucho Gusto and had shredded duck mole enchiladas, which were phenomenal.
Last few years I have overdosed on green chile, to my stomach's discontent.
My engine feels a lot better running on mole.
I started one of my morning at the Burrito Cafe, wanting to go cheap. Decent but a little attitude on the part of the staff. Next day, another ritual, breakfast at La Fonda, Trout and eggs.
They screwed up the recipe, coated the trout in oats of all things. Decent but not nearly as good as it used to be...
Other days I ate at Wecks and the Pantry, two old standbys, corned beef hash at the latter.
My favorite restaurant in Santa Fe, year in and year out is the Santa Cafe.
I went with the Stoops and Calvins this year.
I had rack of lamb in a moroccan spice with a nectarine burrata salad.
It was okay but a bit of a disappointment. The waiter asked us if we wanted dessert and we were still waiting for our entree.
When it did arrive I wasn't thrilled with the flavor set, it was so good last time.
Guess it is all about who is cooking that night...
I had a phenomenal meal at Taverna with Tad and Sandy Dale and our old friend Casey the rug dealer.
Great tapas restaurant.
They had a wonderful Spanish guitar player, Nacha Mendez.
I had a pork belly dish and we sampled a nice Manchego charcuterie plate.
One of the best meals of my trip.
After packout I had dinner at Jambo with Peggy and Terry DeWald.
Power was shut off at Pasquales and Tiny's but Jambo had lights.
I had the goat stew with the peanut chicken stew and lentils.
Great food, great company.
So there's the food, with the exception of the place in Gallup we will discuss later. Next I will talk about the show, which was wonderful for me and which I am really grateful for.
to be continued...
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