SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
Mouthwatering Magic
We are feeling lucky! Every day is humming and brings new pleasures. One of the newest pleasures is that La Boca, the tapas palace helmed by Chef James Campbell Caruso, is back in the mix until the end of the year as one of the stops on our Restaurant Walking Tours, and we’re delighted to share that luck with you!
Another fortunate point about the walking tours? Santa Fe autumn weather is fantastic! Yes, we do get some occasional rainfall, and if winter comes early, some snow is possible, but nothing deters a dedicated foodie, right?
Welcoming Back a Friend
Opened in 2006 by our talented friend, James Campbell Caruso, an 8-time James Beard Award Nominee, La Boca feels exactly like a lively European wine bar, specializing in an extensive selection of carefully chosen Sherries and Spanish wines.
Chef Caruso’s modern Spanish cuisine is inspired by the exuberance of Spanish cooking combined with fresh, local ingredients to tempt tastebuds up one side of the palate and down the other. La Boca has been called “the most influential restaurant in Santa Fe” by Pasatiempo Magazine, and the New York Times describes the menu as “modern re-inventions of classic Spanish cuisine.” La Boca’s knowledgeable and animated staff graciously guides diners to find the perfect pairing to complement their meals, from a thoughtful list of select wines, beers and creative cocktails. La Boca also prides itself on being an ambassador of Spanish sherry culture, transporting its guests to Cadiz in the crisp, cool flavors of Fino, or the deep fig-essence of a Pedro Ximenez.
We’re delighted to have this standard of Spanish cuisine back on our Restaurant Walking Tours on Friday, September 19th, Friday, October 17th, and Friday, November 7th, and when you register, you’ll find out why!
Can’t make it to La Boca with us? Join us on Tuesday, October 21st for our Spanish Tapas Class!
Friday, September 19 Restaurant Walking Tour I
Friday, October 17 Restaurant Walking Tour I
Tuesday, October 21 Authentic Spanish Tapas Class
Friday, November 7 Restaurant Walking Tour I
Savor Something Sumptuous
Also on the menu for our Walking Tour I adventures are three exceptional spots that are sure to bring you back again to dine there for a full meal.
The tour includes two wonderful neighbors, who suffered through the Guadalupe Street renovation with us, and we’re happy to see them as busy as before.
If you love Italian flavors, you’ll get the best of the best from Chef Stephen Lemon’s Pranzo, right across the street from us. This pasta palace has been a Santa Fe favorite for years, and the friendly atmosphere conjures up a relaxing family vibe.
We also dive into contemporary bistro flair two doors down at Chef Jose Rodriguez’s Terra Cotta Bistro, specializing in “Complex flavors that melded beautifully,” as one TripAdvisor review noted. Pro tip: Live guitar music there on Monday and Tuesday nights!
Rounding out the flavor-filled adventure is the Gruet Santa Fe Tasting Room, home of fine wines and bubbly beverages produced from grapes grown right here in New Mexico; maybe you’ve seen the vines on the east side of I-25! The hospitable tasting room and outdoor patio provide an inviting way to taste the best of New Mexico in a glass or a flute!!
Does the thought of a wine tasting make you wonder about what to serve with your holiday dinner? Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser will show you the ideal pairings in our Saturday, November 15th Holiday Food & Wines Class!
Friday, September 19 Restaurant Walking Tour I
Friday, October 17 Restaurant Walking Tour I
Friday, November 7 Restaurant Walking Tour I
Saturday, November 15 Holiday Food & Wines Class
Bring on the Bounty
Sizzle and spice and everything nice, that’s Restaurant Walking Tour II, coming your way on Friday, October 3rd, Friday, October 24th, and Friday, November 14th. This adventure features more of our favorite dining experiences with Chefs whose skills we admire!
It’s actually easy to ruin great steak or seafood––who hasn’t had their heart sink at that disaster––and that’s something that will never happen at Market Steer Steakhouse, thanks to Chef Kathleen Crook. The inviting atmosphere and excellent service make the food taste that much better, and oh my, that bacon standoff!
Another time-tested Chef whose abilities made having his own restaurant a success? That’s Chef David Sellers, whose years at the Street Food Institute have given him the skill to create a truly delicious and uniquely global menu. The tagline for his Horno is absolute truth: “No pretense, just great food.”
We’ll also be moseying over to Joe’s Tequila Bar, tucked into the beautiful boutique Inn on the Alameda, for a sampling of tasty southwestern-inspired tidbits and an education on the varieties and differences in the broad selection of tequilas and mezcals.
At Boxcar, award-winning Chef Eric Stumpf does an amazing job of incentivizing us to walk up a flight of stairs, an activity that is relatively unknown in our little city. It’s totally worth the climb for the dining and the friendly atmosphere that practically demands that you hang out for a while.
Friday, October 3 Restaurant Walking Tour II
Friday, October 24 Restaurant Walking Tour II
Friday, November 14 Restaurant Walking Tour II
Three Times the Charm
Our Restaurant Tours are a three-pack, and each one delivers a set of four delectable offerings. Restaurant Walking Tour III welcomes you on Friday, September 12th (still a few spaces left), Friday, October 10th, and Friday, October 31st.
The regular sell-outs of these tours make sense to us since each iteration includes a choice selection of cuisines. In this case, we start with the delightfully quirky Capital Coal Neighborhood Eatery, where the menu runs from Poke Bowls to French Dips and more in between, thanks to Chefs Dakota Weiss and Chef Richard Becker and their successful food hall concept.
We’ll wander over to Zacatlan to savor inspired and authentic Mexican cuisine at its best from James Beard Award Nominee Chef Eduardo Rodriguez, where brunch includes both mole dishes and smoked salmon avocado toast.
Historic La Fonda on the Plaza has deep roots in the lore of Santa Fe lodging, thanks to its early years as part of the renowned Harvey Hotels. Chef Lane Warner has helmed this iconic spot for years, but don’t assume that he rests on his laurels, because the kitchen turns out gems that match the beauty of the dining room.
Our city’s most recent James Beard Award-winner, Chef Fernando Olea, absolutely deserved the honor he received as Best Chef Southwest in 2022. The proof is in the magnificent moles he creates at Sazón and the genuine flavors that leave you wanting more, including the set of mole sauces on our Market shelves!
Pro Tip: We can teach you how to make your own mole too! Join us on Friday, November 7th for our Mole and More Class!
Friday, September 12 Restaurant Walking Tour III
Friday, October 10 Restaurant Walking Tour III
Friday, October 31 Restaurant Walking Tour III
Friday, November 7 Mole and More Class
Friday, November 21 Restaurant Walking Tour III
School Style Dining
Oops, feeling hungry now? You don’t have to wait or walk if you let us prepare dinner for you! Pick your pleasures from our Food To Go menu, and all you have to do is stop by and pick it up!
Choose from our different types of tamales, red or green chile enchiladas, carne adovada, and sides such as posole, rice and beans.
Place your order 48 hours in advance of pick-up and collect your it anytime from 10:30am–4:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. Sorry, no pickup on Sundays or Mondays.
Visit Portugal with Your Palate
If you’re eagerly looking ahead to the 2025 Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta––we are––get a head start by joining us on Wednesday, September 24th for an amazing Portuguese Wine Dinner that Chef Jeff Drew has created, paired with a selection of unforgettable Portuguese wine presented by Sommelier Marika Vida-Arnold of Vida et Fils!
This is a seriously don’t-miss dining delight!
