Albuquerque CVB Guide - (Page 41) pecans, goat cheese, dragon’s tongue beans, turban squash, neon eggplant, watermelon, purple potatoes, arugula and heirloom tomatoes. Considered the oldest wine-making region in the country, Spanish missionaries brought the vinter’s art to the Rio Grande Valley in the 1600s. The intense flux of day and night-time temperatures bears quality fruit and the arid climate discourages fungus and bugs, therefore curtailing the use of any pesticides. New Mexican vineyards have produced award-winning Cabernet Franc, Riesling and sparkling wines. Success has been far-reaching, for example, a local vineyard now makes a private label for the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, but maintains its mission to “protect its own backyard” and keep two-thirds of its production for retail in New Mexico. Food and place are inextricably linked. You know you are in New Mexico in early fall when the smell of roasted green chiles from Hatch (the Chile Capital of the World) are being roasted in a hand cranked machine at one of numerous farmer’s markets. You know you are in New Mexico when your server asks you to choose red, green or Christmas (both chiles). You know you are in New Mexico when your host serves posole for Christmas Eve dinner. You know you are in New Mexico when…well, just come here, and create your own enchanted food experience. “It’s kind of a dream come true, the old neighborhood bakery.” Pratt Morales has traveled all over the world with his work in the Air Force, and throughout all of his travels he says, “I always ended up at the local bakery; baking is a focal point. I don’t care where you come from – there is always bread.” At the Golden Crown Pandaderia, just north of Downtown and east of Old Town, children of all ages receive a free biscochito, New Mexico’s state cookie. Giving away free cookies brings smiles to customers’ faces, which in turn makes the customer a part of the neighborhood bakery experience. Tourists can become locals just by walking into this local favorite, where Pratt and his son Chris, make bread come to life! Golden Crown Panaderia La Provence, at Girard and Central, the gateway to Nob Hill, offers an authentic French dining experience, similar to what you would find on every corner in the French countryside. This is a place for healthy, inexpensive French foods that everyone can afford. General Manager Marc Maurine-Adam says of the restaurant, “I wanted to create a place that would allow me to bring foods and tradition from France and make it affordable for everyone.” Come to Albuquerque, feel like you are in France, at least at La Provence. La Provence www.itsatrip.org ©Chris Corrie This Albuquerque favorite has a family legacy of recipes that began with a seven table restaurant in 1969 in the North Valley of Albuquerque. “It was our vision to create a fiesta in disguise as a restaurant, in order to transform the feeling of celebration for every meal,” says Dave Garduno of his restaurant, which has locations city-wide. Garduno’s is a family owned restaurant that offers some of the best margaritas in the city and is the second largest user of tequila in the country. Dave travels to distilleries in Mexico in order to taste and select the finest tequilas for some of his signature margaritas, such as the Coconut Margarita and the Grand Gold. So pull up a chair, and join Dave and his family for great food, drinks, fun and family. 41 Garduno’s – A Mexican Restaurant http://www.itsatrip.org
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