Vote for your favorite Green Chile Cheeseburger in New Mexico

Got a favorite green chile cheeseburger restaurant? Have you nominated it for the New Mexico Tourism Department’s web-based Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail?
If the answer is no, you’d better get cracking. The on-line nomination process on the Department’s website (www.newmexico.org/greenchilecheeseburger) will end at midnight Monday (February 28, 2011).
If the answer is yes, then get your fingers ready - voting for New Mexico’s most beloved burgers begins bright and early Tuesday (March 1, 2011) morning and will continue through March 31, 2011.

Some four dozen restaurants with nearly 100 locations were included on the initial version of the Trail, launched in 2009. All restaurants that are presently on the Trail need to be nominated again, however, and new nominations are encouraged.

“We want to have the best representation of the best green chile cheeseburgers in the state,” said Martin Leger, Advertising Manager for the Department. “Some good ones were missed last time, so make sure you get your favorite nominated.”

The top 30 vote getters will be placed on the trail map. A culinary panel will then evaluate any omissions and may add notable burgers to the list.

“The Trail is uniquely New Mexico; we didn’t invent the hamburger but we did put chile on it and make it hot,” Leger added. “Today’s travelers frequently cite culinary attractions as a major reason to visit a destination; and it is hoped that by visiting the Trail and partaking of the state’s beloved green chile cheeseburgers, it will encourage visitors to extend their stay and come back sooner.”

Profile: Rancho de San Juan Country Inn and Three Forks Restaurant in Espanola, New Mexico

Profile: Rancho de San Juan Country Inn and Three Forks Restaurant

• David Heath & John Johnson, Owners
• Opened 1994
• 34020  US. Hwy 285, Espanola, NM 87533
• www.ranchodesanjuan.com
• fan page on Facebook: Rancho de San Juan

(Read more about this travel series at the bottom of this story.)

Owners John Johnson and David Heath

All photos in this story courtesy Rancho de San Juan

Nestled between Taos and Santa Fe, Rancho de San Juan is located on 225 acres in the Chama River Valley. The property features 12 deluxe rooms and casitas designed for comfort and relaxation, with sensitivity to detail and southwest casual elegance, highlighted by the owners' private art and antique collections.
Rancho de San Juan was recently ranked top in New Mexico for cuisine and service in Conde Nast Traveler's “Gold List” for 2009 and the magazine placed it in the top 35 small hotels in the U.S. in their annual Readers’ Survey.
Examiner: What makes your establishment unique?
David: We were the first Relais & Chateaux establishment in the Southwest. We are hands-on operators and see to the needs of our guest personally. We offer elegant accommodations, award winning service, fantastic views and the ultimate in a romantic setting.

Examiner:  What is a little known factoid about your place?
David: Rancho de San Juan is located in an area where three rivers converge. Thus the name for our restaurant Three Forks. We are the fourth owners of the property since the Spanish Land Grant in the 1700's. There are old camp sites all over the 225 acres.

Examiner:  What is your specialty?
David: Providing for the needs of our guests. With so many people celebrating special occasions here, we are small enough that we can customize menus and special request so that their stay is a memorable one.

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Examiner:  What is your patrons' favorite thing about your establishment? What's your favorite?
David: The majority of our guests enjoy the quiet beauty of the rugged surroundings, no TV's, the fantastic sunsets and the gourmet dining.
Our favorite thing is seeing our guests enjoy the company and conversation of other guests. Many become fast friends and repeat clientele.

Examiner: Anything new on the horizon that people can look forward to trying?
David: The hit last year was our Passport International Dinners. They were so popular that we are repeating them again this year. We will be doing a French Connection with various regions of France, Moroccan Nights with entertainment, Seductive Istanbul with Turkish dancers, Sizzling in Sicily with folk dancers. Food for the Gods - an evening in Greece with entertainment. (just to name a few).

Examiner:  What is the top thing you recommend visitors to your city do/see - besides your business, of course?
David: The back roads to see the beauty of the New Mexico countryside, taking in the numerous fiestas, concerts and the Santa Fe Opera if time allows. We arrange for guests to visit artist in their studios, do a horseback ride with a picnic or visit the natural hot springs in the area.

Examiner:  Anything else you want to add?
David: New Mexico is truly the Land of Enchantment. There is so much to see and do that one trip will not cover it all. Once New Mexico is in your blood you will return again and again. Slow down and enjoy life !

This article is part of a travel series profiling chefs, owners, managers and people behind the scenes of restaurants, hotels and other things of interest to tourists and locals alike across the Western US. These profiles also include a local favorite thing to see or do from the person at the helm in addition to him or her sharing the local flavor of their place.

New Mexico's first Restaurant Week starts today features cooking classes, discounts at restaurants in Santa Fe & Albuquerque

New Mexico Restaurant Week runs from February 28 through March 13

Today (February 28, 2010) premieres New Mexico's first Restaurant Week. The celebration of food includes cooking classes, wine tastings and over 60 restaurants with discount prix-fixe dinners. Restaurant Week runs through March 6th  in Santa Fe then moves to Albuquerque from March 7th to 13th.
Held at various restaurants and the Santa Fe School of Cooking, the classes range in price from free (“The Art of Making Caesar Salad” at Osteria d’Assisi in Santa Fe) to $35 (“Foods of the Americas” at Epazote Restaurant in Santa Fe).
A successful event in cities around the U.S., New Mexico Restaurant Week is designed to boost the economy during the slow season and give diners the opportunity to try new restaurants at a discounted price. More than 60 restaurants in Santa Fe and Albuquerque are offering three-course, prix-fixe dinners priced at just $25 per person, $25 for two, or $40 per person at a few fine-dining restaurants.
Several hotels are featuring Restaurant Week packages to attract both out-of-town visitors and locals looking for a culinary “stay-cation.” The list includes El Corazon Residences, El Rey Inn, Encantado Resort & Spa, Hotel Santa Fe, The Inn & Spa at Loretto and the Santa Fe Sage Inn in Santa Fe; and the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa and Hotel Andaluz in the Albuquerque area.
Numbers are limited, so interested people are urged to reserve their spots now or find out more info at www.nmrestaurantweek.com. While there you can also can sign up for the Restaurant Week Sweepstakes. Prizes include hotel-and-dinner packages at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa and the Inn and Spa at Loretto, as well as dinner for two at several restaurants, redeemable after Restaurant Week.
New Mexico Restaurant Week features the following restaurants:

Santa Fe:

• ¡A la Mesa!
• Amavi
• Amaya at Hotel Santa Fe
• Andiamo
• Blue Corn Café (1)
• Blue Corn Café (2)
• Cowgirl BBQ
• Dinner for Two
• El Meson
• Epazote
• Flying Star Cafe
• Fuego! at La Posada
• Galisteo Bistro
• Geronimo
• Joe’s Diner
• La Boca
• La Casa Sena
• La Plazuela
• Luminaria at the Inn at Loretto
• Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen
• Milagro 139
• O’Keeffe Cafe
• Osteria d’Assisi
• Pranzo
• Rio Chama
• Ristra
• Rooftop Pizzeria
• Santa Fe Bar & Grill
• San Francisco Street Bar & Grill
• Sleeping Dog Tavern
• Terra at Encantado
• The Compound
• The Old House
• The Ore House
• The Railyard Restaurant
• Trattoria Nostrani
• Vanessie
• Vinaigrette
• Ze French Bistro
• Zia

Albuquerque:

• Artichoke Café
• Brasserie La Provence
• Casa Vieja
• Chama River Brewing Company
• Corn Maiden at Tamaya Resort
• El Pinto
• Flying Star Cafe – Downtown
• IPCC Harvest Pueblo Cafe
• Lucia at Hotel Andaluz
• McGrath’s at the Hyatt Regency
• Pars Cuisine
• Prairie Star at Santa Ana Golf Course
• Sandiago’s Mexican Grill on Sandia Peak
• Savoy
• Scalo
• Seasons Rotisserie & Grill
• Slate Street Cafe
• St. Clair Winery & Bistro
• Trombino’s Bistro Italiano
• Zea Rotisserie & Grill
• Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro

Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q

By Angele Sionna

2321 Carlisle (at I-40), Albuquerque, NM
Menu at: rudys.com

The Food (taste/flavor/quality of food & drinks)
>>>>>= always great, unique, and flavorful no matter where you’re from

The Atmosphere (environment, wait staff, comfortableness)
xxxx= comfortable

Price (what to generally expect to pay per person per entree)
$= under $10

Value (what you get for your money)
***** = superb -lots of quality/taste for what you pay

Barbeque is really all about two things when you get right to it: the sauce and the meat. Great meats are slow cooked with flavorful woods that subtly permeate their smoky flavors into the food. Done right, they practically melt in your mouth. The sauce, on the other hand, needs to be bold. It should stand-up and grab your attention.

In my mind, barbeque meat and sauce doesn’t get any better than Rudy’s Bar-B-Q. The secret is the sauce. It’s distinctive with peppery flakes, a sweet tanginess, and a zesty kick that shoots across your tongue as you’re savoring all the flavors. This once small town country store in the Texas Hill Country has become an expansive enterprise with 25 restaurants across the southwest. (You can see a list and map of every location HERE.)

My most recent visit to a Rudy’s was in Albuquerque on Carlisle at I-40 as a lunch stop on our road trip to Texas from Arizona. (read more about that road trip HERE.) It was PACKED! But then I’ve never been to a Rudy’s that wasn’t. This particular Rudy’s is a franchise operation. They have the same look to the building and the same menu, and except for not having the choices in type of brisket (lean, juicy, etc), you could mistakenly think you’ve wondered into the lone star state... down to sipping a glass of their excellent sweet tea.

Rudy’s Bar-B-Q is all pit-style flame cooked with oak wood, which gives everything a delicious smell and taste. My favorite is the sliced turkey. It is smoky and juicy with hints of buttery flavors. Add the “original sause” with its peppery, zesty kick and I’m in food heaven. Their brisket is probably the number one item on the menu. It is tender, juicy, and melts in your mouth. You can smell the oak that’s used to smoke it in every bite. Another top item: sausage links which have a little kick to them but aren’t spicy. All of the meats are served by the pound (or quarter pound or half pound).

Sides are the only things about Rudy’s that could be improved. While I love the buttery boiled potatoes, everything else is just okay. Luckily, all the meats are served with sliced bread so you really don’t need much else in the way of sides. Don’t forget to order up a large sweet tea (with serve yourself free refills) to top off your meal in true Texas style.

The seating is family-style on wooden picnic tables. They have indoor seating, covered porch seating, and a few outdoor tables too. On a busy day, you’re more than likely to be sitting with some hungry strangers but that’s part of the fun. Everyone seems to adopt a friendly Texas attitude when they walk thru the doors.

I miss great barbeque being a Texas-native living in Arizona. So whenever I am even sort of going to drive near Albuquerque, we head to this Rudy’s. The top quality food at reasonable prices means I’m a Rudy’s life-er.

We even order the “sause” from the Rudy’s website to make our home-cooked briskets great. (Admittedly, mine is nowhere near as awesome as Rudy’s but our friends who’ve never been there think we’re the best cooks they’ve met.) You can order a large bottle of their original “sause” for $9.49 (for a 38 ounce bottle) plus shipping and make your home cooking stand out as well. They also have a subtler blend of spices in their “sissy sause.” This is my husband’s favorite. No matter if you’re in Texas, New Mexico, or half way around the world, you can get a little piece of barbeque heaven with this "sause" in your cupboard.

Portofino Italian Restaurant

By Angele Sionna

701 S. Main St., Roswell, NM
(no menu online)

The Food (taste/flavor/quality of food & drinks)
>>>>>= always great, unique, and flavorful no matter where you’re from

The Atmosphere (environment, wait staff, comfortableness)
xxx= good but could be improved

Price (what to generally expect to pay per person per entree)
$$ = $10

Value (what you get for your money)
***** = superb -lots of quality/taste for what you pay

Here’s a newsflash for you: Roswell, New Mexico has something more than alien mythology to lure in tourists. They have a great Italian restaurant! If you told me that the best Italian food that I would find in the southwestern US would be in Roswell, of all places, I would have thought you were crazy. And then I would have to go to this intriguing place and measure its goodness myself. I recommend you hit the road for Roswell and discover Portofino for yourself.

I went to Portofino on a recent road trip where we stopped for one night in Roswell. (To read about the road trip and other Roswell recommendations, click HERE.) I was in the mood for Italian but not feeling hopeful, as I only saw one review of Portofino on Trip Advisor. There was another Italian joint mentioned as well, but it was a chain, so I wasn’t interested. I was really feeling Italian-flavored cravings, so I decided to ask the nice woman who checked me out with my stereotypical alien tourist t-shirt if she could recommend a place to eat for Italian. She mentioned she heard Portofino was great but had yet to go there.

That was enough for us, as we were tired from our day-long drive, hungry and ready for dinner. We drove a few blocks south of downtown and almost missed Portofino. It’s in a rather non-descript building on Main Street on the left (if going there from the UFO museum and such downtown). I had my doubts, so I went in to grab a to go menu to browse the selections. Right when I opened the door, I knew this is where we’d be dining that night. The aroma was superb. You could tell someone was back in the kitchen making lots of custom dishes. I went back out to the car, informed my family to hurry up, and down we sat.

Boy, did I make the right call! It was even better than my “find” at the souvenir shop (a weird touristy t-shirt with a picture of an alien holding an X-Files DVD. Classic!). I must have been lucky that night because Portofino also delivered with the best Italian food I’ve had since moving from Chicago... at really decent prices too.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="230" caption="Portofino's bread with dipping sauce"][/caption]

While you browse the menu trying to pick just one entrée, the waitress serves up these little triangles of bread with olive oil for dipping. The bread is very unique and almost tastes like a cross between biscuits and classic Italian country bread. My two year old kept gobbling them down and the waitress kept bringing more baskets with a smile. Nice service.

For a main course, I finally settled on the Pasta Primavera ($8.95), though there were so many that looked good. It was served with all fresh vegetables in a thin tomato sauce over angel hair pasta. You could tell this dish was 100% homemade. It was plenty to share with my daughter as well.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="230" caption="Portofino's Lobster Ravioli"][/caption]

My husband got the Lobster Ravioli ($12.95). I really wanted to order that too, but I decided we needed to try more than one dish. Glad we did because both were great! The lobster ravioli is served in a tomato cream sauce and not too rich and not at all fishy smelling or tasting. (A problem some other Italian restaurants can’t seem to overcome on this dish.) But not Portofino. Theirs was perfect. The sauce was so good, my husband finished off the breadbasket soaking up every last drop of that sauce. We hadn’t enjoyed a lobster ravioli dish that much since dining at Sapori Trattoria in Chicago. (If you’re ever in Chicago, it’s worth the trouble leaving the tourist areas for that little gem of a restaurant as well. Sapori is my favorite restaurant in the entire world. No exaggeration.)

I have to say, as you can probably already tell, I was so impressed by this local joint. Decent prices, high quality food, and quick friendly service. A MUST visit! I wish this place was in my hometown! Now you have one more reason (besides checking out all the alien stuff) to visit Roswell.

For more photos of Portofino click HERE.