Turquoise Trail And Albuquerque

Turquoise Trail And Albuquerque originally published on Food and Fond Memories on December 21, 2013 by sandyaxelrod Leave a Comment (Edit)

Turquoise Trail And Albuquerque

We were in no particular hurry to get to our final destination of our Western vacation. So after a lovely and filling breakfast at our hotel we decided to take the leisurely, scenic route to Albuquerque; the Turquoise Trail. It was really a beautiful drive dotted with tiny little towns and interesting curio shops. Since Steve’s job was to navigate the winding road mine was to let him know where to stop. I noticed a piece of property with the most amazing sculptures outside but we had already passed it by. Instead of continuing Steve carefully made a u turn and we paid a visit to an amazing sculpture garden and gallery. We were welcomed by three adorable dogs who invited us in for belly rubs and a look around. We were greeted by the Box Gallery manager KaSandra and Jennifer Box, also an artist, who just happens to be married to another artist Kevin Box. Their work is incredible! Bronze sculptures that are so unique. They have developed their own technique for making their molds which starts with paper and very carefully applied thin layers of wax. Many of the pieces are inspired by Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. Jennifer was delighted to show us the gallery and huge bright studio. Unfortunately most of the larger pieces were already crated and ready to take the long trip from New Mexico to Miami for Art Basel.

We continued on our merry way until we got to Sandia Crest where we turned off to take the winding drive to the peak which is just a bit shorter than Pike’s Peak in Colorado but no less dramatic. As we approached the crest we noticed more and more snow on the side of the road and suddenly we were skidding. Scary! But Steve carefully maneuvered us to safety and we continued up much more cautiously. The view (and the altitude) took our breath away. It was so worth the treacherous trek. On the drive down we realized just how hungry we were so with only a few miles left to Albuquerque we decided to head straight there, and have lunch at the Standard Diner, another of Guy Fieri’s Triple D recommendations.

I am not a huge fan of Guy Fieri’s food but his recommendations on his show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives have been spot on for this trip. We decided to share the Fresh Tomato Soup with White Cheddar and Croutons and the Standard Burger with Onion Strings, Poblano Peppers and Blue Cheese with a side of Truffle Fries. The ambiance at The Standard Diner is so much more upscale than your typical diner and the food was much more creative as well. The soup was so fresh and flavorful. It was thick and rich and tomatoey. With the melted cheddar and croutons it was like eating a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup in one outstanding bowl of goodness. The burger was huge, juicy and smokey. Cooked with a barely pink center and topped with all the goodies it was perfection in a bun. The fries were very crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, plus they were fragrant with the woodsy aroma of truffles. Sharing the burger was such a tease.

By the time we were hungry enough for dinner it was pretty late, even by our standards. Some lovely local residents that we met at lunch recommended Rudy’s for BBQ. They said it was the best around. Luckily for us they stay open late. Not knowing what to expect we entered to find a very casual restaurant. Long rows of communal tables were covered with red and white checked plastic cloths and there was a roped off area to keep the long lines of customers in check for ordering. It was fast and efficient, very reasonably priced and the staff could not have been more friendly. But the best part was the food. Steve had the pulled pork and I had the BBQ Chicken and we shared pickles, potato salad and coleslaw. It was so much fun eating and talking with everyone in the restaurant. And I think it was the most delicious BBQ chicken I ever ate.

Our last day was jam packed. We went to the Green Market that was in the park directly across from our hotel. We had fabulous Chocolate Croissants from a French pastry chef. They were buttery and flaky and filled with loads of dark bittersweet chocolate. It was the most glorious day so we wanted to stay outdoors. Our first stop was Old Town for some shopping and gallery hopping. In the plaza there was a whole row of Native Americans selling their handmade goods.

Next we went to the Botanical Gardens and the Aquarium, which are adjacent to one another. The Gardens were lush and colorful with so many species of unusual desert plants it was mind boggling. The Aquarium was beautiful with all sorts of sea creatures big and small. We even got lucky and saw a diver hand feeding a huge sea turtle.

Since lunch had been a tease the day before, we decided to go back to the Standard Diner for a reprise. This time we started with the Wedge Salad with Bacon and Blue Cheese Croutons. Are you curious about those croutons? I was. But after tasting my first bite I think I figured out how they were made. I believe they froze the blue cheese until firm and then cut it into cubes. The cubes were then rolled in a crumb mixture and quickly deep fried until golden brown and crisp on the outside. All I can tell you is they were quite amazing with all that crunch and creamy rich spicy flavor. For dinner we each had the Standard Burger. It was every bit as good as the day before!
By the time we got up Sunday morning we were ready for the flight home in our spacious first class seats on American Airlines. Ready to sleep in our comfy bed. Ready to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us in our home. And ready for the warm, less dry air of our tropical weather in South Florida.

Standard Diner
320 Central Avene SE at Arno
Albuquerque, New Mexico
505-243-1769
www.standarddinner.com

Rudy’s BBQ
2321 Carlisle Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM
505-884-4000
www.rudysbbq.com