When hearing the question "Red or Green?", my answer is "Both!".
Santa Fe is famous for their Green and Red Chile and usually people like one of them, but I love both. On the same place. Right next to each other, on the plate. (Chile is a sauce made from either red or green chillies). In New Mexico, they serve chile on everything from enchiladas, burritos and rellenos to pizza, burgers and chips.
South Western cuisine is very similar to Mexican food, but have many differences, and since moving to America, I've come to love both. Similarities would be: the use of beans, tortillas and spices but Southwest Cuisine also includes Native American, Spanish Colonial and cowboy food. (and they don't use much tripe and brains)
During our trip to Santa Fe, we had some awesome food. We were starving after our 6 hour drive and started looking for a restaurant as soon as we arrived. We were walking around and I saw an entrance that just called me, but we decided to walk around for a little bit longer before committing to this establishment for our first meal (plus they looked really full) and after a bit of walk around the block, I insisted that we go back. Luckily for us, we arrived at a good time - the first few lunch tables had already left, so there was a table available for us. The first thing we noticed about Cafe Pasqual, was its fabulously colorful and somewhat over-the-top decor, then our attention was gripped by the menu. It was not an easy decision to make, especially after waiter told us what the specials of the day were.
Cafe Pasqual is one of those places where the same waiters work for years, which usually means, the place, food and service is great (the servers are not overly-friendly, so don't expect to make a friend for life, but they were very efficient and knowledgeable about the menu and the service was well-timed). The James Beard awards and cookbooks in the window might give you the idea that there is something special inside the doors, and that is what what we found, so I was thrilled with our selection for our first meal in Santa Fe.
We decided on the salmon burrito and chicken mole. I love mole! It is a sauce made from 36+ spices and chocolate and takes forever to make, so whenever a restaurant serves it, I usually order it and the mole at Cafe Pasqual did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend that anyone visiting Santa Fe, should go eat at Cafe Pasqual, which by the way is named after the Patron Saint of the kitchen - great name for a great place!
Now...I have to admit something shocking...I am one of those food obsessed people who take photos of my plate if I'm feeling particularly inspired, and even though I felt inspired by most of the plates that I received in Santa Fe, the hunger overpowered the desire the take a photo, so I didn't really take any food photos. Shocking - I know! Next time...
