Rated 24 Archives - Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Al-qud’s Mediterranean Grill & Grocery – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil Garduno — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:54:08 +0000

The St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Magdalena, New Mexico is adorned with ceramic statues, most familiar and easy to identify…at least for dyed-in-the-wool Catholics like me. After Sunday Mass one September, 2010 morning, we espied a statue of a saint clutching a curious implement to his chest. None of the parishioners we asked had any idea who the statue represented. Father Andy Pavlak, the parish vicar at the time, confirmed the statue depicted Saint Lawrence of Rome and the curious device he held was a gridiron, a metal grate used for grilling meat, fish, vegetables or any combination thereof. Father Pavlak went on to explain why Saint Lawrence clutched the gridiron. Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons of…

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M’tucci’s Moderno – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil Garduno — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 22:23:31 +0000

“If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere It’s up to you, New York, New York <” ~Frank Sinatra Jeff Spiegel, the much-missed managing partner of the insanely popular M’tucci’s family of restaurants once described flagship restaurant M’tucci’s Italian Restaurant (previously M’tucci’s Kitchina) as “as good as anything we did in New York City.” That is really saying something considering over the course of 23 years, Jeff and his wife, life and business partner Katie Gardner owned and operated eleven restaurants in The Big Apple. Those eclectic eleven were highly regarded dining establishments, earning praise and acclaim from the dining public and media alike. One, The West End Bar & Grill, was a legendary Columbia University institution and…

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Rio Tacos – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil Garduno — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 06:01:35 +0000

In May, Mexico City’s Tacos El Califa de León, in the downtrodden San Rafael neighborhood became the first Mexican taco stand to win a Michelin star. One of the things that makes its selection remarkable is that the taqueria is the antithesis of most Michelin starred restaurants. It’s not elegant and its tables aren’t set with immaculately pressed white linens. There are no sterling place-settings or fine china. Instead, the taqueria has no tables or seats. It’s standing room only with space for only a handful of guests and a metal counter on which they can balance their plates. Fittingly, the taqueria is all about tacos. There’s nothing else on the menu, only four options: bistec (seared steak), chuleta…

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