Last week we took a brief vacation to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Time for a little sunshine and a change of scenery. Having never been to this part of the southwest, it was fun to take in a new experience. Lots of shops, galleries, zesty flavors and of course the desert colors of the region backed by snow-capped mountains.
One of the great places we enjoyed exploring was the The Palace of the Governors in downtown Santa Fe. See photo. Constructed in the early 17th century as Spain's seat of government, it is now a museum telling the history of Santa Fe, the state of New Mexico along with US timelines. It houses an original mud stagecoach that carried 11 people and gear, original room furnishings and the Segesser Hide Paintings--paintings on animal hide that depict Spanish colonial life and military expeditions of the time. Under the walkway outside the Palace, native New Mexico Indians sell arts and crafts--beautiful turquoise jewelry, handcrafted silver bracelets, pottery, fetishes and beadwork.
We had a fabulous dinner at O'Keeffe Cafe just off the square in Santa Fe. And unfortunately I neglected to bring my camera to dinner! Having had a late lunch, I opted for soup and an appetizer, Asian Style Crispy Shrimp with Jicama and Watercress Salad and Sweet Chile Vinaigrette--that was scrumptious. Three large crispy shrimp sat upon a salad of greens and watercress in a citrus dressing. My husband had the Sautéed Diver Scallops on top of Wild Mushroom Risotto, finished with Truffle Essence Nage and Shaved Black Truffle--a creamy rich combination that beautifully blended the flavors and textures of the dish. Since we can't recreate such decadence for you on the website, give our Marinated Shrimp with Ginger and Lime recipe a try. Take a look.
And now back to reality. We've settled into our regular routine--school's back in session and work continues. Hope you get a chance for a respite and fresh start to spring!
