In 2026, the way we eat feels both inventive and deeply familiar. For instance, comfort food is no longer an indulgence but rather a strategy. These recipes are built to soothe, nourish, and stretch the grocery budget in an era of grocery inflation. At the same time, high-quality proteins are moving from novelty to necessity, shaped by climate awareness and shifting dietary needs as processed foods meet their match. GLP-1 medications are quietly influencing not only the social sphere but the cooking world with extra virgin olive oil possibly becoming a solution.
Through it all though is a renewed sense for simple, high-quality ingredients that center around flavor, health, and tradition. Together, these shifts reveal that 2026 food trends are defined less by restriction or excess this year, and more so by resilience, intention, and pleasure in eating.
Why Take Part in 2026’s Food Trends?
Food trends are not just about what’s new and hot. They’re actually a reflection of how we want to live right now. This year’s trends reflect a collective craving for food that feels intentional whether that’s for comfort food, flavors that travel without excess, and techniques that honor tradition while embracing innovation. Climate-aware sourcing as well as playful nostalgia and globally inspired comfort showcases our curiosity in 2026 and zest to better out world one step at a time. Engaging with these trends (no matter if you cook, host, shop or dine) is a way to stay up-to-date with the current state of our world while also lending a helping hand to your neighbors and locals alike. We invite you to savor those moments when food feels both expressive and deeply human.
Comfort food is called that for a reason. Whether it’s a warming bowl of stew, a juicy burger, or a casserole in a hot pan, we crave comfort food when times are hard and stress is heavy. In a year like 2026, comfort foods are a must when tensions rise across the globe and your own personal battles take hold. We’ll see a rise in recipes that bring nostalgia and remind us of better times like our childhood.
One of the scariest parts of entering a New Year is not knowing what is going to happen to the prices of everyday groceries. Will milk end up a nearly five dollars a gallon again? Will eggs reach into the double digits? Well, what we do know is that chicken, beans, canned fish, and pasta are all staying at a low cost, and if they see an increase, it will be far lower than other foods. This means we’re loading up on recipes that utilize these ingredients in a variety of ways to infuse different cultural flavors into your dinner.
Families are likely to feel the biggest impact of the shifting economy of 2026. Whenever you’re feeding more than just yourself and your partner, it’s difficult to come up with larger portions at an accessible price, while maintaining nutrition for young minds and bodies. In order to save more than a dime in 2026, we recommend taking tips from a real mom who spends each day feeding three wonderful children and a hungry hubby. As author Katrina Tomacchio says, “It’s [saving money] about identifying the habits that quietly cost families the most and learning how to replace them with smarter strategies.”
You’re used to eating ground beef, chicken, and fish but did you know there are high-quality protein options that are better for you? Local beef, tinned fish, duck, pork, and quail are just a few of the selections that are shining in 2026. Chef Maxine Sharf points out, “I think there’s been a real shift toward people caring more about the quality and sourcing of their food, especially animal proteins… I’ve definitely seen more interest in high-quality beef recipes.” Cooking these meats at home is also a great way to take advantage of the analog age. In a world of chaos, analog media and ways of living help us to slow down and savor what we have. It’s hands-on, it’s tactile, and it’s essential to 2026.
2026 is about being the best you that you can be. To help you feel just as good, you can follow a diet plan that takes your life and needs into consideration. Maybe you’re looking to cut out some meat, but not all. Or, maybe you’re thinking about giving keto a try but don’t know where to start. Each of these guides is designed to make starting a new diet as simple and as encouraging as possible. Remember as you dive in, there’s no “right” way to diet. It’s most important to listen to your body and supply it with what it needs.
In the New Year, we’re exploring the concept of Food as Medicine. This applies not only for diets but also for specific ingredients that can support a healthy lifestyle. You’ve probably heard a lot about GLP-1 in recent months and its ability to help you lose weight. Nasser Abufarha, founder and director of Canaan Palestine, explains, “With more GLP-1 in your system you’ll feel full for longer, have improved glucose tolerance, have an increase in cardiovascular health, and your digestive process will slow so your body can absorb more of the vitamins and nutrients you ingest.” But, before you go running for a shot, give extra virgin olive oil a chance. Olive oil naturally encourages your body to increase GLP-1 secretion without weekly injections. It’s also the reason you see olive oil used in the Mediterranean diet to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
You’ve probably used ginger can soothe a sore throat or a cold but there are plenty of other reasons to use ginger as well. In a year where taking care of ourselves takes priority, ginger can become a best friend for its support with nausea, inflammation, pain, gas, boating, and so much more. As author Kristen Palmer explains, “Its use in Southeast Asia and traditional systems of medicine dates back thousands of years, and modern research is rapidly catching up.” The best part is there are so many ways to use ginger besides just dropping it into a glass of hot water. Take our advice and see how ginger can shake up your life.
Puff pastry always makes it look as if the cook worked extra hard, even though it is far from hard to prepare if you start with sheets of store-bought pastry. This buttery Asparagus Tart can be sliced into small squares as an appetizer. Accompanied by a fresh green salad, it also makes a fine main dish. Consider pairing it with a bottle of Italian Pecorino. Its bright acidity will contrast well with buttery puff pastry, while its sophisticated hints of jasmine or acacia will play nicely with the savory quality of the asparagus.
Test this tarts versatility as an appetizer or main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
1 sheet store-bought puff pastry, preferably an all-butter version such as DuFour
16 to 20 thin to medium-thick asparagus spears
About 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
6 oz (about 1½ cups) shredded Fontina cheese
Flaky salt and coarse-ground black pepper
Fresh dill sprigs and/or snipped chives, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a floured surface into a 10- X 14-inch rectangle. Trim uneven edges. Transfer the pastry to the baking sheet. Score the pastry on all 4 sides 1 inch in from the edge. Slice down into, but not all the way through, the pastry. Using a fork, dock (poke holes in it) the dough inside the marked rectangle at 1-inch intervals. This will help the pastry stay flat in its initial baking.
Par-bake the pastry for 12 to 14 minutes, until it has begun to color and rise a bit.
Toss asparagus with oil to coat lightly.
Remove the pastry crust from the oven. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the tart. Arrange the spears snugly side by side, arranging as many as will fit neatly in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Return the tart to the oven and continue baking 15 to 20 minutes, until pastry crust is nicely browned and crisp and asparagus spears are tender. Scatter with dill or chives, if you wish. Slide the tart off the baking sheet and onto a baking rack to cool briefly. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into squares.
Recipes and Story by Cheryl Alters Jamison Styling by Keith Recker Preparation by Jackie Page Photography by Dave Bryce
One sure benefit of longer nights is that an evening in a theater, concert hall, restaurant, or club brings essential sparkle and shine to our lives. Put your boots on and then head into the night with us at these New Mexico winter events.
The Taos Winter Wine Festival – three days of culinary artistry in Taos coupled with wines from wineries around the world – draws skiers and foodies alike. Enjoy over 30 national wineries partnered with the area’s best restaurants in a schedule packed with food and also wine events featuring a Reserve Tasting, chef luncheons, après ski tastings, and wine dinners.
Photo Courtesy of Souper Bowl.
Souper Bowl
January 31, Santa Fe Community Convention Center January 31, Albuquerque, Roadrunner Food Bank
The annual Souper Bowls in Albuquerque and Santa Fe benefit Roadrunner Food Bank of Albuquerque and The Food Depot of Santa Fe. These signature fundraising events bring in enough money for nearly 500,000 meals each year. At each location, hungry attendees sample and vote for their favorite soups from dozens of local chefs and restaurants vying for top honors in various categories like savory, vegetarian, and overall/people’s choice best soup. This family-friendly event promises a delicious experience for attendees of all ages, and sells out in both locations. Albuquerque – rrfb.org/souper-bowl Santa Fe – thefooddepot.org/events-and-outreach
Mardi Gras New Mexico style means the snow-capped mountains of Red River and a unique blend of traditions that draws crowds from across the country. Dress up and celebrate a good time during the Grand Ball. Experience something new with the burning of the Loup-garu—a spirit that removes your troubles and worries for the coming year. Prepare your palate for Cajun cook-offs and crawfish boils. Bundle up and watch the annual Mardi Gras Main Street Parade.
See beautiful new work by local quilters as well as historic quilts at the annual Gathering of Quilts. Upwards of a hundred quilts are on view every year, and anyone is welcome to enter a quilt for exhibit – antique to newly made.
February 27-March 1, Albuquerque, Sandia Resort & Casino
Sip, dip, and sample more than 1,000 different products from Scovie Award winners from around world at the annual Fiery Foods and BBQ Show at Sandia Resort and Casino. The Scovie scale measures spice level, ranging from zero units for a bell pepper to 2.6 million units for Pepper X, judged the world’s hottest.
Ten days of meals and deals encourages locals and visitors to experience the city’s remarkable cuisine during an otherwise slow time of year. Santa Fe Restaurant Week has become the city’s premier winter dining event. Founder Michele Ostrove and partner Larry West have slowly expanded both the list of participating restaurants (38 in 2025), and lodging partners, to provide a complete experience during the shoulder season. Most participating restaurants offer a prix fixe lunch, dinner, or both, consisting of three/four courses at a value price less than that same meal would cost ordered à–la carte. Bon appétit!
AMP Concerts hosts inspiring arts programming throughout New Mexico, plus a portion of all AMP ticket sales goes to fund free community concerts, workshops, school programs, as well as artist residencies.
January 24: Dust City Opera: Sadness, Madness & Mayhem III February 4 & 5: Kalos March 16: Lúnasa
Whether shows are in the San Franscico Street historic theater or out in the Santa Fe, Albuquerque, or Taos communities, the Lensic Performing Arts Center’s Lensic Presents and Lensic 360 series bring outstanding film, theater, opera, dance, music, and more to the state.
January 27: Blade Runner Live January 28: Don Broco (Lensic 360) January 31: Joan Osborn & KT Tunstall February 5: Storm Large February 21: The Ten Tenors February 22: The Okee Dokee Brothers February 25: bbno$ (Lensic 360) March 1: Trekking Mexico March 2: The Strumbellas (Lensic 360) March 6: The Assad Brothers March 11: American Ballet Theatre Studio Company March 13: The Bad Plus, Chris Potter & Craig Taborn (the comma is in right place) March 15: Lúnasa
Since 1980, Santa Fe Pro Musica has brought together outstanding musicians to inspire and educate audiences of all ages through the performance of great music.
January 25: Winter Orchestra Concert February 8: Cuarteto Casals February 22: Brooklyn Rider March 14 & 15: Spring Orchestra Concert
The New Mexico Philharmonic enriches lives through musical excellence, educational opportunities, and community engagement.
January 24: Symphonic Dances February 6: Beethoven, Britten & Respighi February 8: Power Concert: Meet the Strings February 28: Pictures at an Exhibition March 13 & 15: Carnival of the Animals
Opera Southwest produces quality, professional, enjoyable, and also accessible opera in an intimate setting at venues around Albuquerque for audiences of all ages.
Albuquerque’s Popejoy Hall hosts touring Broadway shows, symphony concerts, musical soloists and artists of international caliber, world-renowned ballet and modern dance companies, as well as noted speakers from a broad spectrum of disciplines.
January 25: Sing-A-Long Broadway February 3-8:A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical February 14: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo February 15: Glenn Miller Orchestra February 22: The Ten Tenors February 27: Cirque Mechanics March 1: The Mikado March 3: Peppa Pig: My First Concert March 13-15:The Book of Mormon March 17: Shamrock Tenors March 20:The Hound of the Baskervilles
Museums, Lectures, & Cultural Happenings
Douglas Miles: Always & Forever
Through February 8, IAIA Museum of contemporary Native Arts
Skateboards are moving canvases, as presented by Miles—a painter, printmaker and photographer, and founder of Apache Skateboards as well as the Apache Skate Team. Dynamic and demonstrating the sovereignty of motion, the exhibit also features Miles’s installation You’re Skating on Native Land.
Gustave Baumann first came to New Mexico in 1918 and has since become one of the most beloved artists and cultural figures in Santa Fe. Best known for his enchanting woodblock prints, Baumann was a prodigious artist and creative who left behind an enormous legacy that also included painting, sculpture, drawing, marionettes, and furniture. This comprehensive study of Baumann’s artistic output offers a close look at how he engaged the physical, cultural, and artistic environment in which he worked. Surveying all periods of his artistic career, and also organized thematically, this exhibition will critically examine key concepts at play in Baumann’s artwork through a variety of lenses.
Photo Courtesy of New Mexico State University Art Museum
Through March 7, New Mexico State University Art Museum, Las Cruces
Trinities of Heaven and Earthdraws some 200 retablos from the New Mexico State University Art Museum’s extensive collection of over 2,200 such objects for this exhibition exploring the spiritual as well as cultural importance of these sacred images. Retablos, small devotional paintings traditionally displayed in homes, served as vital expressions of Catholic faith and values within the household. The imagery of the Holy Family conveys blessings related to family life, while depictions of the Holy Trinity invoke divine guidance.
Through January 27, 2027, Museum of International Folk Art
Truths Be Told: Artists Activate Traditionshighlights a dozen international artists who engage with folk traditions from their respective communities in order to critique social inequities, reverse erasure, and be a catalyst for social change. By pushing the boundaries of longstanding ceramic, basketry, as well as textile practices, regalia, or song, these artists propose more complex narratives of how traditions empower communities.
Photo Courtesy of Museum of Indian Arts & Culture.
Through August 17, 2026, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
Makowa takes an expansive view of the worlds above: constellations, birds, eclipses, clouds, astronauts, and more, over day and night as well as throughout the seasons and eras. The exhibit will juxtapose artistic renderings of celestial events with cutting-edge telescopic imaging. It will draw together stories about how stars came to be where they are and also how stars help people know where they are. The exhibit asks us to participate in a long lineage of observers who have made sense of the worlds above us. Night photography, pottery, textiles, interviews, and maps, as well as a small planetarium experience, are among the exhibit components.
A resident of New Mexico since 1993, writer, activist, and curator Lucy Lippard’s focus on the local has prompted exhibitions, panels, letters to the editor, and books exploring the histories and archeological landscapes of the state. In 1999, the New Mexico Museum of Art was the beneficiary of over 500 artworks, art books, posters, political buttons, as well as activist ephemera. These objects, which chart Lippard’s considerable activities and consequential personal relationships, were gifted to her over the years by friends, partners, collaborators, and also hopeful artists. This exhibition features a selection of objects from the collection, spanning two galleries at the Vladem Contemporary, and traces Lippard’s prolific career, honoring her contribution to the art world.
Returning for its third year, a bigger, better, and bolder Sadness, Madness, & Mayhem costume ball, concert, and circus party moves to the Historic El Rey Theater in downtown Albuquerque. The annual event put on by Albuquerque-based alt-rock orchestra Dust City Opera and joined by long time collaborators Giovanni String Quartet and Movement Caravan Circus Troupe, promises an otherworldly extravaganza of music, carnival acts, turn of the 19th century fashion, as well as mystical entertainment.
“Moving the show to the El Rey gives us space to house all of the performers in one area, so guests will see everything in one place,” says Sydney Counce, Dust City Opera manager. “Everything will be happening all around you all at once, with music on the stage, and jugglers and stilt walkers amongst the crowd. It’s not a regular concert, but an immersive experience.”
Costumes play a big part in that immersive experience. Counce describes it as having a haunted carnival vibe, with guests leaning into a Mardi Gras meets haunted house vibe with elaborate masks and fashions. There’s a VIP after party with cocktails as well as swag from local businesses, too.
“January feels like good time for this, as there isn’t much going on this time of year and people are looking for something to do after the holidays. It’s cold and dreary, which adds to the drama of the event,” Counce continues, explaining the name of the event comes from themes of the Dust City Opera quintet’s music – heaviness, loss, trauma and hardships, but in a humorous, bizarre and feel-good way. “Folks who come out say it’s the most fun, most memorable thing they’ve ever attended. It’s a unique, unexpected experience.”
Through February 8, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque
A dynamic new exhibition combines printmaking, photography, and ceramics under the common themes of identity, time, and also evolution. Cara and Diego Romero: Tales of Futures Past features the work of photographer Cara Romero (Chemehuevi) and potter Diego Romero (Cochiti Pueblo). The married artists focus on the artistic dialogue between their mediums in this traveling exhibition organized by the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa. The Albuquerque leg of the show will be augmented by additional pieces from New Mexico museums.
The exhibition’s 35 works (16 of Cara’s photographs, 15 pottery pieces by Diego, and several collaborative works) explore the complexities as well as the evolutionary nature of Indigenous identity. Together, the Romeros fuse elements of popular culture, ancestral traditions, and the supernatural to portray protagonists powered by their Indigeneity as they, and the world, continue to change. Through their visionary works, the Romeros examine rewriting historical narratives, the power of Indigeneity, environmental racism, and also ancestral evolution.
What the Show is About
“There’s great humor and sarcasm in this serious show. But it’s not a solemn show. These are powerful ideas that pertain to rewriting historical narratives, advocating environmental consciousness, and indigeneity, while also disarming in its humor and lush colors. It’s a visual delight but also an intellectual deep dive,” says William Gassaway, Assistant Curator of Art at the Albuquerque Museum.
“This material and these artists are not new to the Museum or New Mexico, and the set of ideas in the exhibit are some we’ve has been trying to unpack over time. Cara’s work especially emphasizes indigenous futurism, while Diego comments on the ludicrous conspiracy theories surrounding the ancient Maya and alien influences on them. We’d love visitors to get comfortable constantly shifting in time – backward to the Pueblo Revolt [1680] to present time and into an imagined, hopeful, and desirable future.”
The winding road west from Socorro opens suddenly onto the open Plains of San Agustin, where off in the distance sit the 27 dish antennas (plus one spare) that make up the Very Large Array. As the premier radio telescope installation in the world, each antenna is 82 feet across, positioned along a Y-shaped track that, at its most extended, is 22 miles across.
Since its opening in 1980, the VLA has had a major impact on nearly every branch of astronomy. The iconic image of the dishes pointed toward the heavens is well-known from the movie Contact starring Jodie Foster as a radio astronomer searching for signs of extraterrestrial life. Standing next to one of the dishes is also a thrilling part of a visit to the site. Open year-round for a $10 admission fee, twice a year (the third Saturdays of April and October) the astronomers, scientists, as well as technical staff welcome the public for free guided and self-guided tours, lectures, and demonstrations, with hands-on science activities for kids and adults, food trucks, and science-y merch.
What’s New?
New for 2026 is the completion of the next generation of radio telescope antenna, the unprecedented sensitivity as well as resolution of which will help scientists answer the questions: How do planets form? What are they made of? Do they contain the building blocks of life?
“Scientific exploration and opportunity are everywhere all around us. You don’t need to go to a giant facility in a major city to find it. We’re a cultural staple of New Mexico, so we like to have folks come see us,” says Corrina Jaramillo Feldman, the VLA’s Senior Public Information Officer. “And science doesn’t have to be inaccessible or overly complicated or exclusively academic. Anyone from any background at any point in life can learn and engage in science, right here at the VLA. We hope to make science more accessible and inspire the next generation of astronomers and scientists.”
Pack a lunch or patronize the food trucks, bring your family, and well-behaved dogs. But save room for dessert, because just a few miles beyond the installation are Pie Town and the Pie Town Pie company. Their pies are a sweet treat to finish the day.
Photo Courtesy of Wander New Mexico.
City Different Food Tours
When visitors come to the City Different, they need to eat. Want to eat! And we residents love to eat, too, because dining in Santa Fe is always a delicious experience, especially in winter when hearty soups, stews, belly-filling New Mexican specialties, and gourmet cuisine abounds. Except for prime holiday weeks, eating out in the City Different during the winter usually means easy access to almost every restaurant, bar, and lounge.
Lauren Slaff guides the TripAdvisor top-rated Santa Fe food tours of Wander New Mexico. This former chef and food educator loves shepherding hungry locals as well as visitors around the City Different. Introducing them to the flavors of New Mexico often comes with surprising feedback, though.
The Wonders of Santa Fe
“They are often surprised that our culinary scene isn’t just New Mexican food, and also how old Santa Fe is,” she says of the 2.5 hour to half-day excursions she leads, which always sprinkles in local restaurant and cultural history. “Our tours include a downtown sip and savor with small bites, a margarita trail tour, as well as a chef-guided lunch tour complete with dessert and beverages.”
Apparently, visitors also get confused that we get winter here, and that our food isn’t TexMex doused in cheese and red sauce. They are definitely in trouble if they don’t like spicy food. But more often than not, Slaff says that visitors appreciate the cultural experience, the intimate interactions with chefs, and the inclusive, welcoming restaurant community we have. Locals can also become acquainted with restaurants, bars, wineries, and breweries that might not be on their radar.
Wander New Mexico isn’t the only culinary tour in town. Food Tour New Mexico and the Santa Fe School of Cooking, like Wander NM, focus on the downtown and Railyard areas – both walkable areas full of local flavor. Vigilante Guides’ sight-seeing tours include Santa Fe, Taos, Chimayo, Bandelier/Puye Cliff Dwellings, as well as Ghost Ranch, all with snacks, lunch, wine, and beer tastings.
Tie up your walking shoes and bring your appetite this winter, whether you’ve got guests or not!
There’s nothing better than warming the soul with a homemade bowl of soup. Now that the weather is beginning to cool, there’s a good chance you’re gravitating towards a hearty, filling bowl of goodness for lunch and dinner. From chicken noodle to exotic butternut squash, we’ve got you covered with the below delicious homemade soup recipes.
French Onion Soup has a special place in our hearts because it requires a central technique for good cooking — caramelizing onions. Browning or carmelizing onions is an exercise in patience and expands basic cookery chops in building flavor. It’s a cooking tenet applicable anywhere but should be mastered here in all its melty goodness.
Experience shows that the less stress you bring to the dinner table, the smoother the ride. Try this very simple, healthy, and nutritious Alphabet Soup. Serve with crusty bread and butter. Perhaps you garnish with a bit of popcorn to keep the kids interested.
Vegetable soup is soul-soothing goodness, perfect for long wintery days or stormy summer nights (especially when you need to use up the yellow squash and zucchini from your garden).
This Caramelized Fennel, Onion and Pea Soup recipe is a warming and delectable winter soup created by fusing together varying local ingredients seasoned with warm spices and decadent textures.
This Spicy Sausage and Greens soup is a tantalizing, nutritious meal perfect for any time of year. Don’t let the short list of ingredients fool you. This delicious recipe is packed full of flavor.
This particular recipe pairs the veggie virtues of farm-fresh squash with a bit of Southeast Asia in the form of yellow Thai curry and coconut milk. Liokareas Cold Fused Leek Olive Oil adds a note of complexity!
Everyone we know has a childhood winter lunch memory of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Warm yourself with a cup of homemade soup (and a few memories) by whipping up a batch for yourself. Share with kids and grandkids to pay those fond memories forward.
Our Vegetarian Italian Wedding Soup made with Impossible Burger meatballs will warm you up in the best possible ways. Celebrate your Meatless Monday Zuppa with a twist and twirl.
A little bit of citrus and tang in a soup can wake you right up on those chilly days. This Lemon and Fregula Chicken Soup is similar to a traditional chicken soup but with small ball fregula pasta, broccoli, and plenty of lemon. Make a huge pot and freeze it for the next time you feel a cold coming on.
The simplicity of Roasted Pumpkin Soup makes for a quick and easy recipe that you can make in just an hour or two. A fresh pie pumpkin turns into a smooth, delicious treat with the help of chicken or vegetable stock ad plenty of seasonings. Just don’t forget toasted sesame seeds and fresh herbs for garnish.
In case noodles are not exactly your thing, try a chicken soup that uses filling wild rice instead. This recipe packs a bowl full of chicken or turkey breast, a homemade poultry broth, long grain wild rice, celery rib, carrot, and onion. It’s a little creamy and each spoonful is surely better than the last.
There’s nothing wrong with plain old squash but we like to think that a bit of extra spice makes everything better. This Curry Squash Soup features a coriander crème along with a hefty handful of turmeric, vegetable stock, orange zest, and coconut milk. Plus, you’ll also make a pepita brittle to garnish with.
Clam chowder and seafood gumbo are great but Tuscan Clam Soup is meant for the fall and winter time. Fresh clams cook in a deeply rich tomato sauce that infuses garlic cloves, parsley, dry white wine, and black pepper. You’ll want a few slices of country bread on hand to sop us all the broth.
You may believe you can only get Pork Wonton Soup at your local Chinese restaurant but it’s actually a breeze to make at home too. Once you have your ingredients ready, all you have to do is bring your broth to a boil, create pork meatballs, then add the bok choy and wonton wrappers. In not even half an hour you have dinner ready.
Not every soup has to include meat or cream. In fact, vegan soups are an opportunity to allow fresh produce to shine. This Vegan Mushroom Potato Soup combines three types of mushrooms along with shallots, garlic, Yukon Gold potatoes, thyme, red pepper flakes, and vegetable stock. Though you can feel free to experiment with other types of wild mushrooms and russet potatoes.
Joumou is a traditional Haitian soup that relies on pumpkin, beef, and pikliz. Pukliz is similar to a pickled slaw but with lots of spice and heat. Cooking up these ingredients along with habanero or Scotch bonnet chile is sure to clear out your sinuses and warm even the coldest of bones.
Everyone should have a tomato soup recipe in their back pocket and this one specifically uses heirloom tomatoes. The addition of fried basil and a basil oil take it beyond what you get in a can and add that homemade feel.
French Onion Soup with its bubbly golden cheese and rich onion broth are a must for the cold months. To make life as easy as possible, we’re showing you how to make a delicious serving all in one pot.
Apple pear syrup or appelstroop adds a tang to various recipes with its distinct flavor. In a Dutch Treat Beef Stew it adds to the depth of flavor and creates a unique taste you won’t find elsewhere.
What’s better than a soup you can prepare entirely in a slow cooker? This Tom Kha Gai from Martha Stewart focuses on lemongrass as a staple to build the rest of the soup upon. It includes a creamy mix of coconut mix, carrots, lime leaves, chicken, mushrooms, and plenty of herbs.
For our Seafood Chowder, we pack a savory broth full of cod, scallops, clams pancetta, potatoes, and tomatoes. To build up the broth we use seafood stock, white wine, dill, tomato paste, and a handful of seasonings.
For more ways to warm up your cold hands and put a smile on your face, try:
Begin your winter days with a warming repast or a scrumptious continental nibble. All of this and more is on offer when snowflakes fall in Santa Fe.
Breakfast, Anytime
Red chile bacon dipped in maple syrup. A ripe strawberry plucked from a bowl of gleaming fruit. The tangy sparkle of a mimosa. The laughter of family and friends around the table. The sharp aroma of fresh espresso. The knowledge that you don’t have anything to do except enjoy!
This is why I love eating breakfast. It evokes memories of past repasts and the promise of more to come. I love it at just about any time: brunch, lunch, dinner, whenever.
Breakfast is the best meal. So why relegate it to the early hours when you might not, in your pre-caffeinated fog, appreciate a fragrant croissant slathered in butter. Or the silkiness of a perfectly poached egg. Or the delight in your companion’s eyes over a piled-high plate of pastries.
Personally, I like to dawdle in my pajamas while slowly awakening––drinking my tea, reading the newspaper, catching up online. The anticipation of digging into a colorful frittata when I’m good and ready is delicious.
Fortunately, Santa Fe’s breakfast options shine like the early morning sun breaking over the Sangre de Cristos, whenever you want it. In fact, many places serve breakfast throughout the day.
Santa Fe Breakfast Restaurants
Families Welcome
Harry’s Roadhouse has a comprehensive breakfast menu: oatmeal, pancakes, French toast, eggs and omelets, and occasionally grits. Even picky eaters will find something to please. The homemade turkey sausage is dynamite, and they are one of the few places west of Pennsylvania with scrapple on the menu. Grab a coffee cake to go. harrysroadhousesantafe.com
Tune Upserves neighborly breakfasts and brunches with Latin flair. The huevos El Salvadorenos come with black beans and fried bananas. Savory pupusas are customer favorites. Carb-loaders will swoon over three kinds of pancakes, stuffed French toast, and Irish oatmeal. Always busy, this local joint does a bang-up takeout trade, too.
The Plaza Café attracts breakfast crowds with generous portions, speedy service, and New Mexican and American favorites. Breakfast is served until 4 p.m. on the Southside’s Zafarano Drive, and all day on the Plaza…since 1947.
Special Occasion
Terra at Four Seasons Rancho Encantado Resortdoes breakfast and weekend brunch with a small but mighty menu of fancified choices served with endless views towards the Jemez Mountains. The drive there is out of this world, especially after a fresh snowfall. Terra’s attentive staff deliver the special touches worthy of its Four Seasons’ setting. Green chile shakshuka, anyone?
La Plazuela at La Fonda on the Plaza has been treating visitors and locals to a picturesque setting (check out the hand-painted windows and interior fountain) for 100 years. Brioche French toast and malted Belgian waffles will impress guests or business colleagues. Great spot for holiday brunch for the whole family.
In the Heart of SF
Clafoutismade a name for itself with house-made French pastries, breads, and macarons, all by the Ligier family who hail from eastern France. The busy breakfast hubbub fades away once you’ve bitten into a tender omelet served with crunchy baguette, or a caramelized fruit crepe, all washed down with a bowl of café au lait. It’s Paris in the heart of Santa Fe. clafoutis.biz
Dolina’sEastern European roots shine in owner Anna Marie’s baked goods from family recipes made with fresh, simple ingredients. Try her nutty granola with yogurt, breakfast croissant sandwich, or walnut cinnamon swirl French toast. You can also try a morning soup of organic New Mexico lamb broth with poached egg. Then take home something sweet for later.
Chocolate Maven has delighted Santa Fe for 50 years with its stellar selection of cakes, pies, breads and desserts. Those breads, including gluten-free options, find their way onto the breakfast menu as toast and French toast to accompany eggs, frittatas, and more.
The real attraction is watching the bakers behind the enormous window rolling dough, folding croissants or filling pastries. Pro tip: the blue corn blueberry pancakes with piñon maple syrup are the best in town.
Longtime, Everyday Favorites
Tia Sophia’s breakfast burritos have been the stuff of legend since 1974 when the Maryol family opened up a place for New Mexican comfort food. While its downtown location attracts plenty of visitors looking to fuel their days, Tia’s is really a locals’ restaurant. There are no concessions for timid taste buds: the menu warns diners, “Not responsible for too hot chile!”
The Pantrydoes basic breakfast right at three locations in town. Whether eggs and bacon, a breakfast burrito, pancake, or New Mexican favorites like huevos rancheros, The Pantry is the diner everyone wishes they had in their neighborhood. The original location on Cerrillos Road has been around since 1948.
Worth the Drive
Café Finacalls its breakfast service Daily Brunch, and it’s available until 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The ricotta pancakes are worth the short drive up I-25 to the Clines Corners exit where this converted gas station turned counter-service café offers healthy versions of traditional breakfast items using organic eggs and New Mexico feta and asadero cheeses. The brunch menu also includes burgers, chicken, Reubens, fish sandwiches, and salads.
San Marcos Café & Feed on South NM 14 has a homey feel with a woodstove in the front room and kiva fireplace in the other. Fowls and peacocks strut outside. Try the cinnamon rolls (also available in the feed store), coffee in their cute mugs, and the biscuits and gravy. House favorites include eggs Florentine, cheese blintzes, and corned beef hash. All menu items available until 2 p.m. daily.
Tesuque Village Marketenjoys a reputation for classy comfort food featuring fresh seasonal ingredients. The wait at certain times may be long, but you can always browse the market’s selection of local comestibles, artwork and other goods until a table is available. The scenic drive via Bishop’s Lodge Road through Tesuque is also a draw, especially with out-of-towners in tow.
Albuquerqueand Bernalillo Breakfast Restaurants
Breaking Bad fans will recognize The Grove Café Market as the hip café and market where Walter White met Lydia in later seasons. Not only can you get a great cup of coffee, latte or cappuccino with your served-all-day breakfast frittata or avocado toast, the sweet potato hash, croque madame or smoked salmon on a house-made English muffin are worth the often-long lines to order. Take a signature red velvet cupcake home for a snack, too.
At The Frontier counting the number of John Wayne paintings is a perennial challenge. As is bearing the heat of the green and red chile, liberally ladled on breakfast burritos (tortillas made right in front of you!), omelets, and huevos rancheros. This UNM-area landmark attracts students, business folks, local celebrities, and tourists looking for filling New Mexican meals (with burgers and sandwiches, too) from 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. And those famous cinnamon rolls? They are the size of your head and demand to be paired with a glass of fresh-squeezed OJ.
Slate Street Café is nestled behind the courthouses in Albuquerque’s downtown. Their elevated breakfasts combine the best, local ingredients with generous portions made from scratch. The turkey sausage is a superb addition to a breakfast burrito, and the huevos rancheros feature Duran Central Pharmacy’s famous red or green chile. The forest berry Dutch oven pancake and a glass of curated bubbly are reason enough to go for the weekend’s all-day breakfast.
Range Café in Bernalillo is less than an hour south, with four more locations around Albuquerque. While the bakery case invites diners to try an éclair, some hold on for giant cinnamon rolls, huevos rancheros, omelets, French toast or pancakes. With its rustic, artsy décor (buy a painting from a local artist), generous portions, and amiable service, The Range is THE place for breakfast, especially on the weekends.
Las Vegas and Nob Hill
Tia B’s La Waffleria is perhaps the most original waffle spot you’ve ever visited. This Nob Hill destination’s made-to-order waffles come traditional, buttermilk, yellow corn masa, buckwheat, biscuit, or blue corn, topped or filled with interesting ingredients. Go sweet like the coconut and mango or blueberry lavender, or savory with salmon and lox, chicken and waffles, or carne adovada. Or build your own by picking a batter and up to three toppings and a sauce. An inventive coffee drink (cinnamon dulce or maple latte, anyone?) completes your meal.
Charlie’s Spic & Span Bakery is a crown jewel of breakfast seven days a week in Las Vegas, NM with lines out the door on weekends. Get there early or prepare to wait for fresh-baked donuts, cakes, and pies–it’s torture! The chile is HOT at this local favorite that draws folks from miles away for papas skillets, country fried steak and gravy, carne adovada burritos and bottomless hot coffee.
Story by Kelly Koepke Photography by Tira Howard Styling by Keith Recker
The classic espresso martini receives a playful, zero-proof makeover with the Espresso Maíztini. This inventive cocktail from Richard Sandoval’s Art of Zero-Proof guide swaps traditional spirits for Ritual Zero-Proof Rum and a unique, buttered popcorn-infused coffee liqueur. Cold brew and a touch of corn syrup build a rich, smooth base. Finally, a fragrant clove and cinnamon foam elegantly crowns the drink. This recipe delivers the bold, cozy flavors of the original in an entirely new way.
Click here to find more for Dry January mocktails!
The most rewarding thing you do all year may be volunteering and giving to help your New Mexico neighbors meet their basic needs. The non-profits listed here work to make a difference in local communities and beyond. Your gift can support them in their goal to change the world for the better.
Support New Mexico Non-Profits This Giving Tuesday
Positive reinforcement in their training and interactions with dogs, student trainers and clients is the foundation of ADW’s whole-systems philosophy. From their founding, ADW was among the first service dog agencies to utilize a positive-reinforcement training approach.
The National Institute of Flamenco, founded in 1982, celebrates flamenco’s artistry through world-class performances, accessible education, and youth programs that inspire creativity, strengthen families, and enrich New Mexico’s cultural landscape.
Your support makes their work possible—from presenting our collections in Santa Fe and Abiquiú to creating free and low-cost art programs that inspire young and old. This season of giving, please make consider making a year-end gift today!
Founded in 1992, Kitchen Angels serves residents of Santa Fe and other Northern New Mexico communities who are homebound, experiencing a health crisis, lack the resources for regular meals, and are ineligible for other local meal services.
The Museum of New Mexico Foundation connects people to the state’s rich art, history and culture by providing vital funding, membership, and support for museums, historic sites, and educational programs statewide.
NMWC’s mission is to protect New Mexico’s wildlife through rehabilitation, conservation, education, and public engagement. Support NMWC’s mission! Donate to a specific campaign or include NMWC in your estate planning.
Your donations sustain the Santa Fe Opera’s world-class opera productions, apprentice singer and technician training, and robust community programs, ensuring that this cherished art form endures.
Santa Fe Playhouse unites artists and audiences through bold, inclusive theater. Donate, volunteer, or attend — your support expands access, empowers artists, and sustains a resilient cultural home for our community.
St. Elizabeth Shelters moves individuals and families from homelessness into housing through intensive one-on-one case management that addresses the issues leading to their homelessness while providing time, support and guidance.
Join The Food Depot in creating a future where every family in Northern New Mexico has access to nourishing food. Your gift helps deliver meals, supports communities, and builds lasting change.
The Wheelwright Museum, the oldest independent museum in New Mexico, honors native voices through art. Through exhibitions, collections, programming, and research we bring indigenous perspectives to all that we do.
Last week news came that El Farol, a Santa Fe institution for as long as anyone can remember, had abruptly shuttered its doors. The avalanche of consternation from devotees was swift. Opened in 1835 as a cantina, the place was abuzz in the historic heart of the city nearly three quarters of a century before New Mexico would become a U.S. state.
El Farol in Santa Fe Closes Permanently
Over these many years, the property has seen various iterations, many of which have been lost to history. Still, the collective consciousness holds firm that El Farol was and is a central stage on which the lives of everyday Santa Feanos plays itself out. Dancing. Eating. Drinking. Gathering with both friends and strangers alike, to celebrate big moments and a simple evening out. If those walls could speak, the stories they could tell…
Thankfully, we spoke with a number of contemporary voices that underscore the special place that El Farol holds across the ever-changing City Different.
Born and raised in Santa Fe, Victoria Murphy mused with me about having her first date there with her now-husband, Dennis.
“It was October 1978 and we were sitting at a little table in the back of a little room in what is now the Thai restaurant. But, then it was all part of El Farol. Bob Young owned the restaurant at that time and it was my parents’ favorite restaurant. While we were sitting there, I looked up and saw this painting of a reclining naked woman. The whole time I kept looking up at it as it was right above our table. I think Dennis thought I was nuts. Finally, I stood up and said, ‘I know this painting.’ I look and sure enough, it was my father who painted it! Bob always told my Dad that his artwork was the best in there, including the Monet above the door.”
Chef James Campbell Caruso on El Farol
Then there is the food and the talent that has moved in and out of El Farol’s kitchen. Chef James Campbell Caruso, proprietor of La Boca, joined El Farol as Executive Chef in 1999. Back then it was owned by David Salazar.
“I was thrilled to work at a place that suited my generally rebellious nature. El Farol had swagger! We had an incredible crew of rogues, rascals, and pirates that created a vibe and energy that throbbed and pulsated down Canyon Road. The music scene was happening every night and I saw some incredible musicians in that bar. People came from all over the globe to enjoy it. Colorful artists, locals, cowboys, and heiresses were side-by side with celebrities, art dealers, Native, poets, bikers…Everyone really enjoyed themselves.” On its most recent iteration, Chef felt the soul of the place had been lost. “After David sold it and it got remodeled, it seemed like it lost some of its energy and vibe. They did not really understand this unique treasure that they had.” And as for his old boss, Chef commented “Salud, David Salazar! You created something most restauranteurs only dream about.”
Love From the Entire Community
Local resident David Rare shared another example of El Farol magic. “In the 80’s my mother was an artist living here and going to IAIA. They had a casting call for a movie called Powwow Highway which was produced by George Harrison and featured a score by Robbie Robertson and Bono. During production of the film, they rented out El Farol for a party and did a few impromptu songs. At the time, I was only about 7 years old. I vaguely recall being smuggled in somehow, this is the 80’s, so I don’t recall the songs they performed. A few years later, around 1993, I got intel from a friend who worked there that Van Morrison was hanging out. I rushed downtown and sure enough, he was sitting in a booth, flanked by admirers.”
Leaving Canyon Road
Local gallerist Pilar Law, whose Edition One Gallery sits just across the street from El Farol, spent the day after the closure gathering up the treasure trove of historic photography she had lent to adorn El Farol’s walls. “El Farol is the anchor of Canyon Road,” she reflected. Law grew up in the neighborhood on Cerro Gordo and made parallels to the closure of El Farol to the loss of other anchors in the Canyon Road of lore, including Gormley’s grocery and Johnnie’s Cash Store.
“This part of Santa Fe has changed a lot over the last ten years. The character of Canyon Road and of Santa Fe has changed. Canyon Road has transitioned from a place where people live in community to more of a commercial area. El Farol was where you went to dance with friends and we didn’t have that many places back then.” What Law mentioned most was the sense that the closure reflected the loss of a sense of community, something echoed by many on social media as well.
Looking Ahead
Whatever the future holds for this hallmark of Santa Fe history, I think I speak for myself and much of Santa Fe, that if that old building could speak, we hope she’d utter those immortal words from Mark Twain: the report of my death was an exaggeration. And at a bargain listing price of $2.5 million, rumors are already swirling about a potential purchase.
The National Institute of Flamenco celebrates flamenco’s power to transform lives and communities. Since 1982, it has preserved and shared this vibrant art form through world-class performances, education, and community engagement. In partnership with the University of New Mexico, home to the nation’s only flamenco dance concentration, the Institute nurtures artists while opening doors for youth across New Mexico. Through scholarships, work-study, and accessible programs, at-risk and low-income students find joy, purpose, and belonging in flamenco. Each performance and class creates spaces where culture thrives, families connect, and young people discover their voices.
The mission of the National Institute of Flamenco is to preserve and promote flamenco’s artistry, history, and culture by presenting the finest flamenco in the world and by educating the American family in this art form while emphasizing the positive influence of art on families and communities.
More About The National Institute of Flamenco
The Institute’s projects bring flamenco to audiences and students statewide. Flamenco in Your Neighborhood introduces hundreds of children to flamenco in their communities. Festival Flamenco Alburquerque brings international artists each year for workshops and performances. Yjastros, the professional company, has spent 25 years performing and promoting flamenco at the highest level. La Estrella allows Conservatory students to showcase their skills in an annual holiday performance. These initiatives inspire creativity, foster cultural pride, and provide life-changing experiences for both artists and audiences.
How You Can Help
Readers can take classes at the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts, attend Yjastros performances, experience Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque, or join Festival Flamenco Alburquerque each June. Contributions of any size provide scholarships and programs that give students life-changing access to flamenco. Every ticket, gift, and show attended keeps flamenco alive and thriving in New Mexico and beyond.
Donations directly sustain the Institute’s mission, funding scholarships, subsidized programs, and work-study opportunities for at-risk youth. They also support performances, festivals, and classes, ensuring flamenco continues to flourish on stage and in the community.
Since 1997, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has celebrated the art, life, and independent spirit of Georgia O’Keeffe with visitors from around the world.
With sites located in Santa Fe and Abiquiú New Mexico, the Museum offers a comprehensive experience to share the artist’s story in the landscapes that inspired her.
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum celebrates the art, life, and independent spirit of Georgia O’Keeffe.
More About the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Educational programs at the Museum serve more than 7,100 students and adults per year with a robust slate of workshops, lectures, conversations, and classroom activities.
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum’s Art & Leadership Program was founded in 1998 to facilitate the development of self-confidence, self-esteem, leadership skills, and self-expression in middle school students. Every summer, the program fosters the growth of young artists through creativity, leadership skills, self-confidence, self-expression, and identity development.
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum honors the legacy of its namesake with a wide range of adult art classes. Whether online, in-person, or on-demand, these offerings cater to artists of all skill levels—from curious beginners to seasoned professionals—making artistic practice more accessible than ever.
What sets the Museum’s adult programs apart is their commitment to inclusivity and affordability. Online classes operate on a sliding-scale payment system, starting at just $10. This low-risk investment allows participants to experiment with new media without financial pressure, encouraging artistic growth and discovery.
How You Can Help
Make a tax-deductible gift to the Annual Fund today! With your support, they can continue to bring the power of art to audiences near and far. Your gift allows them to steward their resources, protect their art, provide community outreach, and ensure a bright future ahead. Thank you!
