Review Eddies Burrito's - Alamogordo, New Mexico

Eddie's Burritos is staple for breakfast burrito's in Alamogordo. There aren't too many options there for food in general, but especially not for breakfast. They did get a new IHOP a few months ago - but that only counts in an extreme emergency.

From my first visit

Eddie's a locally owned restaurant that specializes - obviously - in made to order burritos. Fortunately for me I love burritos and I am happy to try them at almost any place. The restaurant is pretty spacious, and really clean. The service is friendly and fast. The prices are reasonable; it appeared that there wasn't anything on the menu over $10. They also have a fresh salsa bar.

The set up is a cafeteria style line. Basically, you start with a tortilla and eggs and can add the usual assortment of fillings like bacon, cheese, potato, and green chile (this is my usual). They also have beans, ground beef, shredded beef, red chile, Chicharrón, sausage, etc. Each item is charged separately so if you don't watch it you can end up with a $10 burrito.

The first time I visited, the burrito was excellent! The bacon was crisp and plentiful. The green chile was spicy but not too hot. The burrito was a nicely stuffed, and they didn't skimp on the fillings. When I went back a few weeks ago it just wasn't the same. In fact, I just took a few bites and threw it away. What a waste! The eggs tasted old, and the chile was bland with no heat. Also, the potatoes were as hard as rocks. Ok, maybe not rocks, but they had not been cooked all the way.

The whole experience took me by surprise. I was there the first time right when they opened, and I got there kind of late the second time - around 8. Maybe that had something to do with it; I know that they are a very popular place. Even after that, I'd give it one more shot. I know that a lot of unexpected things can happen at a restaurant that can change even the best of meals. So I chalk my second experience up to that...changes.

Eddie's does not have a website, so here are the location details:

Eddie's Burrito's
700 1st St # 750
Alamogordo, NM 88310-6546
(575) 437-0266

Review: Daylight Donuts - Alamogordo, New Mexico

Just a few weeks ago M just told me about Daylight Donuts...I'm kind of mad about it because I could've been eating these the whole time I've been visiting him down south.

This little place has some of the best donuts that I have ever had! Apparently everyone else in town thinks so too, because the line for the drive thru was down the block. I had never been here before, so I asked the woman that helped me to give me a mixed dozen of whatever was best with at least 4 glazed and a small bottle of milk. As soon as she handed me the retro styled box, I knew they were hot and fresh. From the heavenly aroma, I knew that they would be delicious too!

 

 

Ok, I'll admit that I only tried the glaze (I was driving back to ABQ)...BUT it was light and fluffy. It had the perfect amount of glaze and it was sweet but not teeth hurting sweet like a Krispy Kreme can be. Oh, and they were so cheap! A dozen mixed donuts, and a bottle of milk was only $7 and some change. Quite the bargain!!! 

I will definitely be visiting again, and am only sorry that M didn't introduce e to these sooner. Maybe it's for the best though since I've been dieting and working out. So in that case, thank you M!

Review: Havana - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Cafe Cubano

I did a lot of research for my pick for lunch club. I wanted something out of the ordinary, but mighty tasty. After reading my way through countless great reviews, I settled on Havana. Settled in a small strip mall, it's Albuquerque's only Cuban restaurant. I'll admit I was a bit skeptical...the only other place I had tried for Cuban food was Don Yasmany where I was served a huge fried fish on a plate. Nothing else, just a fish...a whole fish. Normally I wouldn't mind a whole fish if it had some side items or some cool garnish, but it was just a fish on a plate.

We were the first ones to arrive, which ended up being a great thing. There was only one server and as the lunch crowd began to pour in the service got slower and slower...The lighting was pretty dim, but there is a nice Cuban inspired decor and you could hear salsa music playing softly in the background. Also, the aromas coming from the kitchen were amazing! I couldn't wait to get the show on the road.

Meredith and I started out with a fresh fruit shake. Meredith had mango and I had strawberry. Chuck had a Cafe Cubano.

Funny garnish for the black beans... It's a green bean on top of a cucumber.

Instead of going for a main entree, we each opted for a sandwich. I had the Cuban, which included french bread, two types of ham, Swiss cheese, butter. It was delicious. There was what seemed to me a traditional sliced deli ham, and then a nice slow roasted pork and crispy onions. It also had a perfectly melted Swiss cheese. The sandwich was humongous! A side item was not included, but I cautiously ordered black beans and rice to accompany. The description on the menu says "white rice with black beans cooked together with a certain unique taste." I usually don't care for black beans, but these were delicious. Almost as good as the sandwich!

Chuck ordered the Pan con Bistec sandwich, which had Marinated grilled steak with tomato, lettuce, and cucumber. He ordered a side of fries, which were just generic looking crinkle fries. I got to try it and it was delicious. He cleaned his plate, and said that he was very impressed. 

Meredith ordered the Sandwich de la Casa, made with french bread marinated grilled steak with ham, Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, and cucumber. She also ordered Madeves, sweet fried plantains; these were really really good. I thought that they would have some sort of crust of breading to avoid mushiness, but they didn't and weren't mushy at all. They were very flavorful and sweet.

I can go for a Cuban right now...the group consensus was that we loved it, and would definitely head back. However, maybe not at lunchtime. As the crowd grew our service slowed down; and an hour didn't cut it. Another thing to think about before you head there is that it's pretty pricey. The three of us ate for just about $60, which in my opinion is really steep for lunch.

Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

I love lemon! I can eat something lemon everyday...

On this day I wanted some cookies, so I used this Giada De Laurentiis recipe that I found on foodnetwork.com. I especially wanted to try it because I only had to buy the ricotta, and I had everything else on hand.

It was a super easy recipe, but the final outcome wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I thought that they would be a hard cookie, but they were very soft and cake like. The cookie itself doesn't have an overwhelming lemon flavor, the icing really packs the lemon punch. I may make these again for a cookie exchange or a shower, but it wouldn't be a "go to" cookie jar favorite for us. Try and out and tell me what you think. 

Ingredients

Cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested

Glaze:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

Cookies: 

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. 

In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. 

 Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. 

Stir in the dry ingredients. 

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. 

Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes. (I only baked mine for 12 min. My oven is too hot!)

Glaze: 

 Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours.

Review: Cafe Trang - Albuquerque, New Mexico

If you have never tried Vietnamese food, don't be scared! Go to Cafe Trang. Oh yum, Cafe Trang...and if you haven't been here yet, add it to the list because this place is a real treat. It boasts "the freshest ingredients in authentic Vietnamese food!" It's located in the same parking lot as Ta Lin World Market (add this to the list too!) on Louisiana and Central in Albuquerque; it's also right across the street from another Vietnamese favorite - May Cafe.

You may not be wowed by the atmosphere when you first walk in, but it's clean and very spacious. On this particular visit,  we were one of the first there. If you get there for lunch any later than 11:30am tables are scarce. Being located near the AF Base and on a major intersection it draws in a decent crowd.

Anyway, we started with an order of Spring Rolls; 2 pork and 2 shrimp. They're served with peanut sauce and hot fish sauce. The meat in the spring rolls is interesting...instead of having a shrimp or two they use ground shrimp patties (I may be wrong). They are very flavorful, and a bit salty. It took about a second for us to finish them off.

Chuck had his favorite gigantic bowl of Pho (Soup). It's the #21 Phở Tái Bò Viên - Rare Steak and Meatball Soup. He ordered a medium, and we were shocked at the size of it. A guy near by ordered a large and it was twice as big as the medium! Each bowl of Pho is accompanied with a plate of goodies that may be added in to your liking; fresh mint, basil, and bean sprouts.It may come with cilantro too, but I can't tell from the picture.

#41

#43

Meredith and I both had a Vermicelli Noodle dish. Each plate comes with vermicelli noodles, topped with your choice of grilled items, bean sprouts, lettuce, cilantro, mint, pickled carrots and daikon radish, drizzled with scallion oil, and chopped peanuts. Served with a side of hot sauce. I had the #43 Bún Tôm Thịt Nướng - Grilled Jumbo Shrimps and Pork Over Vermicelli Noodles, and Meredith had the #41 Bún Đặc Biệt - Combination Noodle Bowl. It had shrimp, pork, an eggroll, and some of that ground shrimp on a skewer. She said that the shrimp skewer was her favorite part of the meal! I love the big giant grilled shrimp, and I always add extra Sriracha sauce - sometimes too much - to the whole plate. My other favorite part is the crunchy cucumbers. 

This was another successful Lunch Club meal! We loved it, and will be back. I especially want to bring M here, I think that he'll really enjoy it. For lunch it is fairly pricey, so don't forget your wallet!

Review: Cafe Istanbul - Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

A few weeks ago, our lunch club went to Cafe Istanbul. It was Chuck's pick...and What a Great Choice! I had been here before, but not to eat. I just to grabbed some Moroccan goods from the market for a project for school (they were a hit). The deli inside is amazing, and I could spend hours in the market checking out all the Middle Eastern imported foods. 

The deli is small and has a seating area with about 10 booths. We were seated right away, and after ordering our food came out very quickly. The place is very clean, and the waitstaff and owners were very friendly.

 

Chuck started with the Dolmathes, which were served warm, and I ordered the Feta and Kalamata Olives that was accompanied with the tastiest pita ever. I thought that it was really cool that I was given a choice of "with pits or without." I got them without.

Meredith and I ordered each ordered the Chicken Shawerma Platter. It came with hummus, side salad, pickle, saffron rice, tahini sauce, and a pita. Everything was so delicious, and the servings were so plentiful that neither of us could finish our plates! Chuck ordered the Kafta Platter, which came with the same things that we had. 

I didn't order dessert, but I got to try the Turkish Delight and Baklava that Meredith and Chuck ordered. The texture of the Turkish Delight reminded me of Fruit Delights that I get for my mom every Christmas, and it turns out...they're the same thing. I have to admit that I didn't particularly care for it...it had a strong rose water flavor that I wasn't expecting. I try rose and lavender flavor things all the time and I just can't get used to the soapy taste in my mouth! The Baklava on the other hand, was quite delicious. It was so moist and sticky, but the pistachios were still firm.

Cafe Istanbul was quite a treat! I can't wait to go back and explore the deli menu and market some more. Next time, I'll order from the "Super Value" menu. It's not as much food, and a Baklava is included! Yummy!!!