Writes of Passage

406 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Won’t return – I do NOT like lying.

Location: 4 (opposite from San Miguel Chapel)
Ambience: 4
Food: 2
Service: 0

First, their front desk was un-manned at 5:09. A couple before us was waiting. We waited for a little while, I then went in to look for a hostess. Shortly a woman with a ponytail, and a man with eye glasses showed up to work.

Don’t believe the front desk hostess‘s claim that “that table is reserved”.

5pm on a Tuesday, the out door section is empty (inside isn’t packed either). When she sat us under the sun, I asked immediately that can we please have a table under the shade, like that one under the umbrella. “Oh that table is reserved.”

When I made reservation, I only indicated outdoor, not sure they’ve a place for the dinner to indicate exactly which table.
Sitting under the sun is uncomfortable, so I got up and asked one more time, for a table before a lovely tile mosaic with tiny fountain.
“Oh that table is reserved.”
When we about to leave, she offered the first table I pointed at.
Shortly after, a couple was seated at the table before tile mosaic with tiny fountain. To be accurate, I did ask them if they’ve reserved this specific table.
“No.”

Why would she lie: despise Irene which is totally ok, or Chinese or people of color (I’ve experienced this a few times prior…) which is… let’s stop here.

They use Riedel glasses, which is nice – seems everyone in Santa Fe uses Riedel.

I’ve Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc – the vineyard we visited in 2015 – it’s as usual, very good.

Food – we’ve
– duck: on the sweet side
– Jetty Jack: like the crispy fried skin

Both entries look chunky, large portion, homey, nothing ‘fine’ about it.

They claim themselves as New Mexican, whichever that means, but I need to add salt and pepper to add some tastes for both entries.

I grew up knowing, so did Joy Luck Club, (both book and movie) that adding soy sauce to a dish is the ultimate insult. I’ll stop here.

By the time we leave, the outdoor section is only 40% occupied. I did tell to the man with glasses who’s at front also, that lying isn’t cool.

231 Washington Ave
Santa Fe, NM 87501

… more pix n videos on google maps, Yelp, TA

Def will return: the cured salmon is 6 star.

SantaCafé is an elegant restaurant in the former home of Father José Manuel Gallegos (1815-75), with a lovely courtyard filled with scriptures and a fountain, and indoor sections.

It’s an in between meal for us, we shared cured salmon and a salad. Both are wonderful, especially the salmon which I think deserves 6 stars.

They use Riedel glasses too.

131 Cathedral Pl,
Santa Fe, NM 87501

… more pix n videos on Google Maps,

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, (next to our hotel) is at the center of the town. The Romanesque Revival architecture church was opened in 1886, on the site of an adobe church.

It has a generous ground, with a park, that has vendors’ tents, selling crafts during the Memorial Day long weekend, and a Prayer Garden, with 14 life-size sculptures (by Gib Singleton 1935-2014) capturing stages in the hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion as developed by St. Francis of Assisi.

Today, Tuesday, all is tranquil and vacant. More people inside the church than out. It has a gift shop with books and more.

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574 N Main Street
Moab, UT 84532

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Will return.

A quick and delicious lunch at this restaurant.

The light blue bike with flowers out front is cute. The interior decor is bit gaudy for my taste, but the pitas: Sultan and Falafel are great. The portion is large but we managed to finish even the additive French fries.

600 N Main Street
Moab, UT 84532

… more pix on Google Maps, TA

After lunch next door, we wandered in.

An interesting store, with rocks and more rocks. Some are really beautiful, like the chrysanthemum stones.

Two young kids are manning the shop – wondering they buy the stones or go out there find themselves, or both.

DABS Utah State Liquor Store #27
55 W 200 S,
Moab, UT 84532

… more pix on Google Maps

Supermarkets and stores sells beers in Utah, not wine. For wine and whiskey, state store is the place one goes to.

This one is next door to Fiesta Mexicana: average, sells what we need, period.

202 S Main St,
Moab, UT 84532

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, Yelp, TA

Will return.

A charming restaurant, with bold paintings and cute items.

1. The red wine is served in a Porto glass
2. They like to jam dinners

Our group of 17, is seated by the door on a Monday, in two tables. By the time we left at 7:30pm, it’s still very empty.

Food is pretty delicious. My beef is tender but I did add salt (I love salt) and the bean is flavorful.

The churros – I just had a wonderful churros in Salt Lake City yesterday – light, alive and fluffy , so I think I’m fairly fresh in judging – this one is not even close, dead.

500 Main St,
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp and TA

Will return bec of the hotel.

Dark, booths and tables, and a welcoming fire place.

We’ve breakfast here: average and decent, fruit yogurt side and bacon sausage on the other side of the omelette station.

I asked for two sunny side. The lady had to ask her colleague, who cooked and then flipped my two lovely eggs. Must be my Chinglish at work. I ate them – too cheap to waste.

The young female server doesn’t know if they’ve green tea.
“What kind of tea do you have?”
“Black…”
“Ok”
Then she came with green tea -:) thank you. It tastes fruity.

163 W 200 S Street
SLC

… more pix on Google MapsGoogle Maps Yelp and TA

Won’t return.

It’s 4pm, after speeding long hours at the family search library, we’re hungry and this restaurant opens at 4.

No one is manning the restaurant. We waited then just sat down at a table. On my way to the bathroom at the back, one girl curled up in the last booth, playing with her phone, and one girl talking on the phone in the bathroom.

Dirty plates. I used the paper towel from the bathroom, wet with water to clean it.

We’ve

Mongolian pork: good, except needs more cutting of the meat and fat green onion/scallion.
Black pepper tofu: very good. The onion and bell pepper make the dish bit too sweet for me, either one with celery will taste less sweet.

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1513 S 1500 E,
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, Yelp

Will return.

A little hideaway gem.

A local friend took us there. It was a reunion of four boat mates in 2022, with the fourth mate came in from New York. The weather was so cooperating, after raining yesterday and much of today, we actually went into the restaurant under the blue skies.

This Spanish tapa place is homey and small, with outdoor tables, in a lovely neighborhood, by owner Owner Scott Evans.

We’ve warm olives, two salads and the shrimp: all are really good. And the churros are to die for: light and fluffy!

After dinner, our friend drove us around the neighborhood: thank you so much!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kbzEaL4DXRKp3oiL8