All The News That's Fit To Eat

What is it about doughnuts that makes us feel so weak in the knees? The city's second Krispy Kreme opened last week at 3301 Juan Tabo NE (at Candelaria, 294-1499). Like the Rio Rancho KK, this location will be open 24 hours a day, though the lobby will only be open from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. And though the design of the Northeast Heights store is entirely different, General Manager Ernie Dufresne says the product is exactly the same. (Well, that's the idea, isn't it?) In fact, the Rio Rancho sister store pitched in on opening day by trucking freshly made doughnuts over to help meet demand. Look for the new shop in the same strip mall as Defined Fitness. Just remember: One doughnut equals about half an hour on the StairMaster.

Sauce and Liquid Lounge (Central between Fourth and Fifth, 242-5839) unveiled their new look and new menu a few weeks back. The interior is very modern and sleek with clean lines and flowing spaces. It seems darker in the front room and brighter in the back, bringing the whole place into balance. The menu is largely the same (pizzas, salads, calzones) with the notable addition of half a dozen antipasti plates, each offering different combinations of meats, cheeses and vegetables with slices of toasted Italian bread. It's worth checking out again.

The 2004 Scovie Awards results have been announced. The Grand Prize in the tasting division was won by New Mexico's own McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch for their Atomic Hot Chile Pistachio Brittle. Hundreds of fiery foods manufacturers submit products to the competition every year and local chefs, buyers and foodies (like me) evaluate them during a brutally long day of judging. See the rest of the results at www.fiery-foods.com/scovies/list.asp

A reader wrote in to correct our assertion that Walker's Popcorn was the first popcorn shop in the state. In fact, The Popcorn Cannery (1727 Seventh NW, 247-3626) has been around for more than two decades. The Popcorn Cannery is owned by George Buffet of Buffet's candy store and specializes in mail-order and local special orders. They carry a wide variety of flavored popcorns.

I got a press package full of Planters Nut Poppers in the mail today. The snacks are as terrible as the name suggests. Or maybe they're nowhere near as pleasurable as the name suggests? Whatever. The whole office agrees the Poppers are disgusting. Imagine a Butterfinger bar rolled in cheddar or ranch flavor powder. Wretch-inducing.

The Dish has been informed that University-area New Mexican restaurant Ron's Camino Real seems to have closed. Anybody know what happened? See bribe machine instructions below.