Beaujolais and Beyond—At one minute past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau—a young Beaujolais wine made from Gamay grapes—begin their yearly journey to every wine-consuming corner of the world. This Thursday (for many of you, that means today) marks the hotly-awaited release date for the Beaujolais Nouveau, and with it, an international excuse to party. Look for tasting parties at many of your favorite local restaurants, including St. Clair Winery & Bistro (243-9916), Great American Land & Cattle Co. (292-1510), Graze by Jennifer James and Gulp (268-4729) and De la Tierra up in Taos (505-737-9855).
The Dish
Downtown Gets Promised a Grocery Store—Finally. While there's no firm date attached to its launch, Rob Dickson (the integral EDo developer behind the Lofts at Albuquerque High) has come out with an announcement detailing a new grocery store at 401 East Central, called “the Market @ EDo.” Despite a flub by the Journal that showed the store's projected location at Fourth Street and Central (in the same building as Sauce/Raw/Liquid Lounge), the market will actually be located on the corner of Arno and Central. That's one block East of Broadway, right across the street from the upcoming Standard Diner (brought to us by Matt DiGregory, part-owner of the Range Cafés. See “The Dish”, August 11-17, for more details on that.) So what's it gonna be—another Smith's? Thankfully, no. The grocery store will be an independently owned and operated venture, backed in part by former Grocery Emporium proprietor David Bromberg. Look for the market to open sometime around spring 2006.
The Dish
Thanksgiving in the Raw—Raw Food New Mexico, a raw foods advocacy group, will host their Second Annual Regional Raw Thanksgiving Potluck Celebration at the Oddfellows Hall in Santa Fe. The Thanksgiving Day gathering will attract raw-foodists from all over the Southwest with heat-free holiday comfort foods. Awards for best raw dishes in several categories will be awarded, but a donation of $3 or $5 is requested if you'd like to attend. RSVP no later than Monday, Nov. 21, to Aruna Kroener at (505) 438-2527 or arunakroener@yahoo.com, or Allison Rae at (505) 988-7076.
The Dish
La Posada Is Closed for Major Renovations—A huge multimillion-dollar project means the sleeping rooms portion of the hotel, as well as their first-floor corner bistro, Conrad's, is now shut down. If you've got a big holiday bash planned, don't start freaking out just yet: The banquet and special function rooms will still be available through Dec. 31. The “new” hotel is scheduled for a grand unveiling in the spring or summer of 2006.
If you've got news for “The DIsh,” e-mail food@alibi.com, call 346-0660 ext. 260 or fax 256-9651. The juiciest tidbits will be rewarded.
