Candlelight: Día De Los Muertos: Celebrating the Day of the Dead

While in Santa Fe we learned of a Candlelight concert to be held at the New Mexico Museum of Art.

We were already planning to tour the museum itself and decided to check out the venue while there. We came back that evening and thoroughly enjoyed the event.

Before it begins
The performance
The music

Gourmet Brunch at Casa Culinaria in Santa Fe

As our trip to Santa Fe grew nearer, I was looking for unique experiences and stumbled upon this gourmet brunch. I checked with my travel companion who agreed it looked like fun; I signed us up.

After days of warm sunny weather, the temperature dropped and it was windy that morning. The brunch is typically served in their garden on the patio but they also have a charming, cozy kitchen where we shared a beautifully set, long table with six other fun guests celebrating a 50th birthday.

The chef, Carolina Olea Cosignani has earned the Grande Diplome from Le Cordon Bleu in Haute Cuisine and Patisserie. Her partner Manuel Lescano de Orleans is a Sommelier and served us the brunch. Much of the produce and herbs are grown in their garden at this Inn with the remainder being sourced locally.

We started with beverages, I opted for tea from this special silver box, also in that photo – little jars of homemade butter, fig/apple jam and coconut dulce de leche. Next was a selection of four breads, madeleines and chocolate filled shortbread cookies. Manuel served us tutti-frutti juice as well as water flavored with lavender, mint and basil.

Moving on, we next had a bowl brimming with fresh fruit – mango, strawberries, blackberry,  home made yogurt and granola, local honey with saffron, lavender seeds and fresh mint. I was so hungry I forgot to take a photo – it happens….

Next up, a Galette Ratatouille – the gallette made with buckwheat in a crepe-style with fresh basil, veggies and feta. The crepe was delicate and the galette was full of flavor. Dessert was a fresh raspberry, mascarpone and almond confection topped with meringue, the perfect finish to our meal.

The Inn itself is elegantly decorated with so much ambiance. After leaving, we agreed it would be a perfect place to stay in the future!

I’m attaching a link to the Inn, if you’re planning a trip to Santa Fe, this is a truly special place:

https://casa-culinaria-don-gaspar-santa-fe.booked.net/#w

Scenes from Santa Fe

I’ve just returned from a wonderful week in Santa Fe. Spence and I had been here 20+ years ago and I loved it. They say you can’t go back again but this was not one of those times. Santa Fe was every bit as captivating as I remembered and I fell in love with it all over again.

We rented a home in the Baca District which is adjacent to the Railyard District – both are new since my last visit. The location was perfect and we found great coffee shops, galleries, a wine shop and restaurants within steps of our rental. Our rental car allowed us to explore Santa Fe, Taos, Madrid, Abiquiu and Albuquerque.

This post has scenes from the Railyard District and the Plaza. Art is everywhere and I’ve come home inspired to paint – once I’m rested!

Stay tuned for more posts from this trip!