January 17, 2016: Old man winter may be hard at work but the New Year has ushered in yet another impressive expansion to Santa Fe’s red hot culinary and arts scenes. New restaurants—several of which are first of their kind for The City Different—out-of-the-box charitable initiatives and exciting openings at some of the city’s most renowned cultural institutions await visitors in 2017.
Here’s just a little of what’s new in Santa Fe:
CULINARY
New Restaurant-Milad Persian Bistro
Milad Persian Bistro is located on Santa Fe’s famed Canyon Road in an old adobe home remodeled and curated by Chef and Owner Neema Sadeghi. The restaurant is just opened and Santa Fe’s first Persian eatery. Milad Bistro offers a variety of authentic Middle Eastern cuisine with traditional Persian dishes such as Kashk-e-bademjan, Kabob koobideh and more. In keeping with Santa Fe’s artistic tradition, the restaurant features an array of original pieces by resident artist Sepideh Majd that creates a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
New Restaurant-El Sabor Peruano
Sisters Adriana Brawley and Susana Hamilton recently gifted Santa Fe with the city’s first Peruvian restaurant. El Sabor Peruano features an authentic Peruvian menu in addition to a colorful variety of handcrafted Peruvian goods. The Andean food found here should appeal to the native Santa Fean palate as it features familiar items such as peppers, ancient grains and corn mixed with Spanish imports.
New Restaurant-The Root Cellar
The Root Cellar, a speakeasy-style pub located just off the historic downtown plaza in the lower level of The Hive at 101 West Marcy Street, is Santa Fe’s newest taproom and carries over fifteen local brews, wine from 25 local vintners, and cider on tap as well as their own meads, alcoholic beverages made from fermented honey. The gastropub menu features a range of locally-sourced dishes such as prime rib French dip, paninis, falafel and hummus plates, as well as larger share plates of brochettes and more.
New Craft Ice Cream Concept-La Lecheria
Santa Fe’s Lena Street corridor just got a bit sweeter with the launch of La Lecheria: a new craft ice cream shop from the innovative Chef Joel Coleman, co-owner of the wildly popular local gastropub, Fire and Hops. Chef Joel admits to “geeking out” over ice cream over the past couple of years, coming up with such hits as “black olive vanilla” and “smoked paprika” at Fire and Hops. The ice cream is made using only local dairy products and organic ingredients and fits like a glove with Santa Fe’s locavore-minded dining scene.
Mighty Return of a Santa Fe Staple-El Nido
El Nido, an Italian Steakhouse long favored among Santa Feans, sprung back to life thanks to Enrique Guerrero, who re-opened the restaurant that had been closed for nearly a decade. While El Nido occupies the same historic space as it did when it closed in 2010, the interior of the restaurant has been renovated from top to bottom. The new kitchen is fueled entirely with wood, and a large majority of the menu will be cooked over an open fire.
THE ARTS
One Heart- Valentine’s Invitational at Canyon Road Contemporary
In celebration of unity and the one heart that all beings share, Canyon Road Contemporary Art will display heart-felt works of art from the gallery’s current roster of artists in a beautifully curated exhibition. From Wednesday, February 1 through Tuesday, February 14, an array of art will be on display including interpretations in glass by Lydia Piper, anthropomorphic oil paintings by Amanda Banker, whimsical cartoon watercolors by Liese Chavez, among others.
New Opening at Shiprock Santa Fe
Shiprock Santa Fe will feature “Weaving Tools of the Navajo: Beauty and Sustainability” – a collection of harvested cottonwood branches and suspended sets of traditional tools used by Navajo weavers through February. These special collections highlight the tools of Navajo weavers known for the creation of textiles that are among some of the most beautiful in the world. Each branch is priced at ＄750 and sold as a collection and contains the following tools:
- Batten: used to separate the weft and to pack down the wool
- Weaving comb: used to pack down the warp threads after they have been woven into the object
- Spindle: used to spin carded wool fibers into yarn
- Heddle: used to open a “shed” in between the weft in order to weave the warp threads back and forth between them
Giving Back at Canyon Road Contemporary
In celebration of National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day, Santa Fe’s Canyon Road Contemporary Art will host Canyon Road’s first ever Shelter Pet Adoption and Live Demonstration Art Benefit on Saturday April 29 and Sunday April 30. The renowned gallery will feature clay animals by Kari Rives, bronze sculptures by Fran Nicholson, allegorical oil paintings by Amanda Banker and others. If a commission is ordered, the customer will receive 20 percent off retail, which will be donated to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. Ten percent of other gallery sales during those two days will also be donated to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. The event will take place between 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
New ‘Living Treasure’ at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
Jody Naranjo, an eighth-generation Pueblo potter from Santa Clara pueblo, has been named the 2017 Museum of Indian Arts & Culture “Living Treasure and Native Treasures” Featured Artist. Naranjo is continuing the traditions and practices of her family’s many generations by making pottery using her own whimsical creative touch in the form of animal figures, caricatures, colors, and designs. She will be honored for her far-reaching artistic contributions and her dedication to the Native Treasures – Indian Arts Festival now in its 13th year and held annually over Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28.
Santa Fe Family Travel Host 