Wherever we travel, we’re always on the hunt for a great coffee place. There’s nothing like finding a great shot of espresso or your favorite coffee drink on those early mornings before a day of sight seeing or just sitting on a patio watching the world pass by. Food & Wine magazine’s website has just put up a slideshow feature on the Best 30 Coffee Bars in the US. You can check it out here. Two of our favorites made the list, Blue Bottle in San Francisco/NYC (our #1 US pick) and Northwest Coffee Roasters in Portland. Another Portland entry, Stumptown Roasters made the list, but on our last visit there, we had a less than pleasant experience and mediocre espresso at best. (Skip that and go to Northwest Coffee and you’ll be much happier.) We can’t wait to try some of the others mentioned on future travels.
April 2012 Wine of the Month: Dunham Cellars Trutina
The 2008 Dunham Cellars Trutina is a wonderful red blend at a very reasonable price. For around $25 a bottle, the Dunham Trutina is a combination of 42% Cab, 42% Syrah and 16% Merlot. We had this with a ribeye steak and beef tenderloin and it was off the charts. It also is great by itself and has a “shelf life” when opened of about 3 days, if stored correctly.
Here’s information about the wine from Dunham Cellars website:
“Graham cracker and boysenberry pie, mountain huckleberries and a hint of sweet tea. With its finely woven tannins, this wine illustrates the great nature of the 2008 vintage, and fulfills its promise of delivering a truly balanced wine.”
Dunham Cellars Trutina was also featured in February 2012 as an Editor’s Choice selection in Wine Enthusiast, with the comments, “….the 2008 Trutina has elevated itself beyond any previous vintage. Firm, chewy, tight and spicy, it’s a fully integrated and complex wine. Cassis, earth, lead pencil, coffee grounds and a streak of iron keep the flavors piling on. This bottle tastes way more expensive than it actually is.” We couldn’t agree more. Run, don’t walk to find yourself a bottle of this…or a half case…or a case. You won’t be disappointed.
Lewis Estate Vineyard,
Double River Estate Vineyard, Frenchtown Estate Vineyard,
Wallula Vineyard, Phinny Hill Vineyard, Double Canyon Vineyards
VARIETAL:
42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Syrah, 16% Merlot
If you can’t find this locally and live in a state that accepts wine shipments, try our favorite site to find wines, Wine Searcher.
Luminaria – Santa Fe, NM
Luminaria
Overall Rating: 
211 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 984-7915
Other reviews:
Prices: $40-$75 per person
Location
Luminaria is located inside of the Inn at Loretto, near the Chapel end of the property.
Atmosphere & Service
With Luminaria, there isn’t much not to like. The whitewashed floors, cornflower blue walls and great alcove-style banquettes, make it a great place to hang out, even beyond just your meal. We’ve dined here for both breakfast and dinner and the service each time has been friendly and quick. We noticed a few reviews on other websites that the service was not up to par, but on both our visits and separate times and different parts of the year, were just fine.
Food
The menu here changes with the seasons and has some very unique items and combinations. There’s usually always a special of the day and it usually focuses on some unique type of meat dish. On one evening when we were here, it was antelope steak. Luckily, the menu has a wide variety of things for just about anyone, including vegetarian selections. Our favorites here are the Pollo Real, the steak and the salmon. For appetizers, just about any salad with the blue corn croutons or the polenta fries. The tortilla soup is good, but it’s a broth based soup vs cream based, so for some, that may not fit the bill. Desserts were okay, but not nearly as amazing as the entrees. Breakfast here is amazing as well. We love the blue corn pancakes with piñon syrup, pumpkin waffles (when in season) and the house made donuts.
Wine/Drinks
Luminaria has a great wine list with a large feature on wines that reduce the impact on the environment. Is the drinks here are what sets it apart from other restaurants in Santa Fe. Drinks are more than ample sized for the price (and they don’t skim on the alcohol either). Our favorite was the organic silver coin margarita. As margaritas go, it’s amazing.
Overall
For a great relaxed meal with some of the best food in Santa Fe, you can’t beat Luminaria. You’ll want to stay long after your meal is done.
Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh Spa
Spa at Four Seasons Sharm el Sheikh
Rating:
1 Four Seasons Boulevard
Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt
+20 (69) 360-3555
Treatments: $90 USD and up
Reviews:
Facilities: The spa is part of a very large building located towards one end of the Four Seasons Sharm el Sheikh complex. There’s a very ample lap pool that’s secluded off to one side, as well as a large workout and exercise facility directly behind the check in area. The workout area features the latest in exercise equipment, along with enough machines even if the resort is at it’s busiest. The internal lounge areas were large, however, our only one small complaint was the locker area. It’s very tiny and if there are two or three people arriving/departing a spa appointment at the same time, it can be a bit cramped. There’s a sauna, access to the outdoor pool area, as well as two large shower rooms. The waiting area inside the lounge was very comfortable with ample seating and magazines to read while you wait.
The spa treatment rooms vary in size, but they’re almost all larger than what you find in other resorts. The access halls and rooms are dimly lit, which makes it easy on the eyes when you’re done with your treatment. Rooms have high ceilings and are very quiet, you think you’re the only one in the whole spa. Very relaxing.
Staff: The spa staff here were wonderful. From check-in to treatment, everybody was extremely pleasant and helpful. Reservations, check-in and check-out were done quickly and efficiently.
Treatments: There’s a good array of spa treatments available. In addition to the basic swedish massage, we also tried the Arabic Coffee Scrub and Balinese spa treatments. All were high quality and extremely well done.
Pricing: Prices were what one would expect at a Four Seasons.
Overall, we really like the spa here. Appointments were easy to arrange and the staff were more than helpful. You can read our review of the hotel, here.
IAH TIP: Check the Four Season’s website before you leave home to see if any spa specials are being offered. And remember, make your appointment early, especially during high season.
315 Restaurant & Bar – Santa Fe, NM
315 Restaurant & Bar
Overall Rating: 
315 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 986-9190
Other reviews:
Yelp
OpenTable
UrbanSpoon
TripAdvisor
Prices: $30-$75 per person
Location
315 is located just a couple of blocks from the main square in Santa Fe, just next to Garrett’s Desert Inn.
Atmosphere & Service
Bistro 315 is in an old house. Each room is it’s own dining space with about 6-8 tables in each. It definitely makes for a more intimate, quiet dining experience. There’s a small bar at the entrance and a small waiting area. 315 also serves as the restaurant for the Inn of the Five Graces, directly across the street. The service here was great. The waitstaff is more than knowledgeable about all of the dishes on the menu (many of which change daily) and also about the wine and drink list. We felt very welcome from the time we sat down until the time we left.
Food
We had dinner at 315 and everything from beginning to end is fantastic. One interesting thing about 315 is that the menu can change daily, based upon what’s available to the chef that day. While there are a couple of staples that don’t change, many other things do, so if you’re in Santa Fe for a longer stay, you can eat here a couple of different times and have a totally different meal. During our visit, the appetizers were focused on seafood, so we had grilled shrimp, mussels and fresh oysters on the half shell from the west coast. The pear and arugula salad with fennel and manchego, was very tasty as well. For entrees, we had the steak and frites, chicken breast and a pasta special of the day. 315 also usually has at least one vegetarian entree on it’s menu every day. For dessert, we had two traditional desserts, but both were extraordinary. The creme brûlée and chocolate pots de creme were beyond description. Even the most basic things here are phenomenal. Prices here tend to be a couple of dollars less than most others in town, with quite frankly, better food quality than those other places.
Wine/Drinks
The wine list here is wide ranging both in price and variety. It also has dozens of half-bottles of wine if you just want a glass or two. In addition there’s a full bar.
Overall
This restaurant has a great reputation with the locals and now we know why. It’s semi-secluded, even though it sits on busy Old Santa Fe trail, but if you’re looking for great food at some of the best prices in Santa Fe, this is the ticket.
La Boca – Santa Fe, NM
La Boca
Overall Rating:
72 West Marcy Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-3433
Other reviews:
Yelp
OpenTable
UrbanSpoon
TripAdvisor
New York Times
Prices: $40-$75 per person
Location
La Boca is located a couple of blocks off of the square in Santa Fe.
Atmosphere
La Boca has a typical contemporary atmosphere in a small space. You’ll definitely want to make a reservation to make sure you can get in at peak times. There’s a small bar towards the back of the space, that seats six to eight. Also, there’s very little space for waiting for a table.
Service
Service was great. Very expedient on taking our order and delivering the food. Some of the better service we’ve had in Santa Fe.
Food
We ate here for lunch and were very impressed. Even though the menu is mostly sandwiches, tapas and salads, don’t let that fool you. These isn’t typical “lunch” food. We had the tapas de la casa to start (almonds, olives & manchego cheese) along with the pear salad with pomegranate dressing. For mains, we all had the cubano sandwich, which was very well done. Served with narrow traditional style baguette, the pork was done perfectly and layered with ample quantities of ham and mahon cheese. Our only complaint was the side of fries for $2.50. We counted maybe 8-10 narrow french fries. Not that we were expecting 30 or 40, but certainly more than 8 to 10. Some of us had the soup, which changes daily, but was very good as well.
Wine/Drinks
The wine list is heavily focused on Spain and Portugal, but has a great selection of wines in all price ranges. They also offer a “house sangria” by the pitcher, which was very good as well. There’s also a full bar along with a short cocktail list, so you’re covered no matter what you like to drink.
Overall
We really enjoyed La Boca and thought it was the perfect lunch spot. Especially if you want to take a break from “southwestern” or “New Mexican” cuisine for a meal. On our next trip to Santa Fe, we’ll be stopping here for dinner.
IAH TIP: Make a reservation if you’ll be going during peak dining times. Also, make sure to check out Happy Hour afternoons from 3-5 for drink specials and half price tapas. During the week, La Boca also features musical guests on occasion so check out their website for more details.
Restaurant Martin – Santa Fe, NM
Restaurant Martin
Overall Rating:
526 Galisteo Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(702) 590-8882
Other reviews:
Yelp
OpenTable
UrbanSpoon
TripAdvisor
Prices: $15-$30 per person for lunch
Location
Restaurant Martin is located about 6-8 blocks off of the square and just about 2 blocks from the NM State Capitol building. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the square.
Atmosphere
The restaurant has a very upscale, business casual atmosphere. It’s small, but comfortable. There are 2-3 main dining areas, along with a small bar area and glassed in patio area.
Service
Service here was a bit stuffy, but smoothed out throughout the meal. While it took a awhile for our first course to come out, after that, things went fine.
Food
The food here was one of the best lunches we’ve had in Santa Fe. We were here during late winter, so the Squash Bisque on the menu was simply amazing. And…most of us can’t stand squash. We tried the hamburger, salmon BLT and Chef’s special and all were fantastic. All entrees were served with your choice of salad or fries. The best value on the menu is the Chef’s Special, where you can get a good sized cup of soup with a half sandwich of the day, for just $9. For dessert, we sampled the Carmelized Honeycrip Apple Tart (best apple dessert ever!) and the bittersweet chocolate cake. The apple tart was the big winner, although the cake was very good as well.
Wine/Drinks
While the restaurant does have a decent, but short wine list. you should note that it does not have a hard alcohol license, so your limited to wine and beer.
Overall
Restaurant Martin is a great place for lunch and we’re sure that it’s just as great for dinner. It’s a bit of a walk from downtown, but well worth it for something different.
Acadiana – Washington, DC
Acadiana
Overall Rating:
901 New York Avenue Northwest
Washington D.C., DC 20001-4410
(202) 408-8848
Other reviews:
Yelp
Zagat
UrbanSpoon
TripAdvisor
Prices: $30-$50 Sunday Brunch
Good to Know:
Acadiana is busy. If you’re going for Sunday brunch, make sure to make a reservation in advance as this place fills up fast. Also if you dine for Sunday brunch, there’s $1 mimosas or cajun mary’s.
Atmosphere
Billed as a “Louisiana Fish House”, Acadiana doesn’t disappoint. The restaurant has a unique shape as it’s at the end of a “flatiron” style of building. With multiple levels inside, it has great views outside with floor to ceiling windows. They’ve expanded with a patio outdoors, so in nice weather, you can sit outside as well.
Service
Service here was pretty good. Occasionally whenever there was a crush of new tables, it slowed a bit, but otherwise everything was handled well. All of the servers were very pleasant and Acadiana definitely has a “down home” feel that matches it’s style of food. Servers did a great job on keeping your mimosa’s and bloody mary’s topped off for Sunday brunch.
Food
Our visit took us here for Sunday brunch, which was fantastic. It’s a prixe fixe menu for around $30. You get to pick one appetizer, one main and a dessert. The hardest thing to decide is what to choose. Some of our favorites were the gumbo, blue crab soup, etoufee and eggs acadiana. Everything here is phenomenally good, so it’s really a matter of what you like better than the other. Portions are also better than at most restaurants, so you won’t leave hungry. Plus, you’ll get all kinds of cornbread and other great things to snack on in between courses. For dessert, the beignets are pretty good, but the bread pudding is the standout.
Overall
If Louisiana style food is what you’re looking for, you’ve found it. It doesn’t really get more authentic than this if you’re not in New Orleans. We’ll be back for dinner the next time we go to DC.
The Hostile Grape – Las Vegas, NV
The Hostile Grape
Overall Rating:
12300 Las Vegas Blvd S
Henderson, NV
(702) 797-1000
Other reviews:
Location
The Hostile Grape is located at The M Resort in Henderson. It’s approximately 17 miles west on Las Vegas Blvd from the Wynn/Fashion Show Mall area. It’s definitely not close in and cab fare will run you about $40 each way from the strip. Oddly enough, The M, does advertise that it’s located “on the strip”, which is vaguely true, since it is technically on Las Vegas Blvd. If you’re staying in Las Vegas, this probably isn’t a place you’d journey out to, unless you’re going to spend some time at their restaurants, spa or casino. One advantage the M does have, is they do have lower priced gambling tables during off-peak hours.
Atmosphere
The entire M Resort is a very beautiful, contemporary resort in the middle of nowhere. The Hostile Grape, is located in it’s own space downstairs, just off the main lobby. It’s what you’d expect in a wine bar, dark wood, dark colors, comfortable chairs and couches and wine bottles along the walls. It’s an extremely comfortable place and a great way to relax and pass the time.
Wine/Drinks
The Hostile Grape is first and foremost a wine bar. And, a pretty nice one at that. With over 160 wines you can sample by the glass, via automated wine dispensers, you can choose a one, three or five ounce pour. WIth you automated, rechargeable card, you simply put your card in the dispenser, select the wine and size of pour you want and voila, your set. Wine varies, but a majority of them are between $3-$8 for a 3 oz pour. There’s a good balance of white, red and sparkling from various places around the globe. There is a stronger emphasis on US wines, but other countries are well represented. Many of the wines you can sample are also available via the bottle. If wine isn’t your thing, they also have a full bar, where you can order cocktails or nonalcoholic beverage of your choice.
Food
Even though the emphasis is on wine, they do have a great selection of tapas and cheese plates. A bit pricey, but the quality was very good.
Overall
The Hostile Grape is a great way to sample a lot of different wines, without committing to a bottle. It’s comfortable, casual and a great place to hang out for happy hour or an entire evening. The big drawback here is location. That is of course, unless you’re staying at the M, or don’t mind driving 20-30 minutes from the strip.
MoZen Bistro – Las Vegas, NV
MoZen Bistro
Overall Rating:
Mandarin Oriental
752 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89158
(702) 590-8882
Other reviews:
Yelp
OpenTable
UrbanSpoon
TripAdvisor
Prices: $40-$75 per person
Location
MoZen is located on the 3rd floor in the Mandarin Oriental hotel at the City Center complex. The Mandarin is a few steps off of the Las Vegas Blvd side of the City Center complex.
Atmosphere
MoZen is a great casual place to relax and unwind while having a fantastic meal. Among the many things that the Mandarin folks do well, is layout. The dining area is split into a couple of different areas, both fairly wide and shallow. Almost every table in the restaurant has a great view out of the floor to ceiling windows facing the strip. Even when MoZen is close to capacity, you can still have a pleasant conversation without having to raise your voice. You also have the option of sitting at the sushi bar.
Service
Service was typical Mandarin. Flawless. Our servers were very attentive and knew the menu well. They made some great recommendations of items we would have never thought of trying, which was a wonderful surprise. Because of the menu and a large number of small plate items, table real estate can be an issue. If you want a bunch of small plates, our suggestion is to work with your server on coursing out the dishes, so that you don’t run out of room on the table.
Food
All of the food items here lived up to our high expectations. While at first glance, the menu may look like its primarily composed of asian dishes, there are lots of different options for different tastes. No matter what your taste, if you can’t find what you like here, it’s probably unavailable anywhere. Some of our favorites from the small plate menu were the Yam Neua (grilled strip loin), Singapore Chili Crab, Murgh Mahkani (tandoor chicken) and the sushi. For dessert, everything centers around chocolate. And, even though you have quite a few choices, you need to go for the Chocolate Cloche. It’s a chocolate sphere, with madagascar vanilla gelato inside. Accompanying it is a hot passion fruit caramel that is poured over the top when it’s served. It melts through the sphere, exposing the gelato and makes for one of the best desserts we’ve ever had.
Wine/Drinks
The Mandarin has a great wine list with many selections available by the glass. As for mixed drinks, we highly recommend the Lychee Smash (TY KU liqueur, lychee liqueur, pear purée, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, mint leaves) or the Golden Leaf Mandarin Martini (Hendrick’s, Aperol, muddled mandarin, pineapple, fresh lime juice and simple syrup).
Overall
There are lots of great restaurants in Vegas, but if you’re looking for great selection, a wonderful dining experience away from the hubbub, MoZen makes the perfect choice.
