I was standing on the top of a dune at the White Sands National Monument with my sister's husband,…read morelooking out at an impending sunset, when the guy turned to me and said, "Howie, I think New Mexico gets the short shrift when it comes to beauty. This is a gorgeous state, man." I smiled. Preaching my personal gospel. Indeed, there's so much to discover around here, yet somehow the entire state remains somewhat undiscovered. And for most of us residents, that's exactly the way we want it to remain. Our own little secret. Short shrift is cool. But ultimately that's obviously not what we're going for around here, and this company, Food Tour New Mexico, is here to help expose the goods. This tour company focusses on the food (yeah, and drink) that make the state great. They've been operating in Santa Fe for years and recently they've expanded to Albuquerque. They're not taking you on a tour of a White Sands dune, but they're all about educating newbies on New Mexican cuisine, which is worthy of an afternoon of your time. Even locals can learn a little about their native eats; one of my favorite aspects of the tour was the cup of posole and the guided description of the composition of the soup, both Native and Mexican, that completes the recipe. Anticipate an exceptionally enjoyable visit in Old Town, with some huge surprises, and a tour that goes beyond food. Great company.

Nick Peña created Food Tour New Mexico-Albuquerque (and Food Tour New Mexico-Santa Fe) following…read morehis passion for local food and culture. Our tour was informative and delicious! Nick accommodated our sizable group with ease. He graciously guided us through old town, from restaurant to restaurant. It was evident he had a great working relationship with each of the restaurants that welcomed us. We not only tasted yummy local fare at each location, we learned of its history, as well. Each locale had interesting stories; additionally, the architecture should be noted as the structures are specific to this area. Nick provided more local historical facts as we made our way walking through old town. Food Tours New Mexico is a unique way to see Albuquerque. It's great for foodies wanting to learn about local cooking or anyone curious about the area's history. This activity would be great for a fun date night. Or if you are a food lover or enjoy history, you should give this tour a try. I highly recommend.

We had such a great time on this tour! We were surprised there was so much we hadn't experienced,…read morehaving visited Old Town Albuquerque on our own over the years. If you are an out of town visitor, this walking tour is the best way to enjoy a true New Mexican experience. The food and beverages were beautifully curated, as were the many stories our guide shared. We got to try red and green chile (both are DELICIOUS), as well as sopapillas, biscochitos, frito pie, prickly pear margaritas, and a wine tasting. I wish I took photos of the delicious offerings. I recommend arriving hungry. There are even some exciting ghost stories sprinkled throughout the tour. We were introduced to beautiful local art, jewelry, and souvenir shops. We stuck around after the tour to explore some more. We're excited to take the tour again, whenever we have out of town visitors.

Cara showed my spouse and I a fabulous time in Old Town. Her storytelling was engaging and…read moreinformative. We love the supernatural element of the tour as well! We got some interesting audio of a possible disembodied voice. 100% recommend this tour!

We wanted something other than just walking around and doing a self-tour, wanted a tour with…read moreknowledge of the area. Jose gave us a great tour, the food was great and the group was fantastic. Street Taco's, Enchilada's and a cup of Green Chilie, outstanding. Did I mention the Margaritas and Churro for desert..... What was "great" and made the tour was Jose's knowledge of Santa Fe, the food and culture; even recommending a great steak restaurant! We could have gotten lost in Santa Fe for several weeks eating and enjoying the culture. The food was the media for the tour, but the entertainment was Jose! Thanks!

We enjoyed the food tour with Jose. The Margaritas were a great touch and went perfectly with the…read morefood. Maybe have one flavored margarita is my one critique. Our food was a good selection: chicken enchilada with Christmas was excellent, asada street taco, and tortilla soup. We had margaritas with each meal. Last stop was Churro Bar and it was Amazing! Best churro my husband & I have ever had! And we have tasted lots of churros. Freshly fried and delicious. It was great to walk around histrionic plaza and see the historic downtown with Jose. We appreciated the stops at the Loretta Chapel & San Miguel Church. They give the history only and you have to comeback to tour on your own. Great food tour. Side note:Del Charro has the best red sauce I've had. All the flavor and perfect spice. Not hot or overwhelming. Seasoned perfectly. First Christmas enchilada I enjoyed as I usually only get green sauce only. Kudos to them & Jose for picking them.

This is one great food tour. I booked the "Bites of Santa Fe" Tour. 2.5 hours and $55 dollars per…read moreperson. I went with three friends and It was our first time visiting New Mexico. Everything was great from start to end. Booking online was easy. Our tour guide Rupert was awesomely knowledgeable. The staff at each location we went to was friendly. The food portions were big and will fill you up. You can't go wrong with this tour. Besides getting your belly filled with some local cuisine, you come out more educated on food, wine and art. So do your belly and mind a favor and book this tour.

This was a family reunion "special" and we all LOVED IT!! In fact, we returned to one of the…read morerestaurants for dinner one night. Our Guide, Rupert, was very fun and knowledgeable, and created a great pace. I'll do this again!!

We did the Historic Plaza Food Sip and Savor Tour. It included 4 stops; 2 with food and alcoholic…read morebeverage taste, 1 stop with champagne flight, and 1 stop with churro dessert. Lauren was outstanding host but the $179 per person plus expected tip is outrageous pricing and would have expected more value (food and drink or 5 versus 4 stops).

Probably the #1 advice I give fellow travelers is to do a food tour soon after arriving in a new…read morecity. You get some history, get a basic understanding of the lay of the land, and best of all... you get to eat. On our particular day we ate Italian, ice cream, tamales, amazing pozole and (I think) El Salvadoran food. Everything was delicious and in a couple of cases, a first for me! A huge shout out to our guide - I think her name was Lauren. She did an amazing job and went the extra mile to make sure that we returned to our hotel okay (we were having shuttle issues). She was funny, caring and informative. Besides that, also a chef so she knew what she was talking about! The tour was about $200 per person before tip. Don't forget to tip! I highly recommend this tour.

Jerard was an amazing guide for our walking history, sip, and savor tour of Santa Fe, New Mexico…read more He is a true local, his family goes back many generations, and he's exceptionally knowledgeable about the history of New Mexico, in particular Santa Fe. This is a great tour to take when you first arrive in the area because you will leave with many tips and ideas for places to eat, drink, see art, and experience the history of this wonderful city In the following days we revisited several places, including the governors palace, coyote, cafe, and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Thank you Jerard, for a wonderful day and an unforgettable experience. It was definitely a highlight of our trip.

I went as a part of a group of graduate students from St. John's College. The guide was jovial,…read morepersonable, fun, and loud when he needed to spread the great facts. I loved learning that the smaller doors around the area were not because the people were tiny, it was because they were more easily defended but that changed when the railroad got there circa 1880 and stronger building material could be brought easily. How cool is that? If you liked that fact, there's plenty more where that came from, and it's this tour.

Such a beautiful location, and the food and drinks were amazing. We had some of the best ceviche…read moreand an amazing quesadilla with chorizo, and eggs. We had an amazing tour by my brother who works there as the bread chef. The farmer is gorgeous and the flowers amazing. They have an awesome resort and beautiful grounds. Planning my next trip for next year already and going to stay.

I was in town from Denver visiting for my nephew's graduation. We had reservations for a Friday…read moreevening. When we walked onto the patio and took in those sweeping views of the Sandias, I was ready to love this place. Los Poblanos has all the ingredients of a truly special dining experience: a gorgeous setting, a thoughtful farm-to-table ethos, and a menu that promises something above the ordinary. Which is exactly why the evening's annoying missteps were so disappointing. Service was well intentioned but unpolished. Our waiter seemed overwhelmed and, at times, unfamiliar with the menu -- a problem when guests are asking genuine questions about the food and wine. We ordered bread which came before our drinks were served. Wine service was inconsistent. I ordered an Albariño by the glass - 6 oz. My sister ordered the Cabernet listed on the menu as a recommended pairing for her entrée, priced at $11. After we placed our drink orders, the waiter returned to inform her that the menu price was incorrect -- the wine was actually $18. She agreed to proceed. He then asked whether she wanted "a half glass or a full glass," which is an oddly imprecise question at a restaurant whose menu specifies pours in 3, 6, and 9 oz increments. She said half glass. What arrived was 3 oz of wine in a small serving carafe, which the waiter simply poured into her glass -- no bottle presented, no taste offered. My own Albariño, by contrast, was brought to the table in the bottle with a proper taste before pouring. The disparity in service between the two of us was striking. A simple, clear statement -- "3 oz of this wine is $18, not $11; would you still like it?" -- would have resolved everything cleanly. Instead, the vague "half or full glass" framing left my sister without the information she needed to make an informed choice. For what it's worth, the wine itself was extraordinarily tannic -- borderline undrinkable -- and I would have sent it back. My nephew ordered a top shelf whiskey. The waiter told him "we don't have that". My nephew said "it's on your menu" to which the waiter responded "oh, let me check on that". There seemed to be too many instances of the waiter running back to the bar to check on stuff. Anyway, it was available. The waiter apologized. We ordered the bread which was served before our drinks arrived. Food took about an hour which is fine - I don't have an issue with that but during that time we never saw the waiter again. I ordered the soup of the day - potato and leek which was delicious. Followed by the blackberry salad, which was my main course. Both arrived simultaneously, with the salad placed in front of me and the soup set to the side as an afterthought. At a restaurant at this price point, the expectation that soup precedes salad is not an eccentricity -- it is simply correct service. When I expressed my surprise, the servers seemed genuinely puzzled, which suggests this may be a training gap rather than an isolated incident. As for the salad itself -- it was pleasant, but pleasant is not enough here. The blackberry salad was the kind of thing you might enjoy at a well-run casual chain: competently assembled, inoffensive, and forgettable. At a farm-to-table restaurant with access to exceptional local ingredients, I expect the plate to reflect that -- more intentional presentation, more layered flavors, something that is more elevated than what was presented. This one didn't. The gap between the setting and what landed on the table was wider than it should have been. My sister and nephews ordered the filet mignon and rib eye. Both arrived pre-sliced -- a presentation trend that has made its way into fine dining, though one that divides opinion. My concern, beyond personal preference, is practical: sliced meat loses heat faster, and at roughly $80 per entrée, guests should receive their steak in the condition that best showcases it. The quality was good, not exceptional. Los Poblanos is a restaurant with genuine promise and a setting that few can match. The concept is right; the execution needs work. The issues I encountered -- inconsistent wine service, course sequencing, and a discombobulated waiter-- are not kitchen problems. They are fixable. I hope the restaurant takes that seriously, because the bones here are excellent and the experience should be too.

We had a blast! We signed up for this class knowing we would be in town for a couple of days. It…read morewas hands on and is definitely something we will always remember! The class size was just right, enough people to make it fun and social, but still small enough that everyone got involved. Chef Mica kicked things off by giving us an overview of the history of the area, its chile traditions, and the differences between the peppers we'd be working with and seeing around the city. That context added so much depth to the cooking, it wasn't just a class, it was a cultural experience. Each of us prepared a different type of relleno, and then at the end we all sat down and shared the full spread together buffet style. It was such a fun way to learn, connect, and taste a variety of chiles without spending hours cooking everything on your own. It was well organized, engaging, and easy to follow. My anxiety did kick in once I realized other people would also be eating what I made, but we made it through and I loved what I got, the jalapeno poppers. You can feel the passion in what the chef does and everything ran very smoothly even though we were the last done lol Come hungry and ready to learn! We walked away with some new skills, a deeper knowledge of peppers, and some great recipes we can't wait to try at home. This truly will be memorable for us!

We took a cooking class here and it was good. Not great but good…read more They have a very well put together kitchen for classes and the instructor has a long list of credentials. Our class was on salsa sauces with different peppers and home made tacos. The class started with the chef walking us through the printed recipes and what was wrong with them. (Maybe redo these with correct recipes? And then go right to cooking and teaching?) Then we all chopped and cooked. At the end we got to taste everybody's products.

Van was great! My wife and I had a personalized VIP tour…read morewith him and it was a really good 2 hrs. Van took us around a 6 mile circuit and we even walked INTO the Rio Grande as it dry this time of year. Highly recommend!

We took a two-hour Historic Rio Grande River Bike Tour last week. Our guide Heidi was friendly…read moreand knowledgeable, and made sure to give us breaks in the shade and provide lots of cold water (it was hot!). Before leaving the shop, we received helmets and bikes, which were adjusted to fit us (and the shop had a huge pump bottle of sunscreen). It was a great way to cruise through some areas of Albuquerque that we wouldn't otherwise have seen. My only disappointment was that the Rio Grande River was bone dry - but I can't fault Routes for that!

If you're seeking a warm, relaxing boutique experience in Santa Fe, this is not it…read more Our suite, the aptly named "Territorial," was beautifully styled but functionally absurd. The bed sits just inches from the toilet door, so unless you're unusually close with your travel companion, pack earplugs and a blindfold. Dust was caked into the corners, a dead bug was in the ripple of the vintage rug, and we were greeted by a dried booger on the bathroom door (seriously). The door frame lets light in, the floors creaked like a haunted house, and the entire layout felt like it was designed by someone who's never actually had to sleep there. There were no privacy blinds, only wooden shutters, and the artwork provided enough clutter to fill the room just in case you forgot your own luggage. Breakfast was the big show! Most of what we were served was delicious. For an extra $45 per person, you'll be given whatever the kitchen feels like making that morning... no choices, no allergy considerations, and not even a glass of water. Instead, you're handed an herbal infusion and expected to sip with gratitude while waiting 90 minutes for your dessert tart. But our group's disappointment simply must have meant we didn't understand the "magic" of the experience. In the end, Casa Culinaria is the kind of place that confuses ambiance with hospitality and is more interested in curating an image than creating a welcoming stay. If you're searching in Santa Fe for a splintering rocking chair, garden corners appropriate for Instagram, or even paying $340/night to be treated like an inconvenience... this is the winner! Anyone interested in actual hospitality should keep searching.

We had an amazing stay at the Casa Culinaria Inn. What made our stay even more wonderful was our…read morethree course gourmet brunch. Carolina has created a carefully crafted menu with food that makes you feel good! Manuel took wonderful care of us. This is perfect if you are looking for a quaint breakfast spot.