When eating at home you can easily control the ingredients that go into your meals. This is typically not the case when you are traveling, especially if you want to avoid processed ingredients. Prior to my recent trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, I did a little online sleuthing to find out what my meal options would be. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the city is home to a number of different restaurants that focus on organic and/or locally-produced ingredients. In fact, the farm-to-table movement is alive and well in Santa Fe. Following are a few tips that helped me determine where to eat during my visit.
(1) Make use of the Internet! Google is definitely your friend when it comes to finding out what the restaurant scene is like in a new city. I used the search terms "organic restaurants Santa Fe" to find a list of restaurants that featured organic ingredients on their menus. This search provided a list of several possible restaurants to check out.
(2) Once you have a list of restaurants, check out their websites if possible. Doing so will often give you the chance to peruse the restaurant's menu and determine what the restaurant's hours are. I found this step to be crucial in planning out my Santa Fe restaurant game plan, as some restaurants closed early and others weren't open every day of the week. Knowing this information, I was able to make a loose schedule of what restaurants I wanted to try and for which meals I wanted to hit up each restaurant. For example, after taking a look at the menu at the Tree House Pastry Shop and Cafe, I knew I had to catch a meal there. And given that they weren't open Sunday or Monday, and the kitchen closed at 3p on Saturday, I definitely made sure to head straight there after my 12:30p arrival in Albuquerque.
(3) Find out where the locals eat! Little holes in the wall where you might not otherwise think to go could be be hidden gems. Avoid chains at all costs. Not only are you missing out on local cuisine, but you also are likely to get a meal full of processed ingredients, given the need to ensure that a fajita in Fargo, ND looks and tastes exactly like the one served by the same restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida.
(4) Check to see if the city or region you are visiting has a local co-op or natural foods store. In addition to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, Santa Fe is also home to La Montanita Co-op, an awesome independent natural foods grocery store. A co-op or natural foods store (or even a regular grocery store if in a pinch given the amount of local produce and organic products offered these days by major chains) is an excellent alternative if you are having trouble finding restaurants to visit during your stay. Here you can find ingredients to make your own meals or snacks during your trip.
Next up: My picks for Santa Fe restaurants.
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