It's hard to ignore the crazy economy and its effects on our dining-out habits — but I have embraced the idea that "living (and eating) well is the best revenge." That is not to say I spend recklessly, or that I haven't adjusted my dining social calendar to suit the times — but if anything can be learned from the abandon of yore, it's that careful spending can be fun. Less can definitely be more.

That's why I enjoy getting e-mails from local businesses wanting to alert readers to bargains they are passing on to their customers.

"Maybe there is no free lunch, but we can make eating out a little easier on a working person's pocketbook," wrote Christopher Kolon, owner of Latitudes Espresso and Ice Cream, 228 Old Santa Fe Trail.

All food items at the cozy downtown café are now under $5. Breakfast burritos from Chocolate Maven are $4.50 and $4.95, while their sandwiches — such as egg salad, roast beef and ham and Swiss, are $4.95. Such a deal!

"We will try to keep these prices as long as the demand supports it," Kolon said. And, getting in a patriotic mood, Latitudes is offering a free cup of coffee to anyone who brings in proof of voting in this year's national election. "Especially you early, absentee voters," he said.

And remember, if you're feeling the stress of the roller-coaster market, nothing eases the pain like a big bowl of ice cream.

Over at the Anasazi Restaurant, chef Oliver Ridgeway is getting in the spirit by offering a "3 for 33" deal — three courses for $33 excluding tax and tip — at dinner Monday through Thursday, with selected items off the regular menu on "sale" at those times. The portion sizes will be adjusted slightly to accommodate the bargain, but the selections looked tempting: Jerusalem artichoke bisque with smoked scallop escabeche, roasted beet and chevre salad with pumpkin seed-shallot vinaigrette, and seasonal greens with endive and legumes, for the appetizer options. For main courses, you can choose from Atlantic salmon with herbed fettuccine, braised short ribs with parsnip purée, and organic roast chicken with ragoût of artichokes and vine tomatoes. Dessert is included, too.

At The Railyard Restaurant & Saloon, chef-owner Louis Moskow has started an early bird prix-fixe special that offers three courses off the regular menu for $32. Available from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, it's another enticement to get out and ignore the doom and gloom.

I commend Kolon, Moskow and Ridgeway for stimulating our economy, and ask other restaurants that create special pricing deals to send the details along to me.


I'm having such a blast shooting my online cooking classes, featured on the etaste
santafe.com Web site. I thought I had developed a great rapport working with kids due to my nine years of teaching the kids' summer cooking camp, but for our Halloween episode — airing next Wednesday, the 29th — I had a heck of a time getting my costumed co-stars to loosen up on camera. They were all excited to be involved in the filming process, but once the camera started rolling they clammed up.

I haven't seen the final edit yet, but I have complete faith that my director, Henry Lopez, can splice together our footage and get some great footage of the great kids who participated.


I don't know if Marie Antoinette actually said, "Let them eat cake," but if she had tasted the cake I had from the Tree House Pastry Shop and Café (3095 Agua Fría St., 474-5573), I'm sure she would have been moved to say something equally memorable. I had a slice last weekend of the most delicious, dense, rich chocolate cake with orange butter cream and chocolate ganache that I dare say I have ever tasted. What made this cake stand out a torte above the rest was the fact that it wasn't sugary sweet, but just sweet enough to allow the chocolate and orange flavors to shine through.

The cozy café that's ensconced on the grounds of the Plants of the Southwest nursery is a lovely place to enjoy lunch during these last brilliant days of Indian summer. The Tree House is open 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. Sundays.