A guide to healthy eating: 24 hours (or less) in Santa Fe, NM
Finding organic and seed-oil-free dining options in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
On a recent trip to New Mexico, we found ourselves with just about 24 hours to enjoy the magical little city of Santa Fe. Known for its culture, its food, and its art, Santa Fe had a lot to offer!
Here is our *very* short guide to some pretty awesome spots you may enjoy for coffee, food, and more.
It is safe to say we would definitely love to visit again and explore more of this city’s creative offerings.
DINNER: Joseph’s Culinary Pub
We were so incredibly impressed with this restaurant! Known to be seed-oil-free since its inception, Joseph’s Culinary Pub is famous for using duck fat for most of the frying and cooking. We had excellent service here and everything we ordered was delicious.
Although we did not drink, they offer a great wine list with organic and biodynamic wines. We went with the non-alcoholic house-made seasonsal “shrub” mocktails and they were a perfectly refreshing, crisp digestive aid that complimented the meal.
What we ordered:
Complimentary: Duck fat potato chips served with olives (they bring this to every table to start the meal).
Drinks: Peach and Thyme shrub mocktail, Cantaloupe & Ginger shrub mocktail.
Appetizer: Crispy Tamale, with organic chicken & green chile (we requested NOT to have this item fried).
Entree: NM Lamb Burger with Green Chile and Sheep’s Cheese on a house made English muffin and side salad and potato fries cooked in duck fat.
Entree: NM Lamb Banana Curry with lemon turmeric rice and cherry chutney.
Entree: Joseph’s Vegetable Enchilada with acorn squash, corn sautee, local chanterelle mushrooms, red chile, cojita cheese, east India spinach puree and green rice.
Dessert: Cloud Cake and Ice Cream (flavors: fresh basil and vanilla ginger) served with house made cookies.
After dinner drinks: herbal tea blends (great for digestion after a big meal!)
Brunch: Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen
A really cool spot with lots of integrity. Woman-owned, locally sourced, and sustainably focused dining with endless healthy options. They specialize in gluten-free dining and offer accommodations for all nutritional needs (dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo).
If we had more time, we absolutely would have eaten here more than once! There was a lot to choose from and everything looked incredible.
What we ordered:
Matcha Green Smoothie Bowl with coconut milk, spinach, kale, banana and matcha powder topped with hemp hearts and seasonal fruit.
Paleo Pumpkin Pancakes with real maple syrup.
Paleo Burrito on a house made spinach and egg “tortilla” filled with scrambled eggs, avocado, sweet potato hash, sausage and topped with red chile sauce.
Salmon Donburi - Japanese style Atlantic salmon in a tamari, sake, and butter pan sauce over brown rice with peas, scrambled egg, picked watermelon radish and scallion.
Bison Burger - local ground bison topped with green chile, cheese and bacon, served with mixed greens salad with Dijon vinaigrette.
ORGANIC COFFEE, LATTES, ESPRESSO: Agapao Coffee
We literally searched all morning for good quality, organic coffee and couldn’t find anywhere that specifically offered organic. While walking a bit aimlessly, trying to find a bathroom, we stumbled upon this small, local coffee shop that happened to specialize in quality, ethically-sourced, organic coffee and espresso. It was truly meant to be!
The owner was present when we stopped in (super cool, laid back dude) and he says he doesn’t advertise that their coffee is organic, so it didn’t come up on our search. However, this is THE spot if you’re looking for an awesome latte or cup of coffee. It is loved by locals and has a very warm, friendly vibe. Joseph’s Culinary Pub happens to serve their coffee at their restaurant, as well.
What we ordered:
Regular drip coffee
Vanilla, cinnamon, honey latte with regular milk
BREAKFAST OR LUNCH: Apothecary Kitchen
While we did not have enough time to eat here, we stopped by and the place looked awesome. If we are ever back in town, we will be dining here for sure.
New Mexico is a magical place to visit, and we had a deeply nourishing trip. If you ever find yourself here, take every moment to enjoy the rich culture, food and art; the incredible star-filled night sky; and the many natural hot springs and scenic drives. Much love!
