OrganicBunny.com Travel

New Mexico: Land of Enchantment
by Laura

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the city of Albuquerque recently. At first I thought the city was kind of sleepy, and that I’d be hard-pressed to find interesting things to do. There’s nowhere near the hustle & bustle that I’m used to, from having lived in the big university towns of Columbus, OH and Austin, TX. But after a while, Albuquerque began to win me over.

In fact, I’ve recently been impressed by this city. First off, the people here are super-friendly (the kind of folk that look you in the eye when they say "Thank You" and give you the impression that they actually care when they ask "How are you?").

Secondly, these friendly folk also seem to be unusually health-conscious. For example, during my first visit, I was admonished by local coworkers for straining my eyes by working too long in front of the computer, and was advised not to re-use plastic water bottles due to the bacteria content. Go figure.

The third thing that has impressed me probably arises from this general concern for things "healthy": in Albuquerque, you can find little organic options thrown into the most average restaurant menu. (Perhaps not as pervasive as the heat of the local green chile, these organic tidbits nevertheless sneak up on you.)

For example, at the Red Sky Cafe in the Pyramid Marriott where I recently stayed, they actually offered an organic cheese enchilada. This I had to try - and was I amazed when I did! It was heavenly. I would have never believed that one could describe cheese as "fresh" before I had this experience, but that’s the best word I can use to describe the delectably gooey contents of this perfectly-wrapped tortilla. Garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, and Mexican rice, it was a dinner I was delighted to consume.

I then discovered a delicious organic Celtic Breakfast tea at the coffee shop next door to where I was working - who knew? It was tucked in discreetly with the Lipton and other ho-hum teas, yet it was a treasure. (Would you believe that now I actually look forward to going to work, so that I can get a morning cup of that tea?!) Kudos to Café Odyssey (6616 Gulton Ct NE, Ste 60).

And while we’re on the topic of teas, let me share with you another great find: Flying Star Café. There are several around town, and they all offer tasty, healthy food in a pleasant café-style atmosphere. You can also access free wifi at these locations, which I obviously enjoy. (And actually, I found out later, their commitment to healthy food is pretty serious - from serving up organic tofu and soy milk to promising not to serve any "junk, chemicals, cheap flavorings, etc." Check it out: www.flyingstarcafe.com/menu.htm

If you’re staying in town more long-term, or just looking for a specific favorite healthy snack, you can always get all of your favorite organic & healthy groceries at the local Whole Foods on Wyoming (which also sponsors a free "happy hour" every Friday, where you can sample yummy cheese & wines while listening to jazz performed by local musicians), or one of the plentiful Wild Oats Markets (which also sport juice bars and cafes inside, as well as groceries).

With all of these eating options, as well as up and coming Farmers Markets (hurray for summertime!), it’s relatively easy to eat healthy while visiting "the land of enchantment." And so, as we munch our way through the friendly city, we will pause to give it a thumbs-up Bunny seal of approval.