Naked Chefs in Santa FeOr how I fulfilled my fantasies for less than $20 dollarsBy Madelyn Miller
I fantasize being able to lick the bowl. Being the muse for a chef’s chocolate dessert. So when I found out my fantasies would now be available for unlimited gazing for less than two dollars a month, I was as excited as a football fan finding out he could watch his team on cable TV. If the chefs were all going to be wearing their birthday suits to the launch party, I would cancel all my travel plans and be there. Instead, I will have to stick to one fantasy a month, as I turn the pages of the Naked Chefs of Santa Fe calendar. THE CHEFS OF SANTA FE COOK IN THE RAW – AND POSE IN IT, TOO – IN REVELATORY NEW CALENDAR FOR 2005
Thirteen of Santa Fe most desirable culinary artisans -- including Louis Moscow (Bistro 315), Martin Rios (The Old House), Mu Ju Ling (Mud u Noodles) and Tom Kerpon (The Inn of Anasazi) -- bare their most tempting recipes as well as their intimate selves in a stimulating full-size calendar of stunning black & white photographs created by acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Judy Walgren. The Chefs of Santa Fe - Cooking in the Raw is produced by the Taos School of Cooking. “The design of the Calendar is classy and appealing, with exuberant photographs that are as tasteful and innovative as the food itself,” says the School’s Director, Lisa Cancro. “You can definitely spot the inspiration of each chef’s unique personality.” The creation of this calendar is intended to promote Santa Fe’s exceptional chefs and their restaurants. Two pages of the calendar will be devoted to each chef, including a charismatic photograph, chef’s choice recipe, restaurant logo and, of course, the month. I wonder if I have to limit my gazes at my favorite chefs for only a month? I will no longer be frustrated if they are busy in the kitchen, or off the night I am dining—because I will have my own personal nude calendar. What, I wonder, should I wear while I am turning the pages? An excellent assortment of Santa Fe’s finest and most hip restaurants are featured, including The Pink Adobe, Ristra, Bistro 315, Fuego at La Posada, Eat Me Foods, La Posada, Mu du Noodles, and more. A Calendar release for The Chefs of Santa Fe - Cooking in the Raw will take place on Sunday September 19th @ The Pink Adobe in Santa Fe from 2:00-5:00 pm. Featured chefs will be present and likely clothed for a fantastically fun, not-to-be-missed signing party. Calendars will be priced at a reasonable $19.95. All profits from the sale of the calendar will be donated to The Yaxche Learning Center Scholarship Program in Taos, New Mexico, the non-profit educational organization that benefits needy children from diverse indigenous backgrounds. Just for the record, I wrote this story with my clothes on. What to do in Santa Fe besides stare at Naked Chefs WHERE TO STAYLA FONDA ON THE PLAZA Inn of the Five Graces Inn on the Alameda, 505- 984-2121, 800-289-2122 Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa Inn of the Anasazi Inn and Spa at Loretto 505-988-5531 WHERE TO EATInn of the Anasazi, 505-988-3236 Amaya at Santa Fe Hotel Geronimo’s 505-988-5531 The Restaurant at the Inn and Spa at Loretto 505-988-5531 The Compound Restaurant, 505-982-4353 The Old House, Eldorado Hotel, 505-988-4455 Fuego Restaurant, La Posada Resort, 505-954-9670 be sure to try the foie gras SantaCafe, 231 Washington Ave. 800-252-8570 or 505-984-1788. Café Pasquals, 505-983-9340 (if you are traveling alone or in a hurry, ask to sit at the community table) Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill 505-820-2862. Healthy fast food, made fresh. Truly where the natives eat. BAR WITH THE BEST VIEWBelltower Bar in La Fonda BEST SUNDAY BRUNCHELDORADO HOTEL BEST GUACAMOLELA FONDA BLACK BOOK FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS (maybe I should say dark semi-sweet brown book) Café Paris Bakery, 31 Burro Alley, (505) 986-1688 Gourmet Fudge and Wedding Favors Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill 505-820-2862 Try anything baked by Katalyna Weil. She does a mean cowboy crunch and Mexican espresso brownies. I love the cowgirl kisses Kakawa Chocolate House, Mark Sciscenti, Chocolate connoisseur, Pasty chef and Certified Herbalist. 505-438-3402. sunsilver@earthlink.net Try his chocolate truffles and authentic historic chocolate drinks. My favorite was the chocolate chilli drink. FAVORITE FLAVORS OF SANTA FEPear Mascapone Soup at Fuego in La Posada. Chocolate Terraine at Hotel Santa Fe Guacamole at La Fonda RANDOM THOUGHTWhy does it seem that everyone is Santa Fe is either a chef or a massage therapist or has a family member who is? Maybe that is why you get such great food and massages in Santa Fe. WHAT TO DOBrowse Canyon Road. This gallery row features an amazing assortment of fine art, crafts, antiques, jewelry, clothing and restaurants. Santa Fe School of Cooking Santa Fe Opera. One of the most famous in the world. www.santafeopera.org. FLEA MARKET. If you are there on a weekend, check out the flea market by the Opera. Tesuque Flea Market is the official name, but no one calls it that. The land it is on is owned by the Indians. Only open in warmer weather. GET A MASSAGEShanah Spa and Wellness Center at the Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa. Ask for Lanka. My favorite treatments are Native Purification Polish and Native Stone Massage. 1-800-9shanah. You will want to reserve ahead. The Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa Avanyu Spa 10,000 Waves, 505-982-9304. Indulge in an outdoor massage while nimble fingers soothe out any stress. Call ahead because this is a very popular place. If you are adventurous, have an underwater Watsu massage. SHOP FOR ART AND COWBOY BOOTSStop by Back at the Ranch, where Wendy Lane has been making fashion cowboy boots for the past 15 years. I believe she pretty much "owns" this niche. She has lots of celebrity clients, including the Governor of New Mexico. ART BROWSINGSITE Santa Fe is located at 1606 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM Minkay Andean Art The Turquoise Trail leads to Hotel Santa Fe... GREAT TIMES TO VISITDon’t miss the ArtFeast benefit event in late February. Souper Bowl Project Wine and Chile festival Annual Santa Fe Market, a free public celebration of the colorful arts, crafts, jewelry and cultures of Native Americans and the American Southwest. Usually the first weekend in April GREAT GUIDEBOOKSHidden Southwest LET’S GO ADVENTURE GUIDE SOUTHWEST USA 2003 Ski America and Canada has the best and most detailed overview of Santa Fe from a winter tourist/skier/snowboarder's perspective. MORE ABOUT NEW MEXICOTHE OLD WEST MOON HANDBOOKS NEW MEXICO FOR MORE INFORMATIONSANTA FE: 800-777-2489 BEST FREEBIEThe Official 2004 Santa Fe Visitors Guide - A Free Guide to Santa Fe: BEST WAY TO GET THERESOUTHWEST AIRLINES: 800-435-9792 |
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TM
Some people follow sports teams around the globe. Other people go nuts over rock stars. Give me a chef anytime. Is there anything sexier than a chef whipping something up? Warming buns in the oven? 
After a smashing debut in Taos last year, the fabulously popular Cooking in the Raw calendar featuring area chefs at their best -- and barest -- is back this year and taking Santa Fe, New Mexico by storm. The Chefs of Santa Fe - Cooking in the Raw is an artistic calendar with a style as vivacious, provocative and alluring as the soul of the southwest itself.