Food halls are seemingly taking the country by storm. Like shopping malls for gourmet food, these foodie-friendly venues are nothing like the food courts of actual shopping malls. If you haven’t been to the Sawmill Market yet or any of its kin, here’s your crash course: Think holiday market but with boutique-eats instead of handcrafted candles. Need more guidance? Check out our suggestions for the best merchants to visit when you do stop by Sawmill Market in Old Town Albuquerque.
Mercantile Wine Bar
This seasonally focused purveyor of fine wines and delicious small plates offers the ideal early afternoon hideout, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the market. Duck in, grab a table, and order up a glass or bottle and a charcuterie board of your own making. Or go for the Braised Short Ribs. You won’t regret it!
Dr. Field Goods
You can’t have filet mignon for every meal. For those slightly less classy meals, why not mix things up with a delicious sandwich. Dr. Field Goods partners with local farmers and ranchers to serve traditional sandwiches, sausages, and housemade favorites like the Philadelphia Collins with shaved ribeye steak, grilled onions, mushrooms, and provolone. Yum.
Neko Neko
Dessert time! Neko Neko Taiyaki and Softserve consists of a fish-shaped waffle cone stuffed with a sweet bean paste or Nutella, followed by your choice of soft serve ice cream, and finished off with a sprinkling of toasted coconut, mochi bites, fruity pebbles, or one of many other choices. Popular in both Japan and Korea, you’ll be thankful this unique treat traveled across oceans and made its way to Albuquerque. In other words, it’s delicious!
XO Waffle
Last but not least is the perfect place for savory and sweet! XO Waffles serves up authentic Belgian Liege waffles with a variety of toppings. Their menu includes both dessert and entree options. Our top picks from the two menus are From Churro with Love, featuring cinnamon sugar, whipped cream, caramel, and chocolate chipotle sauce, and When Chicken Met Waffle, a perfectly griddled waffle topped with crispy fried chicken and your choice of XO sauce, spicy maple syrup, or plain maple syrup. Or choose from among 24 ingredients and build your own delicious creation!
Now that you’ve got a game plan, head for Sawmill Market to try all these delicious eats! For more tips on living every day with gusto, visit the Olympus Encantada blog.