Antigua Inn
Imagine a beautiful 100-year-old adobe house—conveniently located near the famous Santa Fe square—that has been remodeled to preserve its heritage, but with every modern convenience imaginable. Then add in a chef who understands gluten-free cooking and offers the most fabulous breakfasts, and you have the perfect Bed & Breakfast. That’s how I spent 3 days last week in the Land of Enchantment, otherwise known as New Mexico.
We visit Santa Fe at least once a year, mostly to enjoy the fabulous food. This year’s visit coincided with our wedding anniversary so we chose a special Bed & Breakfast, the Antigua Inn. It was mentioned in Food & Wine Magazine so I knew it was good. But we were amazed at how special this place is.
Beautifully restored, this lovely house features every modern convenience despite its 100-year old heritage.
Notice the gorgeous kitchen in the photo.
But it was the warm hospitality and superb, gluten-free food that I want to tell you about.
Gluten-Free Breakfasts at Antigua Inn
The first morning we had gluten-free mini-Quiches made with non-dairy ingredients and it was fabulous. Baked in cupcake pans, the quiche had a hint of green chile (a must in New Mexico), accompanied by house-smoked bacon, fried polenta, and a lovely fruit salad. And, the coffee was superb—made from hand-roasted beans you can order at Antigua Coffee Company. They also offered gluten-free toast, but I already had plenty of food!
The second morning, we ate Blue Corn Pancakes with blueberries and pine nuts (called pinon in New Mexico). Gluten-free and dairy-free, they were some of the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten. They were served with gluten-free sausage and a marvelous yogurt parfait topped with gluten-free granola. I was in heaven!
On the third morning (as if it couldn’t get better!!) we had gluten-free, dairy-free Huevos Rancheros—one of my favorite breakfasts. With bacon and fried polenta, and the usual fruit plate it was absolutely delicious. On top of these marvelous breakfasts, there were gluten-free treats such as Biscochitos (cookies).
Other Gluten-Free Dining in Santa Fe
Santa Fe is known for its fabulous food, so finding gluten-free options was easy. One of our favorites is La Boca with chef James Campbell Caruso, an 8-time James Beard Chef of the Southwest nominee. We love his tapas and always have a glass of sherry too since the restaurant’s theme is Spanish. Our favorite dish was Paella. But I also had house-baked gluten-free bread that I used to sop up the delicious liquids from a bowl of Mussels. An incredible meal; in fact, we went to that restaurant for lunch the next day, too.
Radish & Rye was recommended to us by the Antigua Inn and it was our second fabulous dinner. The menu features local, farm-to-table fare and it was upscale and superb. The staff was extremely well trained. I had salmon and a tossed green salad that was incredibly fresh and lovely. I would go to this restaurant again.
Our third dinner was a “dive” compared to the other two restaurants but a fun experience nonetheless. Called Tune-Up Cafe, it was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri. It features food with an El Salvadore-style touch, such as a Pupusa which was delicious. I also had a Tamale wrapped in a banana leaf. The ambience shouts “dive.” The café is very small, noisy and cramped. But we knew that before we went. The food is not fancy but delicious and I would go there again.
All in all, Santa Fe did not disappoint! I will be back next year!