Late at night on Tuesday we cruised around Farmington, NM looking for any establishment with a kitchen that was still open. On the edge of town we found Chef Bernie's Cafeteria - no longer in its prime, and not a cafeteria, but a classic 1960s diner. Stella selected 5 singles for 50 cents on the jukebox - mounted at each booth. Patsy Cline, of course, and Johnny Cash. Every meal in New Mexico comes with the question: red or green? I'll take green. Every meal also comes with shredded iceberg lettuce and diced tomatoes - the pink kind of tomato - but it all adds to the authentic charm. Two complete dinners with rice & beans, chips & salsa, and sopapillas & honey - $14.
For breakfast on Wed., we checked out TJ's Diner on Main Street - a charming main street and a well-maintained version of the classic diner. The same question - red or green, this time on our eggs - and the same shredded lettuce and diced tomato-like agricultural wonder.
We headed out to Albuquerque and I asked Stella to investigate our lunchtime options. How did we travel before the iPhone? She plugged a few key words into Urban Search and came up with Mary & Tito's - lots of raves on the site. Then she looked up the location on Google map and when we took the wrong exit and got twisted, she called and got directions. It's as authentic as New Mexican gets - and worth seeking out even if you take several wrong exits. A James Beard Foundation award hangs on the wall next to photos of Mary & Tito & familia over many years.
So many milestones in one day: cresting the Continental Divide, returning to Central Time, and crossing the border back into the Lone Star state. Tonight Lubbock. Tomorrow?
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