“After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations.”
- Oscar Wilde
We're heading to Albuquerque, NM today. Kendra's always wanted to go to the huge hot air balloon fest there, so we're making it happen this year. I had a food experience in Albuquerque back in 2008 that rocked my world, but I haven't been back since. I am antsy with anticipation.
I loves me some Mexican food. And even though Mexican food is mostly made up of about six ingredients, just arranged in different forms, I could eat it almost daily and never fatigue. However, as much Mexican food as I'd consumed in life up to my first visit to Albuquerque, I had been completely underwhelmed by sopapillas. You know, the fried bread dessert dusted with cinnamon…Okay, but, meh.
Then upon arrival that first time there, we went immediately to a Mexican place to get a fix. Right off the bat the waitress brought to the table a basket full of little fluffy pillows. What was this? Sopapillas. There was a squeeze bottle of honey right there. I loaded one up and had a bite. It was was one of those sensual experiences when you just close your eyes and groan. It was the food equivalent of seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. The kind of food moment that reminds you that you're alive. I ate my weight in them the rest of the trip. Every place had them and they were all exquisite. I've tried to find them in other places out west-- Santa Fe, Sedona, Denver, but none have measured up.
So we're heading back and I'm ready. I've found in life regarding food and other things, that sometimes when you try to replicate an experience later on, it's a letdown. The elements that went into some special thing never come together in the same way as the first and the next time is a letdown. Here's hoping I haven't built up Albuquerque sopapillas too much. Report to follow.
Oh, and one other thing about that 2008 occasion. On the way back to Memphis, I sat by Robert Duvall on a tiny commuter plane. Man, talk about a great trip.
Birthdays in Music: Sting (1951)
Gillian Welch (1967) Americana Singer/Songwriter
Name That Movie: “About a week later, right out of the blue, she sends me a John Deere letter.”
Adios, RP