La Plazuela is a hidden or not so hidden treasure in La Fonda, a hotel in downtown Santa Fe. La Fonda is the oldest hotel in Santa Fe and started out as a Harvey House. Every year, the chief of my bureau takes all of us out to a special winter lunch. For the last three out of four years, we have gone to La Plazuela.
As you walk in, there is a huge chandelier ensconced by two ficus (?) trees. La Plazuela is open and airy and feels a lot like a courtyard. I learned on the La Fonda website that La Plazuela was originally the hotel's patio in the 1920s. It's surrounded by a balcony where you can peer down on diners or revelers depending on the occasion.
I love the painted window panes, which were painted in the 1970s and 1980s. There are about 400 of them and no two are alike. La Fonda had a staff artist, Ernest Martinez who painted them.
I got to sit with my back to the fire while we were eating lunch! It warmed me up on a cold winter day.
Lunch was delectable, but my camera phone doesn't do the food justice. I'm not sure if mashed potatoes taste any better piped into a rosette, but I enjoyed the presentation. Kidding aside, the food doesn't disappoint. It's one of the reasons we go back year after year. Seasonal specials included the green chile meatloaf with pine nuts and shrimp diablo.
We've never stayed during the holidays, but your text and photos make it look like a really good idea :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos. Love the painted windows also. The food looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
I have been to this wonderful place when I visited for my 50th birthday...gorgeous, fun and delicious...missing Sanata Fe!! Will make it for the holidays one day soon...
ReplyDelete@Patricia - It's fun around the holidays. You can go to the lighting of the tree outside the State Capitol and the city of Santa Fe has a tree lighting ceremony, too. Lot's of other things to do, too.
ReplyDelete@Sunray - Cher, the food was yummy. Ernest Martinez also embellished the rooms with fun decorative touches.
@Donna - I'm glad you got to go there for your 50th. It's such a fun place and I always feel spoiled when I'm dining there.
Theta, the food, your words and pictures look delicious. Glad you enjoyed it all.
ReplyDeleteI love the colorful art tiles (?), it looks so bright and fun there with the copper pots hanging from the ceiling. The food looks pretty fancy and mighty yummy too.
ReplyDeleteSeem like a perfect place to have some lunch!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you had a good time and a good meal. I like the decor too, looks like a perfect place.
ReplyDeleteThe food looks delicious and the ambiance one-of-a-kind---a must visit if I ever get back to Santa Fe.
ReplyDelete@Lee - A fun time was had by all.
ReplyDelete@GWGT - Donna, I love the painted window panes, too. It makes it feel so festive.
@Dewi - Lunch was great and always a special treat.
@Masha - I tend to be a minimalist, but I love the decor, too.
ReplyDelete@Carolyn - It's outside of my norm, so it's a pleasure going there!
Aj u nás je v niektorých firmách zvykom, že chodia pred koncom roku na spoločný obed alebo večeru. Ja som naposledy pracovala v banke, takže náš vianočný večierok počítal vždy okolo 700 ľudí. Miesto, kde ste boli na spoločný obed, sa mi veľmi páči. Oheň v kozube, maľované okná, všetko to pôsobí tak domácky.
ReplyDeletePrajem ti krásne Vianoce!
Happy Christmas!
Daniela
@mimi - 700 people are a lot to fit in one place. I don't think I've eaten with that many people even at a wedding. Have a Merry Christmas Daniela!
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ReplyDeleteZ môjho posledného večierka v banke som ti nahrala niekoľko fotografií: https://picasaweb.google.com/104645994859709007626/Bankovica2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCNmekeX00rWcrwE
ReplyDeleteZdraví Daniela
@Mimi - Daniela, the bank party looks like a lot of fun. Wow, the food looks delicious.
ReplyDeletetrekking your amazing blog! keep blogging! happy holidays!
ReplyDeletecheers!
...TREK...