The Oldest House - Full of Sweet Delights

Tucked inside the Oldest House in the United States - built in 1646 - is Santa Fe's newest coffee bar. And it is filled with history, freshly-baked goodies and the delightful presence of  proprietor, Evelyn Roybal. 

The space is unexpected and charming and in addition to hot coffee, cocoa, tea, lemonade and a bevy of snacks, there's enough wonderful kitsch to engage your attention while nibbling on a red chili pecan brownie or some buttery biscochitos or a lovely slab of jalapeno peanut brittle.

The Oldest House sits just around the corner from the San Miguel Mission, the Oldest Church in the U.S., and  Evelyn added some religions touches.

The coffee bar with the cozy stools and the big screen TV on the wall above, was originally an altar that she found and resurrected with a bit of  paint.

A photo of the original altar is framed and sits on top of the "bar".

A charming bookcase along one wall is filled with family portraits. "I wanted people to feel at home," says Evelyn.

And I did mention the snacks,  right?

Shelves and shelves of politically incorrect snacks.

And when you're finished with your coffee and your sweet, you can take a tour of the Oldest House. It's free, but a donation would be lovely. The money goes towards upkeep and restoration.

TIENDITA  del BARRIO

At the Oldest House

215 E. de Vargas

505.988.1944

OLEACEAE - AT LA FONDA ON THE PLAZA

Oleaceae - You may not be able to pronounce the name of this wonderful shop - oh lee ay’ see eye - but you will have no difficulty knowing that you have just found - olive oil, balsamic vinegar & sea salt heaven. Co-owned by Santa Fe resident Samantha Bailey-Smith (above) and her long-time friend, Diane Romley, the shop promises a delightful culinary romp

 the moment you walk through the door.

There are more than 40 flavors of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and 15 to 20 flavored salts; and like a child in a candy shop - you can taste them all. And who wouldn't want to taste a luscious extra virgin olive oil infused with Persian limes, blood oranges or porcini mushrooms?

 Or fig, blackberry ginger, dark chocolate or juniper berry balsamic vinegar? 

Mosey down the center of the shop where rows of fustis - stainless steel vats - keep the beautiful olive oil and vinegar dark and cool;
and choose which oils or vinegars you'd like to taste.

If you'd like your very own fusti, they come in smaller sizes and would be

perfect plopped onto a kitchen counter.

And then there are the sea salts - espresso, Yakima apple wood, Durango hickory, Maldon, Himalayan, black truffle and Bali pyramid, just to name a few.

And there are even thick sea salt slabs that are heated on top of the stove or on a barbecue and then used as a cooking surface to sear seafood (or other delights) to perfection, imparting a subtle salty flavor in the process.

And if you haven't a clue what to do with these yummy oils, vinegars and salts, just ask Samantha or one of her charming assistants - Paul on the left  Ahmed on the right - and they'll clue you in.

All in all, this is one delicious shop that you'll want to visit again and again. And, if you happen to buy some raspberry or dark chocolate balsamic vinegar or  blood orange olive oil, they are swell - according to the duo above - on a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Oh my!

OLEACEAE

at La Fonda on the Plaza

Old Santa Fe Trail

505.819.0887 or 505.795.7780

And don't forget to pick up one of these...

JANE SAUER GALLERY - PLAYING WITH DOLLS

A New York art dealer was overheard telling a client: If you have only 15 minutes in Santa Fe, you must go to the Jane Sauer Gallery. Indeed, if you're passionate about contemporary art, this internationally-recognized gallery - nestled along Canyon Road - is a must visit. And, this past weekend they showcased work by my favorite Doll Artist - Charla Khanna. I bought one of Charla's extraordinary dolls 30-years ago and have been following her career ever since. A long-time resident of Taos, Charla has been showing at the Jane Sauer Gallery for the past four years. I've tried to capture each doll's wonderment with my lens...

And, oh the lovely embellishments and thousands of tiny stitches placed just so with such purpose and care - creating a story from fabric and thread.

Such wonderful, wonderful detail work

"I just adore her work," says Jane Sauer (below) holding one of Charla's dolls during the artist's talk. "And the people who buy her dolls are

passionate about them as well."

And here's a peak at some of the other amazing art

 at the Jane Sauer Gallery...

Oh yes...here's a photo of Charla Khana with my doll:

JANE SAUER GALLERY

652 Canyon Road

Santa Fe, NM

505.995.8513

jsauergallery.com