Recently, we hosted a party of out of state family and friends. A relative from Georgia arrived to see us this past Saturday all the way to New Mexico, USA. The airline flight over and the time change made her quite worn out on her first day in. Even as she was half asleep on the sofa, she was extremely passionate about going out to eat. Her mission; getting some sopaipillas. Sopaipillas are deep fried tortillas when done correctly expand into an air filled crisp delicious bread. She made a sound of genuine glee when she learned that there's a diner in the area named the Sopaipilla Factory. With everyone getting ready to go, she remained flopped on the sofa with a grin. We asked if she was certain she was up to going out to eat, she announced, "I'm just planning to drift off in a stack of sopaipillas."
Sopaipilla Factory is situated in Pojoaque, New Mexico. USA, not Mexico, close to the super market near the Pojoaque Native American Pueblo. It is an intriguing change from most Northern New Mexican eateries in style and feel. The beautifully landscaped yard welcomes guests into a casual, modern feeling, and open surroundings restaurant. The walls are decorated with speckled gray blue, there are green tables, reddish booths, and tile floors with earth and aqua colors. Rainbow corn and dried chili dangle on the walls, together with mini tapestries having petroglyph motifs. Even humming birds come here to eat, with feeders hanging outside the large windows.
The menu consists of many New Mexican dishes, including tacos, rellenos, tamales and sizzling fajitas. Of course, that is not the extent of what is offered. There's a substantial vegan selection, shrimp enchiladas, hamburgers, steak, and dishes that use free-range eggs out of Taos, New Mexico. There's even a selection of creative combination plates named for different communities in the area, including the Cuyamungue (a chicken and bean chalupa and cheese enchilada combo) and the Sombrillo (vegetarian tamale and blue corn cheese enchilada). For those who are sensitivity to chili, get it on the side, it has a great taste, but very hot.
There's also an excellent desert assortment provided by the Sopaipilla Factory. New twists on old classics include flan topped with Kahlua, ice cream stuffed sopaipillas drizzled in chocolate, and sopaipillas covered in cinnamon-sugar. There's even a sweet corn cake which arrives on the side of many of the dishes, not necessarily intended as a desert, but it certainly is sweet enough to be one.
So what about the sopaipillas we specifically came for? We arrived pleasantly surprised at just how gorgeous the trays of fluffy squares of perfectly crispy fried dough looked when they were brought to our table. There was even whipped butter on the side, a thing none of us had seen offered together with sopaipillas. They were absolutely the very best sopaipillas we have ever tasted. Everyone at the table consumed at least two, if not more.
We capped off the evening with some excellent frozen margaritas which looked gorgeous. A marbled, almost tie-dye looking concoction in a clear glass was presented to our out-of-town friend. She was pleasant enough to give it a quick pass around the table for each of us to taste. The taste was just as good as the look of the drink.
Overall we relished our night at the Sopaipilla Factory. Everything is affordable, the food is good, and the sopaipillas are absolutely fantastic. We went back the very next day for more of the cinnamon sopaipillas. Printed at the foot of the menus are different phrases. "Panza llena, corazon contento. Full stomach, happy heart," is how one reads. Definitely words to live by.
When you finally decide to come out to the South West you must stop by and have a Sopaipilla and check out New Mexico for more interesting foods to eat. But watch out for the Chile. This is not your mother's chili! For more information about foods and places of interest in Northern New Mexico please visit Horse Tail Trails.
Gina Trujillo is an artist and writer working for ERG Enterprises LLC. Her most current project is Horse Tail Trails New Mexico Business and Community Directory. Gina can be contacted at Horse Tail Trails Business and Community Directory: http://www.horsetailtrails.com
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