Santa Fe--Los Potrillos

Having been here a week (S/O found a job teaching up here after we just graduated from our MFA program in creative writing--i'm just sitting around awaiting the big bucks that are duly accorded me as a writer of fiction to roll in), I'm finding the food scene very agreeable. Coming from Las Cruces, 4 hours and 3,000 feet south (mercator- and topographically, respectively) it is not often that in the past three years I have found anything more than middling tacos or abominable melanges of meat and spices wrapped in a Brobdingnagian tortilla on any "Mexican menu," and thus I was quite pleased to find primarily listed here at Los Potrillos under "Chef's Specialties" (a secondary pleasure, given that my first was to find a local Mexican joint that was proud enough of their culinary heritage to announce both a 'chef' and their proper 'specialties') a 'new' dish of Cabrito.
Girlfriend and I promptly ordered, and what arrived was a massive bowl of meat--three large chunks of goat swimming in a spicy, brooding broth with a heavy ruminantity to it all. For 14 and a half dollars, this was some serious kiddy.
Incidentally, “Goat” is an album by the band “Nunslaughter.”
As sides were their complimentary three salsas--one of good heat, one of milder tomato, and one of avocado cream, which added a lustrousness to the meat when spread on the proffered tortillas, along with the requisite guac, and the few bits of shredded lettuce that may as well have been that gleeful paper chaff of an easter basket undone by the fingers of some pagan child in search of one last Peep.
But, to lighten it all further was a peanut/almond/habanero sauce with which you were encouraged to baste the whole mess.
Pure delicious, and pure Mexican elegance, a wonderful dinner.
I know most people that come to Santa Fe, especially from the likes of Chicago, will not likely head for the nearest south-of-the-border joint, but if you’re here for a business trip, it might be worth your while for a lunch.
But don’t take my word for it, take Gene Hackman’s, whose recent signature and message (he lives here) has been Scotch-taped to the “Best of Santa Fe” poster near the entrance: “Great lunches! Gene Hackman.”
Of course you may wish to take my advice rather than his. I, to my undying credit, did not star in the 2001 film “The Mexican.”

Los Potrillos
1947 Cerrillos Road (St. Michael's and Cerrillos)
Santa Fe, NM

ParkerS,

Welcome to Santa Fe!

Los Potrillos is the best real Mexican place in Santa Fe and I try to get there once a week for lunch (just went today with Garry H, owner of the Smoke Ring and well-known to many LTH BBQ'ers.) Consistency is a big problem there. I have had extraordinary meals there as well as some very disappointing ones. The enchiladas huevonas are a favorite.

FWIW, Gene Hackman is part owner of Jinja, an Asian fusion place in De Vargas mall, that that seems to have achieved a consistency that has eluded Los Potrillos. Unfortunately, it is consistently mediocre.

There has been an explosion of new little Mexican joints and roach coaches on Airport Road. The one next to the tire center seems to be the best, but there are some new ones I haven't tried out yet.

Bill/SFNM