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My smart, funny, and massively good-looking friend, Danny (you’re welcome) celebrated his birthday last weekend at margarita-haven, Velvet Cantina.

Though I had never been, I was excited to try something new and, lets’ face it, surround myself in the company of beautiful and hilariously fun male friends. We started the night with a few pitchers of fresh fruit margaritas. Now my body can’t handle much tequila, but I did enjoy a sip or two of the generously boozy drinks from my boyfriend Alex’s glass. In between the whispers about our studly waiter and the intellectual conversation on a friend’s psychology research, we shared some pretty tasty bites.

I wasn’t able to capture all of the food in it’s clean and simple Mexican charm, but I was able to snap a few shots of my favorite dishes.

Velvet Cantina San Francisco

Clockwise from top left: Ceviche, Guacamole, Smores Nachos

The ceviche was tart and perfectly cooked with the bright addition of mangoes and crunch from thin tortilla chips. The guacamole was very different than most I’ve had before. It was sans-tomatoes, which made it much more decadent and thick. Then there were the sinfully sweet smores nachos. Who would have thought that crisp cinnamon sugar chips, chocolate sauce, and torched mini marshmallows could be so delicious? Actually, scratch that. Who wouldn’t be all over this combo?

The night was a huge success and everyone had an amazing time. Maybe it was the margaritas. It was probably the margaritas. Either way, cheers Danny! Happy 24th! Looking forward to many more birthdays, and many more trips to Velvet Cantina!

Izumi of Hybrid Hunter is both a food and fashion lover. As an edgy and creative lifestyle blogger, I’ve asked her to share a little taste from her recent trip to New Mexico… 

When I told people I was going to New Mexico for a vacay, the first piece of advice they gave me was “try the green chile!” and I definitely did.

The first night of our trip, my family and I went to Monroe’s Restaurant in Albuquerque. The place itself was homey and kind of reminded me of a church cafeteria (haha). I found it comforting, in an unusual way, and it certainly felt very American.

They give you the option of ordering your meal green, red, or “Christmas” (green + red). I went with green, after the advice of my friends, when ordering my chile relleno plate.

Monroe's Dinner

Left: Monroe's Menu, Right: Chile Relleno Plate w/ Green Chile and a Sopapilla

The green chile was citrusy, bold, and a tad bit spicy. It had a fresh taste that you just don’t get with red chile. Monroe’s chile was chunky, with a few seeds mixed in for taste. It complimented the chile relleno perfectly, which wasn’t greasy at all. With a side of hearty rice and slow-cooked refried beans (I love refried beans!), this was quite a meal.

Probably the most surprising part of the meal was the sopapilla that came on the side. Apparently there are many versions of this bread served in different Latin countries, but the ones they serve in New Mexico are pillow-y pockets of fry bread. They were rustic, simple, and came with a side of honey for dipping. The slight sweetness of the bread and honey went well with the spiciness of my entrée.

Given that this was my first meal in New Mexico, I was excited for what was to come on the rest of my trip; not only the food I was going to taste, but the beautiful landscapes I would see, and the cultures I would experience. I made sure to document my Meso-American cultural adventures here and here.

After such an amazing trip, I know I will be visiting New Mexico again!