Image
  • Writing
    • Andy Gavin: Author
    • About my Novels & Writing
    • All Writing Posts
    • The Darkening Dream
      • Buy the Book Online
      • Sample Chapters
      • Reviews
      • Info for Reviewers
      • Press Coverage
      • Awards
      • Cast of Characters
    • Untimed
      • Buy Untimed Online
      • Book Trailer
      • Sample Chapters
      • Reviews
      • Info for Reviewers
      • Press Coverage
      • Awards
      • Cast of Characters
    • Scrivener – Writer’s Word Processor
    • iPad for Writers
    • Naughty Dark Contest
  • Books
    • Book Review Index
    • Favorite Fantasy Novels
    • Andy Gavin: Author
    • The Darkening Dream
      • Buy the Book Online
      • Sample Chapters
      • Short Story: Harvard Divinity
      • Reviews
      • Info for Reviewers
      • Press Coverage
      • Awards
      • Cast of Characters
    • Untimed
      • About the Book
      • Buy Untimed Online
      • Book Trailer
      • Sample Chapters
      • Reviews
      • Info for Reviewers
      • Press Coverage
      • Awards
      • Cast of Characters
    • Naughty Dark Contest
  • Games
    • My Video Game Career
    • Post Archive by Series
    • All Games Posts Inline
    • Making Crash Bandicoot
    • Crash 15th Anniversary Memories
    • World of Warcraft Endgames
    • Getting a Job Designing Video Games
    • Getting a Job Programming Video Games
    • Naughty Dark Contest
  • Movies
    • Movie Review Index
  • Television
    • TV Review Index
    • Buffy the Vampire Slayer
    • A Game of Thrones
  • Food
    • Food Review Index
    • Foodie Club
    • Hedonists
    • LA Sushi Index
    • Chinese Food Index
    • LA Peking Duck Guide
    • Eating Italy
    • Eating France
    • Eating Spain
    • Eating Türkiye
    • Eating Dutch
    • Eating Croatia
    • Eating Vietnam
    • Eating Australia
    • Eating Israel
    • Ultimate Pizza
    • ThanksGavin
    • Margarita Mix
    • Foodie Photography
    • Burgundy Vintage Chart
  • Other
    • All Posts, Magazine Style
    • Archive of all Posts
    • Fiction
    • Technology
    • History
    • Anything Else
  • Gallery
  • Bio
  • About
    • About me
    • About my Writing
    • About my Video Games
    • Ask Me Anything
  • Contact

Archive for 1980s

Eating Santa Fe – Geronimo

Nov06

Restaurant: Geronimo

Location: 724 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501. (505) 982-1500

Date: March 23, 2023

Cuisine: 1980s Haute Cuisine

Rating: Tasty, if old fashioned

_

For our first meal in Santa Fe it was off to a classic. The building is 250 years old and the restaurant is several decades.
1A4A7457
1A4A7521
Warm and inviting, the elegant “Borrego House” was built by Geronimo Lopez in 1756.  Thick adobe walls, kiva fireplaces and wood beams surround.
1A4A7519
Geronimo has a very nice 80s-90s nice restaurant feel with a straightforward 2 course ala carte menu. It’s been awhile since I te with this format and it’s kind of a fun throwback.
1A4A7458
The cozy table.
1A4A7459
1A4A7462
1A4A7463
The menu.
1A4A7464
A plum spritz.
1A4A7466
Bread, including Jalapeño Cheddar buns and slightly spicy crisps.
1A4A7468
Butter.
1A4A7470
1A4A7479
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Sweet Corn Purée, Poblano-Sweet Corn Bisque & Baby Greens. Mild, vaguely southwestern flavor, but quite enjoyable.
1A4A7476
Fujisaki Asian Pear Salad. Bleu d’Auvergne Grilled Cheese, Arugula, Cashews & Cider Honey Vinaigrette.
1A4A7482
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio. Mustard-Horseradish Sauce, Herb Oil, Wild Arugula & Classic Garniture. Rich beef with lots of lemony zest, quite excellent.
1A4A7485
Zoom.
1A4A7504
Fiery Sweet Chile & Honey-Grilled Mexican White Prawns. Jasmine Almond Rice Cakes, Red Onion, Yuzu-Basil Aioli & Frisée.

1A4A7501
Pan-Seared Salmon. Yukon Gold Potato. Gnocchi, Green Peas, Wild Mushrooms & Thyme Beurre Blanc.
1A4A7510
Basic pasta.
1A4A7486
Tellicherry Rubbed Elk Tenderloin. Roasted Garlic Fork-Mashed Potatoes, Sugar Snap Peas, Applewood-Smoked Bacon & Creamy Brandied Mushroom Sauce.
1A4A7490
Prime Beef Rib Eye. Shallot-Mushroom Duxelle, Scalloped Potatoes, Crispy Bacon, Green Onions, Aged Sharp Cheddar Cheese & Veal Demi. Very nice straight up steak with good flavor. The paste to the lower right was very savory. Nice reduction.
1A4A7499
Sautéed Spinach. Good with the reudction from the rib-eye.
1A4A7512
1A4A7513
Le lab.

1A4A7520
Overall, a very enjoyable meal. In all ways it was like time travel back to the 1990s. Santa Fe is pretty much a 80s and 90s holdover no matter how you look at it. Still, that’s not always a bad thing. I sort of miss white tablecloths, nice servers, and dining rooms you can talk in. The Southwestern tilt of the cuisine is mild and plating is old-fashioned but neat as a tact (I hate sloppy plating). Flavors were good.

For more dining reviews click here.

Related posts:

  1. Eating Santa Fe – Coyote Cafe
  2. Eating Santa Margherita – Pizzeria Santa Lucia
  3. Eating Santa Marghertia – Da Michele
  4. Eating Barcelona – Hoja Santa
  5. Eating Santa Margherita – La Paranza
By: agavin
Comments (0)
Posted in: Food
Tagged as: 1980s, Eating Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe

Eating Santa Fe – Coyote Cafe

Nov04

Restaurant: Coyote Cafe & Rooftop Cantina

Location: 132 W Water St, Santa Fe, NM 87501. (505) 983-1615

Date: March 24, 2023

Cuisine: Southwestern

Rating: Cool but dated

_

I remember really enjoyed Coyote Cafe when we went in 1995 or 1996!1A4A7589-Pano
1A4A7592-Pano
Immaculate 80s vibe dining room.
1A4A7601
1A4A7606
1A4A7587
1A4A7588
The menu.
1A4A7603-Pano
1A4A7608
Drink menu.
1A4A7610
Margarita.
1A4A7611
Cornbread.
1A4A7609
1A4A7613
1A4A7638
SOUTHWEST ROLLED CAESAR. Organic Romaine | Parmesan Reggiano | Green Chile Polenta Croutons. My wife got a kick out of this different form factor.
1A4A7617
WINTER CITRUS & SQUASH. Seared Panela Cheese | Blood Orange-Chipotle Vinaigrette | Pomegranate | Pumpkin Seeds.
1A4A7625
FRIED BURRATA. Persimmon | Red Wine Pear Compote | Mexican Chocolate Vinaigrette. Sort of like a cross between a fall dessert and a fancy mozzerella stick!
1A4A7614
DUROC PORK BELLY TACOS. Beet Tortilla | Fresno Mayonnaise | Truffle Balsalmic Reduction | Jalapeno | Pickled Onions. Very tasty and savory with a little bit of heat.
1A4A7634
VENISON CARPACCIO. Pickled Cherries | Pinon Oil | Crispy Rosemary | Pecorino | Bitter Greens | Cherry Mostarda | Crostini. Nice carpaccio with crunch, a little sweetness, and some acidity.
1A4A7624
Mac & Cheese. I actually loved these — and I shouldn’t have had any.
1A4A7659
CRISPY BRANZINO. Kaffir Lime-Coconut Broth | Forbidden Rice | Pickled Shemeji Mushrooms | Shiso. Very crispy. The sauce was filled with intense coconut flavors.
1A4A7644
GRILLED MAINE LOBSTER TAILS. Sambal | Corn | House Made Guajillo Pappardelle.Sounded great and flavorful — but in practice the pasta was extremely bland.
1A4A7649
GRILLED LAMB CHOPS. Pumpkin Polenta | Sherry Braised Medjool Dates | Hazelnut Mole.
1A4A7663
GRILLED PORK CHOP. Sour Citrus Roasted Baby Yams | Orange Mojo | Roasted Squash & Cotija | Toasted Coriander Demi. Porkchop itself was juicy and dense. Sauce added some needed zest. I subbed out the yams for asparagus.

1A4A7673
Dessert menu.
1A4A7675
Awesome freebee dessert wine.
1A4A7676
Some muscato d’asti on the house — lovely.
1A4A7677-Edit
Dark Chocolate Moussse. Chocolate Ice Cream Bon Bons. Pinon Buttercakes. Free gift from the house. The darker chocolate balls were the best.
1A4A7688
1A4A7690
Zooms.
1A4A7691
Overall, incredible service — you don’t get this kind of service in LA anymore — and a really fun night. It’s very 80s, in a good way and quite tasty, although not all combinations gelled perfectly.

For more dining reviews click here.

Related posts:

  1. Eating San Francisco – Zuni Cafe
  2. Eating Hoi An – Brothers Cafe
  3. Eating Barcelona – Hoja Santa
  4. Eating Santa Margherita – Pizzeria Santa Lucia
  5. Eating Santa Marghertia – Da Michele
By: agavin
Comments (0)
Posted in: Food
Tagged as: 1980s, Coyote Cafe, Eating Santa Fe, Santa Fe

The Americans

Aug09

americansTitle: The Americans

Genre: Spy Thriller

Watched: Late July, 2013

Summary: Homeland 1981

ANY CHARACTER HERE

At one level, The Americans is Homeland 1981. And given how fantastic Homeland is, this isn’t all bad. The Americans isn’t quite so good, but it is very good television. And the setting resonates deeply with me. I grew up in Washington D.C., in this exact era. I’m exactly the age of their kids. The Reagan era costumes, cars, and politics are all highly nostalgic. Although I do have to say that this period feel is about 90% dead on, and about 10% off. The show is set in 1981, but they use songs that at least associate later. In the Air Tonight, for example, which is a favorite of mine. Technically, it is an 1980-81 song, and was a hit then, but I remember it better from the 1984 Miami Vice inspired return.

Where Homeland focuses on solo character, The Americans focuses on relationship. At the core of the show is this unusual marriage. They didn’t choose each other. They aren’t even technically married. The central couple were a pair of young KGB agents shoved in a room together and told to spend their lives pretending to be married. But so real is this act, so long have they slept in the same bed, shared the same work, cared for the same children, that the cover becomes the reality. Is this life any less real than any other? That dilemma, and the sympathy and interest forged from that central weirdity, is highly engaging.

Spy family breakfast

Spy family breakfast

Additionally, we have some great thrills. The twists and intrigues are solid and involve a bunch of interesting secondary characters, notably: the FBI agent across the street and the junior KGB officer with problems of her own. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are compelling as the leads, but Annet Mahendru as that double or triple agent girl is darn impressive (and sexy). Her arc shows this deadly game at its best and worst. One mistake (and who doesn’t have a few) opens her to that most difficult of choices: a tour in Siberia of heavy labor and gang rape or life as a traitor and double agent. There is no happy ending here. It’s how long can she play the game before the music stops and there are no more chairs.

the-americans-the-oath_article_story_main

Rhys is uncanny and effective in disguise

 

The show gets deep and involved in the spycraft, and this is great. I spent some time digging as to the realism. Certainly the sheer volume and intensity of activity would be unprecedented. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings use disguises, surveillance, sex, and violence on a near daily basis. In real life, spycraft was much slower with a much greater differentiation between “agent” and “spy.” The spy is a traitor who has been bribed, coerced, or fooled into stealing information from their own side. The agent runs the spy. Here, the Jennings operate both as agents and as direct gatherers of information, which apparently didn’t happen much. But this is television. There is also a high body count, which was unusual. But the whole system is fascinating.

The show is edgy with regard to sexual content, but there is little or no nudity. It’s rarely if ever erotic. The Jennings both use sexuality as a primary weapon in the recruitment and coercion of their spies. In real life this was probably a blunter tool than the surgical scalpel we see here, but it does add an interesting complexity to their already byzantine marital life.

Love spat

Love spat

The Americans isn’t afraid to touch on complex areas, and this is part of what makes it a great show. It shows the basic level of misunderstanding between the two sides in the cold war. When Reagan is shot, the Russians view the progression of events in their own terms, failing to adequately understand the differences between Moscow and Washington. Can we blame them? All viewpoints are relative. Likewise, we bond with the central characters, their lives, and their dilemmas. Who are they? Are they traitors and killers? Are they husband and wife? Are they mother and father? Or are they all of the above?

Check out more TV reviews.

By: agavin
Comments (1)
Posted in: Television
Tagged as: 1980s, Double agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Keri Russell, KGB, Matthew Rhys, Ronald Reagan, russia, secret agent, Spy Thriller, Television, The Americans
Watch the Trailer or

Buy it Online!

Buy it Online!

96 of 100 tickets!

Find Andy at:

Follow Me on Pinterest

Subscribe by email:

More posts on:



Complete Archives

Categories

  • Contests (7)
  • Fiction (404)
    • Books (113)
    • Movies (77)
    • Television (123)
    • Writing (115)
      • Darkening Dream (62)
      • Untimed (37)
  • Food (1,766)
  • Games (101)
  • History (13)
  • Technology (21)
  • Uncategorized (16)

Recent Posts

  • Tomato Wednesday!
  • Happy Hibi
  • Eating Naples – Palazzo Petrucci
  • Eating San Foca – Aura
  • Eating Otranto – ArborVitae
  • Eating Lecce – Gimmi
  • Eating Lecce – Varius
  • Eating Lecce – Duo
  • Eating Lecce – Doppiozero
  • Eating Torre Canne – Autentico

Favorite Posts

  • I, Author
  • My Novels
  • The Darkening Dream
  • Sample Chapters
  • Untimed
  • Making Crash Bandicoot
  • My Gaming Career
  • Getting a job designing video games
  • Getting a job programming video games
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  • A Game of Thrones
  • 27 Courses of Truffles
  • Ultimate Pizza
  • Eating Italy
  • LA Sushi
  • Foodie Club

Archives

  • May 2025 (5)
  • April 2025 (4)
  • February 2025 (5)
  • January 2025 (3)
  • December 2024 (13)
  • November 2024 (14)
  • October 2024 (14)
  • September 2024 (15)
  • August 2024 (13)
  • July 2024 (15)
  • June 2024 (14)
  • May 2024 (15)
  • April 2024 (13)
  • March 2024 (9)
  • February 2024 (7)
  • January 2024 (9)
  • December 2023 (8)
  • November 2023 (14)
  • October 2023 (13)
  • September 2023 (9)
  • August 2023 (15)
  • July 2023 (13)
  • June 2023 (14)
  • May 2023 (15)
  • April 2023 (14)
  • March 2023 (12)
  • February 2023 (11)
  • January 2023 (14)
  • December 2022 (11)
  • November 2022 (13)
  • October 2022 (14)
  • September 2022 (14)
  • August 2022 (12)
  • July 2022 (9)
  • June 2022 (6)
  • May 2022 (8)
  • April 2022 (5)
  • March 2022 (4)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (8)
  • December 2021 (6)
  • November 2021 (6)
  • October 2021 (8)
  • September 2021 (4)
  • August 2021 (5)
  • July 2021 (2)
  • June 2021 (3)
  • January 2021 (1)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (11)
  • March 2020 (15)
  • February 2020 (13)
  • January 2020 (14)
  • December 2019 (13)
  • November 2019 (12)
  • October 2019 (14)
  • September 2019 (14)
  • August 2019 (13)
  • July 2019 (13)
  • June 2019 (14)
  • May 2019 (13)
  • April 2019 (10)
  • March 2019 (10)
  • February 2019 (11)
  • January 2019 (13)
  • December 2018 (14)
  • November 2018 (11)
  • October 2018 (15)
  • September 2018 (15)
  • August 2018 (15)
  • July 2018 (11)
  • June 2018 (14)
  • May 2018 (13)
  • April 2018 (13)
  • March 2018 (17)
  • February 2018 (12)
  • January 2018 (15)
  • December 2017 (15)
  • November 2017 (13)
  • October 2017 (16)
  • September 2017 (16)
  • August 2017 (16)
  • July 2017 (11)
  • June 2017 (13)
  • May 2017 (6)
  • March 2017 (3)
  • February 2017 (4)
  • January 2017 (7)
  • December 2016 (14)
  • November 2016 (11)
  • October 2016 (11)
  • September 2016 (12)
  • August 2016 (15)
  • July 2016 (13)
  • June 2016 (13)
  • May 2016 (13)
  • April 2016 (12)
  • March 2016 (13)
  • February 2016 (12)
  • January 2016 (13)
  • December 2015 (14)
  • November 2015 (14)
  • October 2015 (13)
  • September 2015 (13)
  • August 2015 (18)
  • July 2015 (16)
  • June 2015 (13)
  • May 2015 (13)
  • April 2015 (14)
  • March 2015 (15)
  • February 2015 (13)
  • January 2015 (13)
  • December 2014 (14)
  • November 2014 (13)
  • October 2014 (13)
  • September 2014 (12)
  • August 2014 (15)
  • July 2014 (13)
  • June 2014 (13)
  • May 2014 (14)
  • April 2014 (14)
  • March 2014 (10)
  • February 2014 (11)
  • January 2014 (13)
  • December 2013 (14)
  • November 2013 (13)
  • October 2013 (14)
  • September 2013 (12)
  • August 2013 (14)
  • July 2013 (10)
  • June 2013 (14)
  • May 2013 (14)
  • April 2013 (14)
  • March 2013 (15)
  • February 2013 (14)
  • January 2013 (13)
  • December 2012 (14)
  • November 2012 (16)
  • October 2012 (13)
  • September 2012 (14)
  • August 2012 (16)
  • July 2012 (12)
  • June 2012 (16)
  • May 2012 (21)
  • April 2012 (18)
  • March 2012 (20)
  • February 2012 (23)
  • January 2012 (31)
  • December 2011 (35)
  • November 2011 (33)
  • October 2011 (32)
  • September 2011 (29)
  • August 2011 (35)
  • July 2011 (33)
  • June 2011 (25)
  • May 2011 (31)
  • April 2011 (30)
  • March 2011 (34)
  • February 2011 (31)
  • January 2011 (33)
  • December 2010 (33)
  • November 2010 (39)
  • October 2010 (26)
All Things Andy Gavin
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved
Programmed by Andy Gavin