Cornerstone Bakery & Cafe

Now I know there are other places to eat, especially breakfast, but to us.

NAW!

We found the Cornerstone Bakery & Cafe several years ago and it's the only place we'll eat breakfast!

The food is beyond good, it's great. The portions will make you say "I'll need a take out" even before you start eating.

This time, we were in Ruidoso, New Mexico, for five days and ate breakfasts there everyday.

Their Huevos Rancheros....it's the best I've ever eaten, bar none!

Of the four of us, none of us had anything that wasn't equally enjoyable.

       
                             Two of the 4 of us: Kenneth and Carolene Poole

Deserts. Oh my!

I'm one of those "eat desert first, cause you never know what tomorrow brings" and their PIES, are, as the old saying goes....."TO DIE FOR."

Not only is the food great, the staff is friendly, quick, and make you feel like you're part of the family.

                           L-R: Debbie Gomez, Nickie Doth, Steven Gomez

Steven J. Gomez is the owner and his personality fills the room like a sunrise that touches everyone who comes in.

                           Give Steven a call or send him an email. Tell him HI!


If you want to be a "food HERO", when you're in Ruidoso, make sure you go there. You'll thank me and everyone with you will thank you!

They have an excellent variety of coffee, home made bread, coffee cups, tumblers, and don't forget to look at the COOKIES!

The Cookie Monster would love them....believe me! I'm related to the Cookie Monster so I can speak for him.

No, really, I am.

We can't wait till our next trip to Ruidoso and the "CORNERSTONE BAKERY & CAFE!"

It's a 3 Motorcycle and a  5 Star place to eat.

John and Judy Madden
Kenneth and Carolene Poole

Landmark Grill at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NM

This is a must.

We were told there was an hour and a half wait. It was only fifteen minutes.

The wait is after you're seated, a waiter/waitress appears, you see a menu, order food, watch other people (we love watching people) and then get food.

That's the 90 minute wait!

The food is well worth the wait.

Our waitress, Stacy, was also well worth the wait. She was friendly, outgoing, funny, and has a personality that lights up a room.

She's a student at New Mexico Highlands University, in Las Vegas। She's also a member of MARIACHI VAQUEROS de la SIERRA that performs at many functions.

The evening was well worth the drive from Pendaries (check blog for eating experience at the Lodge)!

Per a quote from their website:

"Unparalleled in service and delicious food, the Plaza’s own Landmark Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week in an elegant yet casual Victorian dining room. The Grill specializes in charcoal-broiled steaks and chops, New Mexican, and the occasional alligator on the menu!"

To eat here is for the eating experience, food quality, good service as well as atmosphere. It's not fast food by any means. It's quality with a touch of lace boarded by Old West History.

We were not interested in the alligator. The steaks were mouth watering as was everything else.

The price is a little on the high side, but all things considered, it's not bad. Even for a couple of tight wads like KP and I.

It's an evening out, not just a meal and a four motorcycle rating.

John Madden

Panderies Lodge

Panderies, NM:


We tried to eat at the Lodge twice.

Notice I said....TWICE!

The first time, KP said let's eat in the bar. It was crowded and with only one waitress and one bartender.
This combination made for a long wait.

The waitress was not friendly. No smile was going to cross that face.

She waited on people as she saw, not in the order they came in and found seats. When we brought that to her attention she informed us "I'm the only one here."

We and and everyone in the place already knew that.

Attitude is everything, especially when your tips depend on it.

Maybe the waitress and bartender haven't read that in the "How To Make Friends and Influence People" book for restaurants.

Judy went to the bartender and told her we had been there longer than some who were being serviced and the bartender rebuked for her effort.

KP when to the bar to see if we could order drinks at the bar, prior to the waitress waiting on us and the bartender rebuked him his efforts.

Had we just walked into some kind of time warp?

At one point the bartender walked to the center of the dinning room and said in her authoritative,loud,unfriendly and if you don't like it....voice "there are only two of us so you'll just have to be patient."

Several possible customers responded to her shy outbreak and exited the hostile atmosphere.

So we're sitting there and thinking "how could that have been said, differently, that would not have offended an already restless room full of hungry dinners?"

Earl Nightingale, where are you (and your course) when you and your course are needed?

The saving grace was a lady who magically appeared at our table and said "I've never done this before and have no idea what I'm doing."

She had a smile,laughed and the cape of the bullfighter, being held in front of a angry bull, disappeared as if a fairy had just waved her magical wane.

She told us she was from Albuquerque worked in mortgage and hoped her volunteering to help would offset her wine bill at the bar. She was fun, full of life and every table she went to became a festival instead of a cell in a dark and deep cave of a colony of bats.

She was great, helpful, smiling, laughing and before to long our food and drinks appeared,

What a difference sunshine makes in our lives.

We forced a sizable tip into her hands, even as she objected saying she wasn't a waitress and tried to walk away.

NOTE: When KP or my Judy offer you a tip, take it or they're likely to pin you and make you take it.

Once the food arrived it was good as were the Margaritas and Pina Colada.



The second venture into no-mans land, of the Lodge, was on Sunday evening. We opened the door to the bar and quickly were comforted by the bartender, again. We were told they were having a Mystery Theater, it required tickets (we didn't have an opportunity to ask about buying tickets), the bar and resturant upstairs were closed until 7:30 PM (almost two hours later) and escorted outside.

Okay, we're not really into bartender/waitress abuse so we loaded up and drove about thirty minutes into Las Vegas, NM.

For the life of us we couldn't figure out why they would schedule a Mystery Play evening that required closing the bar and restaurant on a holiday.

Labor Day weekend is sill considered a holiday, isn't it?

Ratings: One Motorcycle

- John Madden

Love to eat

Amarillo, Texas.

I have to start out in Amarillo with the best place to eat.

Cafe Marizon, at 705 S. Polk St., is one of my all time favorites.
Phone: 805-374-3058

A good place to eat has to have more than food. It has to have character, staff and an owner who cares.

Scott Camarata owns the cafe with his wife Shana. We eat there a lot and Scott is an very friendly, outgoing, and
gracious individual. His staff is always friendly, work to give you a good experience and the food is very good.

The walls are loaded with old photos of early Amarillo, old hat boxes and other things that five it character and
an atmosphere that allows you to relax, enjoy and not feel rushed.

Check it out and you'll become a fan too.
Rating: Four Motorcycles!

Ruidoso, New Mexico.

A couple trips ago we found "Cornerstone Bakery" at 359 Sudderth Drive.
Phone: 575-257-1842

Sue Detrick is the managing partner and she's a treat all by herself.

The food is beyond good and when my wife, Judy, asked for a change on an order, she was told
"I can do it, but it might look pretty."

The chief not only prepares great food but he's concerned about how it looks. He doesn't have to worry, becasue
it doesn't stay as a piece of artwork very long. It's mmmm good.

I'm a desert freak, so to speak. I believe in the saying "eat desert first" even if I don't do that. Their pies are mouth watering, got to have more good and the crust is from another planet. It's so good!

Give Sue a hello and be prepared to eat so much you're stuffed.

Ask her how she ended up in Ruidoso?

Rating: Four Motorcycles!

While in Ruidoso check out "In-Ka-Hoots" at 1203 Sudderth Drive. It's owned by Pat and John Sellers.
Phone: 575-257-8082

Shancee the Shih-Tzu is the "greeter."

I've only met John and he's as nice of a man as you'll ever come across.

Their place is a haven for jewelry, home decor, western art, antiques, gift items, floral and etc. It's a nice, neat, well laid out, and very comfortable place.

Unlike most men, I like to look (called shop - I have no problem with my masculinity) and being an artist, I'm always interested in good art. They have it.

John Madden