Andiamo buonissimo and Jen’s new start
Jen‘s been pushing me to push this post out of the drafts, just as I’ve been pushing her to publish her very first post on Where’s the Seitan?, her blooming, Chicago-based vegan food blog. Her lively, conversational writing draws you in, just as Jen herself. 🙂 When she reaches a million views per month, I hope she’ll still like to share a meal and talks about movies with the humble me.
During lunch break on Tuesday, after a fantastic plate of fresh fruits and cucumbers at the cafeteria (if I eat at St. John cafeteria long enough I’d turn into a fruitarian), we could hardly wait until dinner to eat something real, so we dived into Yelp and Google Maps in search of a “good but inexpensive” place (Jen’s request) closed enough to the bus stop. Coins were tossed, rock-paper-scissor was played, phone calls were made, decisions were revised, and a reservation was confirmed: 7:15 pm at Andiamo.
Our group has diversity: one strict vegan, one vegetarian who loves goat cheese, one omnivore who is allergic to all dairy except butter, one omnivore who doesn’t like goat cheese and doesn’t really care about any cheese, and one omnivore who loves potatoes. We start off sharing some Roasted Beet Salad ($7.75) and Caponata Bruschetta (eggplant bruschetta, $7.5). Cheese on the side.
The soft but not mushy eggplant, sauteed and deeply seasoned with balsamic vinaigrette, offers a nice contrast with the toast. Nonetheless, it loses to the refreshing simplicity of the roasted beet.
Even more points for the beet salad is the tapenade on the accompanying focaccia slice, which reminds me of pâté, and anything that reminds me of pâté reminds me of joy.
I asked the vegetarian who loves goat cheese to rate her Chilled Gazpacho (vegetable soup, $5.5) from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, and her response was a shrugging 3. I forgot to ask about her main course, but judging from her smile eating that slice of Pizza Margherita (mozzarella, parmesan, basil and tomato, $8.25), I think she would give it a 4.5.
The omnivore who loves potatoes ordered, surprisingly, the Chicken Marsala with roasted fingerling potatoes ($16.5). I would admit that for a second, I was wondering why an Italian place would serve Indian food, but the Marsala with an “r” is the name of the wine used to make a stark, rich wine reduction sauce for this braised chicken. The potatoes were good, of course.
The omnivore with dairy-‘cept-butter intolerance offered me to try a tentacle-full squid head in his Spaghetti Puttanesca with Calamari ($14). The tentacles are the best because they soak and store up so much sauce in their bundling-up state. I didn’t try the pasta, but you bet it was some tantalizing red sauce.
The omnivore with an indifference toward cheese treasures the Crispy Duck Leg. I went with the smaller order ($14.25 vs. $19.75), and it was plenty. The meat fell off the bone, the spinach sleek and sodden with a sweet sauce, the turnip al dente. If I had to complain, it would be about the unnecessary softness of the grilled polenta, it’s simply too homogeneous, like cheese.
The vegan customized herself a cheese-less pie with portabella (I like how the Italian name has a grander ring to it than “button mushroom”), arugula, roasted zucchini, roasted garlic, basil and olive oil. I can’t describe her pizza better than her, so I won’t even try. The most interesting thing is that she has found a combination on pizza that tastes “almost as good as cheese”.
And I’ve found a combination that makes Andiamo stand out in my mind when it comes to Italian food: steal potatoes and squid tentacles from the friends’ plates, eat out on the patio in the summer Santa Fe evening, watch the sun sink behind the adobe cake-like houses, and let out a sigh over the empty street, then good food becomes exceptional, and you really feel the lazing peacefulness of this town.
Address: Andiamo
322 Garfield Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 995-9595
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
1You have brought up a very good details , regards for the post.
2whoah this blog is fantastic i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are hunting around for this information, you could help them greatly.
3Oh my goodness! an incredible article dude. Thank you However I’m experiencing situation with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting an identical rss problem? Anybody who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
4I have been browsing on-line more than 3 hours lately, but I by no means found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth sufficient for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content as you probably did, the internet will likely be a lot more useful than ever before.
5Thank you for all your effort on this web page. Kate loves working on research and it’s really obvious why. Almost all know all concerning the dynamic mode you render insightful suggestions via this web site and therefore recommend participation from people on this situation so our own simple princess is starting to learn a lot of things. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the new year. You are always performing a terrific job.
6Utterly written subject matter, Really enjoyed looking through.
7Hey very nice website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find so many useful info here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
8This design is spectacular! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
9great post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
10horse gelatin trick recipe
11This really answered my problem, thank you!
12I truly prize your piece of work, Great post.
13I truly enjoy looking at on this website, it has got good articles. “One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.” by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
14I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great posts.
15jellyfil reviews
16jellyfil reviews
17I consider something truly interesting about your web site so I saved to fav.
18Outstanding post, you have pointed out some great details , I too conceive this s a very great website.
19Trick
20Utterly indited articles, Really enjoyed looking at.
21Real informative and excellent bodily structure of content material, now that’s user friendly (:.
22I’ll immediately grab your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
23Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was looking for this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
24horse gelatin for men
25When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Bless you!
26I am glad to be one of many visitants on this great site (:, thanks for putting up.
27Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My blog site is in the exact same niche as yours and my visitors would genuinely benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thanks a lot!
28Great blog here! Also your website loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
29I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i am glad to show that I’ve an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I such a lot certainly will make sure to do not disregard this website and provides it a look on a continuing basis.
30I am not rattling superb with English but I find this really easygoing to translate.
31HORSE GELATIN TRICK
32I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
33Thank you for every other informative site. Where else could I get that type of information written in such a perfect manner? I’ve a project that I’m simply now working on, and I have been on the glance out for such information.
34Thanks for some other great post. Where else may anyone get that type of information in such a perfect way of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the search for such information.
35Someone essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Wonderful job!
36A person essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish incredible. Fantastic job!
37You are a very capable individual!
38Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a risky conclusion great post! .
39jellyfil supplement reviews
40jellyfil review
41I got what you intend, thankyou for posting.Woh I am happy to find this website through google. “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” by Seneca.
42You are my inspiration , I own few web logs and very sporadically run out from to post : (.
43This site is my inhalation, really excellent style and design and perfect written content.
44horse gelatin trick for men
45horse gelatin trick for men
46I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
47I just could not depart your site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often to check up on new posts
48