Jen Castle and a photographer friend at her Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah
Just back from a three-week road trip to New Mexico, Arizona and other mountain states in between. Many words will no doubt follow from all the great eateries and drinkeries I visited. But for now, here’s a portfolio of some of the wonderful people I encountered while seeking independent, affordable places.
Aaron Seitz is the gregarious owner-chef of College Drive Cafe in Durango, Colorado
Charming, elegant Anne-Laure Ligier, co-owner of the fabulous Clafoutis bakery in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Rick serves some great red-chile enchiladas and posole at The Shed in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Lela bakes humungous gluten-free cookies and Rice Krispies squares at Coffee Spot in Taos, New Mexico
Four fun-loving Oregon kids in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
Decadent desserts at the destination Curious Kumquat in Silver City, New Mexico
Dough tossing just part of the entertainment at Screaming Banshee Pizza in Bisbee, Arizona
Oliver and Sarah run the excellent Cafe Aqui roasters in Tucson, Arizona
Two Canadian connections at EXO Roast in Tucson: barista Kate is from Saskatchewan and sports an Alberta-based ball cap
Telahoun Molla, co-owner of the terrific Cafe Desta Ethiopian restaurant in Tucson
Washing the caked-on sand off my car at a fund-raising carwash in Tucson
Josh, one of the friendly, frenetic crew at D’Lish Drive-Thru in Scottsdale, Arizona
Tammy and 80-some types of bottled beer at hole-in-wall Vermilion Cliffs Bar & Grille in northern Arizona. Wonderful ribs, burgers and hand-cut fries. Well worth the detour or a stop en route to North Rim of Grand Canyon.
Coffee guru Joe Evans and maybe the world’s most advanced individual-cup brewing system at Nobrow Coffee Werks in Salt Lake City
Kept running into Alec in the Salt Lake City area. Here, he’s working at the gorgeous Finca in SLC
Despina tending one of six slow-cooking grills at Spero’s House of Barbecue in Malad City, Idaho
Marathon Mouth 
Great shots, Bill! Makes me want to go and eat and drink at all of those places!
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I love seeing the faces of your trip!
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I have only one question: When are you returning to Santa Fe?
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Any time. One of my favourite cities in the U.S. west.
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Loved your shots; really have a lot of flavour.
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That’s what a food site’s supposed to have.
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