THE COMPOUND IS ALWAYS IN SEASON Photos Herschel Mair
THE SEASONS ARE INDELIBLY LINKED TO FOOD; we’re wired to crave what’s fresh. The farm-to-table movement has popularized the simple joy of eating freshly grown ingredients, and few restaurants have made as much of an effort to offer seasonal cuisine as The Compound. True to the changing of the seasons, The Compound Restaurant changes their menus every 90 days, and has done so for 19 years. “I am now on my 76th menu change,” says chef and owner Mark Kiffin. “A lot of restaurants haven’t changed 76 items on their menu, let alone developed 76 completely new menus. This is something we’re known for and which makes us unique and different from any other restaurant in Santa Fe.” A few beloved dishes, known as The Compound Classics, stay on the menu despite the season. These include schnitzel, tenderloin, pastrami and the restaurant’s famous burger. “These plates only encompass about 20 percent of our total menus,” explains Kiffin. “We don’t run many specials because our whole menu is special.”
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Each season’s menu is comprised of nine first courses, nine entrees and seven desserts. The Compound’s spring menu runs April, May and June, and features halibut, lamb and duck breast alongside strawberries, rhubarb and myriad greens – peas, asparagus, green garlic, sprouts and lettuce. Starting in July and continuing through September, the summer menu will take effect with its emphasis on corn, tomatoes and seafood. Fall of course emphasizes apples, pears, truffles and squash. Winter’s menu focuses on braising as well as tropical fruits, as those become ripe in equatorial regions during our coldest months. The Compound boasts two of the finest al fresco dining patios in the city. Because of the restaurant’s placement at the end of Canyon Road, its patios are surrounded by galleries and condos, which means no street noise. The idyllic ambiance is the perfect complement to the amazing food and flavors. The Compound also has a delightful side patio with beautiful south-facing sun.
DINING