JOHN THOMAS JEWELERS IS THE ONLY JEWELER IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT TRAVELS TO THE FAMED DIAMOND DISTRICT IN ANTWERP BELGIUM TO HAND SELECT OUR CLIENT’S DIAMONDS. BECAUSE 85% OF THE WORLD’S LOOSE DIAMONDS FLOW THROUGH ANTWERP, WE’RE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST DIAMONDS POSSIBLE, BEFORE THEY ENTER THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND SCATTER ACROSS THE GLOBE.
Stop by the store anytime in October and get an all inclusive tropical honeymoon or anniversary trip for two to the white sand beaches of the Dominican Republic worth $2,500, as our gift to you with any Antwerp Diamond pre-order of only $5,000 or more!
Great food, wine, water, and coffee from all over ABQ!
It’s balloon fiesta month!
That means thousands and thousands of people from all over the world will get to see our great city. It also means that many of our local businesses will receive their largest influx of revenue in the shortest period throughout the year.
Our October “Foodie” issue features great food and drink from around the area.
• D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro new “Cottonwood” location will become their flagship winery.
• Bike-in-Coffee, a destination coffee shop that sits on a local farm just west of Old Town.
• Farm and Table is one of ABQ’s favorite restaurants who focuses on local and seasonal food and supporting local farmers.
• HydroBar a unique and welcoming place for ionized alkaline water as well as the Enagic machines.
• Urban Hotdog hasn’t only built a team that serves delicious gourmet hotdogs, they also give back to those in need in the community.
ABQ City Lifestyle will always be a positive voice for the community that inspires others to give back.
Thank you Albuquerque for continuing to enjoy Albuquerque City Lifestyle and supporting our advertising partners!
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: 4th of July Parade: Matt, Taylor, and Dottie 2: Imagine ABQ Day Proclamation: David Meyers and Larry Espinoza 3: Med Spa Denim & Diamonds Event: Alyssa, Krissy, Veronica, Jade, Lauren, Lindsay, Alex, Erin 4: UNM Lobos Football Game: Donnie and Angelle Mehrtens, Chanel and Will Gensler, Crystal and Quinn Owens, Rachel Laughlin, Giuli Frendak, Mike Gehrke 5: New Mexico United Game: Tasha Gray 6: Miches Grand Opening: Miches Team 7: Love Beer Hate Cancer Fundraiser: Camp Enchantment Staff and Volunteers
ARTICLE BY ANDREA JACQUIN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF D.H. LESCOMBES
Wayne Moore has spent the last 30 years in the restaurant business. Moore is the Chief Operations Officer for D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro. He says when the Lescombes family bought the original St. Claire Winery in the eighties, they built a bistro to showcase their foods and pair their wines with it. “We believe the integrity of our food has to match with our wine,” says Moore.
The winery’s founders, Danielle and Herve Lescombes, moved to New Mexico from France and had three children. Two of the children work in the family business. Herve is a sixth-generation winemaker and planted thousands of acres throughout New Mexico to ensure it was the perfect setting to grow his grapes. The Lescombes’ 220-acre vineyard is located in Deming, New Mexico, and offers wine tours for the public.
Emmanuel, Herve, and Florent
Chelsea Canon vineyard harvest
The winery now operates under the D.H. Lescombes name as the business grows with multiple locations in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Alamogordo, and Las Cruces. The new 10,300 square-foot “Cottonwood” location will become their flagship winery. The Albuquerque property has east and west patios with city and mountain views. The west patio also has a 13-foot high waterfall. The location also offers excellent views for Balloon Fiesta. The new location is housed in the former Falls Event Center close to Cottonwood Mall.
The winery will offer a seasonal menu with lunch items for $11. Moore says, “There’s so many people struggling out there.” He thinks high-priced dining options often leave customers with sticker shock. “The menu that we are offering is something that I think is gonna stick out. “ He says the “casual plus” lunches are a refreshing option for guests with 11 menu options for only $11 each.
The winery, bistro, and event center has seating for 500 people with two patios and incredible views perfect for Balloon Fiesta. Moore says the event center will host weddings, receptions and Mimosa Brunches. “The view is just amazing, and we are excited about that.”
D.H. Lescombes winery is constantly developing new wines since “palates are always evolving for customers.” The winery sells a variety of wines by the bottle or case and offers a wine club for members with perks like discounts, free appetizers, and wine-pairing dinners.
Moore hopes people can gather at the winery and “enjoy great hospitality, a great meal, and a glass of wine and feel your money is well spent here.”
Moore says, “The people love our locations and enjoy the food, the wine, and the overall experience.” Visit lescombeswinery.com
John Woods is a native New Mexican who has been a full-time REALTOR® since 2015, helping clients buy and sell over 230 properties worth over $55M. He founded the PHOCUS Real Estate team in 2018 and has extensive experience with various property types in and around the metro Albuquerque area.
He has earned the Master Certified Negotiations Expert (MCNE) and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS®) designations. John is a Certified Mentor with eXp Realty and is on the NM Agent Advisory Council, and he is passionate about helping people with their real estate needs through integrity and professionalism.
World-Class Retinal Care And An Exceptional Patient Experience
C. Nathaniel Roybal, MD PhD is a vitreoretinal surgeon and native New Mexican who specializes in treating complex retinal disease. He and his team of specialists aim to provide timely, world-class surgical and medical retinal care to the people of New Mexico. Don’t let retinal disease rob you or a loved one of vision. Come visit our team so that we can work together to preserve and restore your vision.
ARTICLE BY ANDREA JACQUIN | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BIKE-IN-COFFEE
PEDALERS WELCOME
BIKE-IN-COFFEE
“THE
New Mexico boasts excellent weather and more than 177 miles of bike trails. It is a haven for outdoor sports enthusiasts and incredibly popular with bicyclists. Since 2012, one business has provided a unique service for bicyclists; “Bike-in-coffee.”
and visitors enjoy the retreat-like atmosphere in the middle of the city. During their busy season, several hundred people visit the unique property.
At Bike-in-Coffee, the motto is “Pedalers welcome.” Tonning and Thorne hope that will become the
OWNERS LOVE THE GOOD VIBES FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS,” TONING SAYS. “IT TENDS TO ATTRACT VERY POSITIVE, FRIENDLY PEOPLE!”
The destination coffee shop sits on a local farm just west of Old Town. Old Town Farm has shady trees in a peaceful setting. After a long bike ride, it’s a nice way to escape the heat and refuel with a meal or snack.
Taking a bike ride and landing at a safe bicycle destination is a popular concept found worldwide and now it’s here in Albuquerque. The property was originally a horse and produce farm. The additional coffee shop business accidentally came into existence.
Owners Lanny Tonning and Linda Thorne sold produce at the Downtown Farmer’s Market. Tonning says, “A lot of people were on bikes. Since we are on the I-40 bike trail and the Mountain Road bike boulevard, we invited them to ride to the farm to buy produce. That morphed into the coffee shop.”
The 12-acre farm has been open since 1977 and is used primarily for horses and as a produce farm. Now, bicyclists
motto for every city in America. The owners believe, “Destinations for cyclists will encourage cycling. Albuquerque has a substantial trail and bike lane network. Sometimes a ride is a ride, but if there is a destination, we think that will encourage more rides.”
At Bike-in-Coffee, it’s common to find live music, yoga, and even a mobile bicycle repair company on site. You can also purchase salad, burritos, crepes, dessert, or the farm’s fresh produce while visiting. “Chef David is the best! His menu evolves and we have new options often,” says Tonning. The farm sells home-grown tomatoes, corn, chile, bok choy, and grapes, as well as a variety of other small garden options.
The owners love the good vibes from their customers. Toning says,” It tends to attract very positive, friendly people! Most come on bikes. Lots of families… lots of people bring dogs.” Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash at Bike-in-Coffee.
The farm is located on the bike path next to Interstate 40 just east of Gabaldon Road. Visitors can enter from the I-40 multi-use trail on the east side of the Duranes Ditch or by heading west down Mountain Road bike boulevard from Old Town. Tonning says, “Go to Montoya Road, look for Reginald Chavez Elementary, and turn north. We’re at 949 Montoya Road.”
The owners are passionate cyclists but the property has limited vehicle parking. Tonning says, “We started charging for motor vehicles on weekends to encourage cycling.” All the fees go to the music program at the Reginald Chavez Elementary School.
Old Town Farm also hosts weddings, retreats, and workshops at the picturesque property and in their iconic red barn. Visitors seem to enjoy the farm’s scenic serenity in the heart of the city. Tonning says, “People like the relaxed atmosphere...and being able to ‘getaway to the country’ without leaving town.”
How do you hope people feel after they visit? “Relaxed and happy,” says Tonning. Visit oldtownfarm.com/bike-in-coffee for more information.
TREE SERVICE DONE RIGHT
Serving Greater Albuquerque since 2007
Robert’s Tree Service is a full-service professional tree company dedicated to meeting all of the Albuquerque community’s needs for exceptional tree service at reasonable prices. Our team has over 15 years of experience and brings decades of combined experience to each job. That expertise translates into the best possible care for your trees and the greatest possible return on your investment in professional tree services.
THE FARM AND TABLE EXPERIENCE
FINE FOOD AND FINE SERVICE
ARTICLE BY ANDREA JACQUIN
Cherie Montoya was born and raised in Albuquerque’s North Valley. She grew up with an appreciation for homegrown food from the farm. Now, she continues to appreciate farm-to-table food in her restaurant. Montoya owns and operates Farm and Table Restaurant and La Parada store. The restaurant focuses on local ingredients, produce, and proteins.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FARM AND TABLE
“WE HAVE HIGH-LEVEL PROFESSIONALS IN OUR KITCHEN THAT REALLY, REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR INGREDIENTS, SO EVERYTHING IS MADE IN-HOUSE.”
Montoya says, “I opened Farm and Table in February of 2012. I started the farm one year before that.” The shop next to the farm, La Parada, has been open since 2004. Guests can shop before or after meals for home décor, folk art, jewelry, and vintage items.
The philosophy of the restaurant is straightforward. Montoya says, “We are focused on local and seasonal food and supporting local farmers, and we don’t really stray far from that.” The restaurant works with farmers throughout New Mexico and New Mexico’s watershed.
Regulars know each time they visit Farm and Table, it will be a familiar yet new experience since the menu changes all the time. Montoya says, “Our customers quickly noticed what made Farm and Table a little bit different from other restaurants, and that is we’re dependent on what we grow that year and what’s available to us. I think our customers really appreciate that, and they’re maybe adventurous eaters because you’re not gonna get that same plate that you may have enjoyed the year before.”
Customers can count on Farm and Table’s featured local beef. The restaurant’s menu
always has steak, chicken, or duck. With a bigger focus on local growers and producers, they now serve local poultry. Farm and Table also sells unique crops like sunchokes to like-minded chefs and restaurants.
The restaurant’s well-crafted menu is very dependent on local weather. Montoya says, “We are having a pretty abundant fruit harvest in New Mexico, which doesn’t always happen. This year, we got really lucky with fruits. If there is a late freeze, that would predict what would happen with our menu.”
One constant at Farm and Table is high-quality ingredients. Montoya says, “We have high-level professionals in our kitchen that really, really care about our ingredients, so everything is made in-house.”
The restaurant does offer some local wines but mainly focuses on bio-dynamic, organic wines, and small growers. Montoya says, “There is also a lot of thought that goes into our wine list. I think that is pretty fun and a little bit different.”
Every month, the restaurant hosts themed multi-course dinners paired with beer or wine. The dinners offer communal seating. “It’s pretty festive. They’re really fun!” In the summer, the restaurant offers private picnics on the farm.
Dining outdoors at the picturesque North Valley farm is popular with guests. Montoya says, “We have 12 acres of unobstructed views that are pretty beautiful. It kind of an elevated approach to dining and really honoring what New Mexico has to offer.”
Farm and Table is open Tuesday through Saturday. Visit farmandtablenm.com and www.shoplaparada.com .
HYDROBAR
A better water
ARTICLE BY RICHARD LAKIN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HYDROBAR
About ten years ago, Tim Baca, one of the partners at HydroBar, had a persistent salesman who was trying to sell him an expensive machine that would produce ionized alkaline water. Tim told us, “I just thought water was water… I mean I grew up in a small town and would drink water from a garden hose. It took several months for me to even give him my time and finally one day I just said, well show it to me.” The salesman performed a test demo that measured the level of antioxidants and minerals in the water. Tim was impressed and purchased one of the units.
He found that his entire family felt better from the mineral intake, the antioxidants, and the better hydration that the device was providing. Tim says, “Your body is over 70% water so the more hydrated are you, your body feels better,
Tim Baca Sr. confers with Lewis Lamar (UNM basketball 1990-1994) who is about to be an independent distributor of Enagic machines.
and so we thought well let’s just share this water with friends and family. So we shared it for several years. My wife Julie would tell people about the water and people would come to my house to pick it up. I never charged anybody for it, so for over four years we just gave it away, but the stories we heard from people who were using it were compelling.”
Six years ago, Tim partnered with other investors to start HydroBar in northeast Albuquerque where they sell ionized alkaline water as well as the Enagic machines that dispense it so that customers can produce their own water at home. The medical-grade machines are manufactured in Osaka, Japan by a company that has been in business for 50 years.
CONTINUED >
Their water is very popular, with about 100 customers a day coming in to resupply their ionized alkaline water. While we were there for the interview and watching customers come in, it was apparent that they were very enthusiastic for HydroBar’s products. They supply water for UNM’s sports teams and one of the largest MMA gyms in the country. MMA athletes test their hydration during training and have found that it provides a higher level of body hydration.
The water has other benefits. It’s good for a gentle and refreshing cleansing of the face, it’s good for plants, it’s good for cooking and to clean fruits and vegetables as an oil emulsifier, it has a strong cleaning and disinfectant effect for wound care and countertops, and this writer found out that it makes a great espresso brew as well.
This is not the reverse osmosis that is common with other bottled water. That process strips the water of minerals and antioxidants.
We found that the regular customers were very committed to this product, and, of course, anything that aids in hydration in the southwest desert is a good thing. Some people come in to relax, have a water, and use the WIFI. They have plans to open an oxygen bar on their premises, too.
HydroBar is at 7400 Montgomery Blvd NE. Their phone number is 505.588.2634. The HydroBar Facebook page has videos that provide more details about the beneficial qualities of ionized alkaline water.
The folks at HydroBar: (L to R) Tim Baca Jr, Linda & Dennis Milks, Julie & Tim Baca Sr.
URBAN HOTDOG
Gourmet hotdogs on Central Ave.
ARTICLE BY ALEX NICOLETTE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF URBAN HOTDOG
When Matthew Bernabe was just 21 years old, he purchased Urban Hotdog Company (UHDC) and has grown it into an Albuquerque staple that has impacted every corner of the city. As UHDC gets ready to celebrate the 14th anniversary of its OG Westside location opening, Bernabe reflects on his success over the years. By the early 2010s, gourmet hotdog restaurants were already trending in bigger cities. So, when Bernabe’s mentor presented him with the idea of bringing gourmet hotdogs to Albuquerque, he seized the opportunity, knowing that he would have to change people’s perspectives on hotdogs. Bernabe doesn’t take the term
“gourmet” lightly. He ensures that UHDC serves high-quality protein (hotdogs, sausages, bratwurst, beef patties) and buns since they are the basis for almost every item on the menu. From there, fun and fresh toppings are used, with many of them being homemade, such as the mac and cheese, chili, and lemon-basil mayo.
Even though UHDC’s OG Westside location saw success, Bernabe had goals that went beyond that. In addition to the OG Westside location, he also operates a location in the heart of Nob Hill as well as two mobile kitchens. When asked what he attributes to UHDC’s overall success, Bernabe said it’s the positive environment that he and his team have been able to create. Bernabe grew up in the restaurant industry and knows how important it is for a restaurant to have a fun and safe work environment for employees. He is a firm believer that customers can “taste positive attitudes in the food they eat,” so he made sure UHDC was a place where people would want to show up to work. To create this environment, he goes beyond just being the owner, he is a leader for his team. He starts off by paying his staff a livable wage, but from there he enables everyone to learn new skills and encourages everyone to help each other out.
Beyond serving delicious food and having an excellent team, a key attribute of UHDC is the value they place on giving back to the community. Bernabe said that his parents ingrained in him and his siblings the sense of giving back to others. UHDC proudly supports local teams, but during the COVID pandemic, Bernabe found
other ways he could help the community. He used his mobile kitchen to feed adults and children during a time of uncertainty and difficulty. Local news outlets picked up on his generosity and the coverage brought in more donations that enabled UHDC to feed more people in the community. During this time, he was also worried that he’d have to let employees go from his nowclosed Salt Yard location. Fortunately, the mobile kitchen and OG Westside location became so busy that he was able to keep those employees to help with the increased business demands. Bernabe continues his generosity today. To enter Fat Frank’s speakeasy, located next to UHDC in Nob Hill, customers are required to make a “delivery,” such as canned food or bottled water, that Bernabe donates to local organizations.
Bernabe is a natural leader and entrepreneur, but he’s very transparent that his success hasn’t been easy. He’s encountered failures and roadblocks throughout his career, but he doesn’t let that hold him back from seeking opportunities in Albuquerque. The Albuquerque community is lucky that he chose to stay in his hometown to build something that’s larger than himself. He’s not only built a team that serves delicious gourmet hotdogs, but he gives back to those in need within the community. But Bernabe isn’t done yet, working in the restaurant industry motivates him to strive for more because he knows that a person’s day can be changed with good food and service.
Urban Hotdog is located in Nob Hill at 3507 Central Ave NE. Their phone number is 505.369.1769.
HE IS A FIRM BELIEVER THAT CUSTOMERS CAN “TASTE POSITIVE ATTITUDES IN THE FOOD THEY EAT,” SO HE MADE SURE UHDC WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO SHOW UP TO WORK.
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