Disclosure: This is written in two parts, the prelude, which chronicles a series of misadventures leading up to the main event. If you’re only interested in the main event skip the prelude. Only read the prelude if you have a sense of humor or need to laugh at the expense of someone else.
The Prelude:
Thursdays can be monotonous. It’s the last night of the Monday-Friday work week and your mood is either a comatose vegetative state or you’re ready to kick the weekend off a night early. Then there is the mandatory work function which requires you to put the Vaseline smile on for 3-4 hours while hobnobbing with colleagues and strangers you most likely will never see again until the next mandatory function. It’s important when at these events to put a poker face on and not let people see your emotions, especially if someone has said some rather unpleasant things to you. Nights like this can bring clarity to some of your life choices.
Battle face on, I faced the Mystic Echos evening and had some unexpected surprises complete with meeting some California transplants like myself (can’t quite figure out how it is that at events I seem to meet all the recovering Californians – we must all have some badge of honor that draws us together). I was running my usual “I arrived as soon as I wanted to” time, which for some reason had me arriving 5 minutes before the event start time of 6:30. Upon arrival security advised me they were out of parking and asking guests to park at Big 5. Being the Prima Donna that I can be, my displeasure was made known to security that as a single woman wearing silk, heels and without an escort should, I should not be asked to walk Cerillos alone at night. Let’s be honest with each other – I am not Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman trying to pick up a little extra cash, and I was in that sketchy part of town where a woman walking alone might be propositioned. Under duress, so the company didn’t look bad with an empty at the table, I made my way to the Big 5 parking lot and found some equally homogeneous participants parking their Mini-Cooper and asked if we could walk together (I didn’t have a lot of faith in us as a group should we have actually encountered danger or propositioning). We arrived a united group of strangers who had just braved the streets of Santa Fe and they introduced me to their foodie friends. I find anonymity beneficial in this circumstance and feigned the position of a banker which is always immediately confused with baker. After checking in and being given my table assignment, receiving cold shoulder and tongue at the table, it is definitely time for an adult beverage.
Being the good recovering Californian that I am, I strike up a conversation with the two gentlemen behind me and start calculating in my mind how many minutes I can keep the conversation going before I have to return to my table. I even bought the two gents a drink, leaving them speechless and confused. To my dismay I was not able to keep the conversation up long enough for the event to start and I had to make small talk at my table. I’m a Scorpio and I hate small talk, and I especially hate it when I want to tell someone how I actually feel about the circumstances. (Anyone else relate to T-Swift’s “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?) Tequila with lime juice in hand I saunter back to the table wind blowing through my hair, wondering when the rain is going to start to add more joy to this evening that was starting off rather disastrous. As the puddle drops started, I sat there in my silk spaghetti strap top and red lip smile wondering why I wasn’t on a plane to Dallas.
The Main Event:
The festivities finally commenced, ending for the most part the trivial work conversation at the table (why is it when you attend an event with colleagues they only talk about work). The event was the kickoff to a series of dinners “Mystic Echos” at The Mystic Hotel. Each Thursday through October 24th they are offering a night that includes 2 1/2 hours immersed in the essence of Indigenous culture through traditional dances and authentic cuisine. Guests dine on a unique five-course, Indigenous-infused meal gifted to us by James Beard award-winning Chef, Sean Sherman, also known as “The Sioux Chef”. (Please note: Chef Sean Sherman is not there cooking; he gifted the menu to the proprietors.) The cost for this event is $145 per person and includes the meal and performances, and non-alcoholic beverages (the imbibers can purchase their drinks separately at the event).
HORS D’OEUVRES:
Bison Sliders and Fresh Fruit Chutney on Homemade Ancient Grains Amaranth Crackers
SOUP:
Black Bean Soup with Whole Beans, Sweet Potatoes and Hominy
SALAD
3-Sister Salad – Grilled Corn, Orange Bell Peppers, Zucchini and Beans
ENTREES
(choice of) Grilled Trout with Sumac and Sunflower on a bed of Wild Rice Pilaf with a Blueberry Reduction
Braised Turkey with Cornmeal Mash and Acorn “Moons”
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice and Purple Sweet Potatoes
DESSERT
Corn Cookie with Smoked Tobacco Ice Cream and Puffed Wild Rice
Between courses you are entertained with the ancient dance and traditions of the Indigenous people and a little comedic relief from Ricardo Cates who is known for his cartoon “Without Reservations” (he has been drawing this cartoon for the Santa Fe New Mexican since 2006 – the only Native American cartoon featured in daily mainstream newspaper). He is funny in this raw, natural, relatable way. He alone was worth the price of admission for this event. The dance performances were inspiring as the dancers were adorned in their regalia and the music/dances passed down from generations. This is a beautiful cultural expression and form of art to experience. The only thing that could have made this better would-be Zahn McClarnon of Dark Winds sitting next to me.
Contrary to what you would expect, I don’t feel that I have enough knowledge about Indigenous cuisine to discuss the meal in detail or pontificate on the steadfastness to the Indigenous cuisine, or if this was more of a fusion meal. The food definitely was fresh and healthy sans preservatives or the normal things that restaurants use to bump up the flavor. It is a meal that I would be willing to try again and explore more of the flavors under different conditions.
Overall, I think that Mystic Echos brings a new genre of dining entertainment to experience in Santa Fe and gives visitors another perspective on this beautiful cultural crossroads and utopian society of sorts. It is a mystical evening spent under the stars, drifting between modern day and mystical, mythical Indigenous cultures.
The Mystic Santa Fe
2810 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe NM 87507
505-471-7663
Mystic: Echos | The Mystic Santa Fe
