Linda's Dolci. A Taste of Italy in New Mexico

I’ve spent most of this summer visiting my family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It’s always good to spend time with my kids and grandkids, but at the same time I really miss Italy.  I long for walks around Lucca, Medieval streetscapes, and the sounds of the Italian language. I especially miss an early morning coffee or an aperitivo in a local bar. Those are cultural experiences that just can not be recreated here.

There’s nothing more Italian than a cornetto filled with jam, pastry cream, or pistachio creme. At Linda’s Dolci they are delicious!

 Albuquerque is not like some of the bigger cities in the US, such as New York or Boston.  There is no Little Italy neighborhood here, no part of town where Italian is spoken, no area where the culture of Italy prevails. I am always searching for something to bring a little taste of Italy to me when I am here in New Mexico. I found an Italian language class which was a big help this summer as was the local Italian Culture and Language Group.  But the best surprise was finding a new Italian pasticceria just a few minutes from my New Mexico condo. You just don’t expect to find an authentic Italian bakery in an Albuquerque shopping center, but that is exactly where I found one. Lucky me!

 Linda Manias is from Pordenone in the Friuli-Venezia-Guilia region of northeastern Italy.  While living in the US with her American husband she found she really missed Italian pastries (boy can I relate to that).  Her solution was to begin baking, recreating all the flavors she missed. And wow - can Linda bake! 

Linda’s Zeppole

In 2022, Linda moved to Albuquerque, along with her husband, where she began to offer Italian cakes and pastries, operating out of shared space in a local cafe.  Her business grew and now Linda has opened her very own Pasticceria – Linda’s Dolci – where she serves a wide variety of treats, both to enjoy in the cafe along with a coffee or portare via (to take away).

Prima colazione (breakfast) at Linda’s Dolci

 For me, a morning cappuccino and a cornetto at Linda’s Dolci brings me that slice of Italian flavor that I crave.  It’s no surprise that I always seem to run into another local Italophile there. Linda’s is the place where you just might hear Italian spoken by customers who come by for conversation as well as pastries.

Besides those breakfasts goodies, Linda fills her pastry case with all kinds of treats. The selection varies each day. You may find crisp cookies, jam filled squares, vanilla or chocolate glazed cream puffs, fruit topped delights, tiramisu, zeppole, cannoli, and delicious cakes.  You’ll even find gluten free and vegan options. Orders for custom cakes or pasty trays are always welcome.

 If you are in the Albuquerque area, be sure to stop in and say Buongiorno to the delightful Linda (you’ll find her back in the kitchen, hard at work).  Even better if you want to practice your Italian with her! 

 Don’t these photos make you hungry?

By the time this blog posts on Monday August 14th I will be back in Italy. Look for me enjoying a cappuccino and cornetto at one of the wonderful bars or pastry shops in Lucca!

A big thanks to Linda for giving me permission to use some photos from her website in this post.

Brushing Up on French and Greek

I’m spending some time in the United States right now, enjoying family time and avoiding the heat and humidity of the Italian Summer. While I miss Italy, I’m using this time away to brush up on my French and Greek. Not the languages - I’ve trouble enough trying to improve my Italian - I’m brushing up on French and Greek dining. Fair warning - these pictures may make you hungry!

Toast with goat cheese, raspberries, and a chile infused jam at Meraki, a Greek cafe in Albuquerque, NM

I rarely eat Italian food when I’m in New Mexico (it just doesn’t measure up to the real thing), but I do find myself missing the variety of flavors and the ambiance of European cafes. Lucky for me just a short distance from my New Mexico condo are two cafes, one French and one Greek. These go a long way to satisfying my hunger for a bit of European flavor in New Mexico. And since the kitchen in my New Mexico condo is currently undergoing renovation, I’ve had the perfect (all too perfect perhaps) excuse to eat out.

For a taste of France I visit La Quiche, which serves up beautiful French food, breads, and pastries.

The murals in the dining room transport me to Paris, as do the French accents of the staff. A good cafe au lait and a croissant, or a delicate fruit and cream filled pastry, make for the perfect occasional breakfast treat. If I close my eyes the quiches, omelets, and French-inspired salads carry me straight to Provence.

Meraki, a Greek cafe and market, offers another taste of Europe, both Greece and Italy. The word Meraki has no exact English translation, but in Greek it conveys work that reflects great love and care. That concept is certainly reflected in the quality of their food (fresh, seasonal, and carefully sourced) and in the warm, friendly service. This is a small cafe with a big heart. It may sit in a busy shopping center, but the clean white decor and the interesting flavors provide a hint of blue seas and Greek islands.

My friend Alexa enjoying lunch at Meraki. Just look at all those fresh and colorful ingredients.

This is one of my go-to places for really good coffee. Don’t ask for an artificial sweetener here - or even sugar. The coffees are sweetened with a house made simple syrup. Simply wonderful. For a real treat, pair the coffee with a traditional Greek sweet - Loukoumades. These are Greek style donut holes, drizzled with honey and topped with crushed walnuts and powdered sugar. It’s best to bring a friend or two as this order is big enough to share!

Loukoumades

For a recent breakfast I had the homemade Greek yogurt topped with berries, honey, mint, and a really good house made granola. The yogurt was the best I have ever had - creamy without any sharpness. My friend had an equally delightful toast topped with soft goat cheese, raspberries, and a spicy ancho chile jam - a bit of Greek and New Mexico fusion. How does one say “yum” in Greek ?

Almost too pretty to eat - greek yogurt with berries, granola, and honey.

The sandwiches at Meraki cross over into Italy with ingredients like ciabatta bread, prosciutto, and provolone cheese. In the afternoons and evenings they serve cocktails, wine, bruschetta, and meat/cheese boards along with salads, mussels, and burgers. An evening return is definitely on my list of things to do before I return to Italy next month. After all, I’m still working on my Greek and French!