Natalie Bovis

One of the most beloved personalities in these parts, he is not only fun to hang out with – but also a fabulous private chef for hire and heads the cooking school at Las Cosas Cooking Shoppe in DeVargas Mall. From New Mexican specialties to knife skills to exotic Indian curries, the choice is varied– and when you’re learning from Mr. Personality himself, you’re pretty much in for dinner-and-a-show! His December schedule includes holiday themes such as “Christmas in New Mexico;” “Christmas Lunch in Umbria;” Chile Fest-Green and Red;” and the “Annual Tamale Roll. Johnny has his own cookbook if you want to take a piece of him home with you (and everyone does…) and he also is partnering with another local cookbook author, Lynn Cline for a “Maverick Cookbook” class based on her tome of the same name.

Multiple winner of Santa Fe’s annual Souper Bowl fundraising event, and long time professional chef, you may have sampled some of Chef Nath’s dishes most recently at Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen’s popular Thai Nights. At a recent dinner where Chef Nath served a sampling of her mouth-watering, multi-course Khmer offerings, I came to realize that the biggest difference between caterer and a private chef is the personal connection. If you are interested in wine pairings, local wine expert Matt Slaughter is available to accompany Chef Nath for your dinner. Wine pairing: Von Winning Riesling Tom Yum Seafood Soup : Lobster tail, black mussels and shrimp in lemongrass-galangal broth with a touch of tamarind and coconut cream.

Want a truly New Mexican-inspired cocktail for your holiday table? Try The Corn Maiden featured on PBS’s A Moveable Feast TV show, hosted by Curtis Stone. The Santa Fe episode features Chefs Martin Rios and Leslie Chavez, and the cocktail is from The Liquid Muse 1 1/2 oz red chile infused vodka 1/2 oz OM Meyer Lemon & Ginger liqueur 3/4 oz Dole pineapple juice infused with sage syrup 1/2 oz freshly extracted corn milk 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice Garnish: red chile sugar rim Shake, strain, serve up, or pour over ice

Whether you are a tourist in Santa Fe wanting to experience something uniquely New Mexican, or a local in need of a mini staycation, a 15-minute drive from our historic plaza is all it takes. Join renowned artist Robbi Firestone for a two-hour Paint on the Patio session under a gorgeous portal situated alongside the hotel’s swimming oasis, and nestled against the elegant Red Sage restaurant. Easels, paints, brushes and guidance are provided by Ms. Firestone, who encourages attendees to break the rules and paint according to their instinct and inspiration. Best of all, the class is a non-intimidating way to release one’s inner artist in a sophisticated setting.