Cocina de Dominguez Mexican Restaurant

Above, the chile rellenos. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following Larry Lucier's physical therapy session, we headed out for dinner.

We decided to try out a new place, Cocina de Dominguez on Second Street in Gallup. It isn't exactly new to me as I discovered it three years ago and ordered take-out from them twice (chimichangas). They were good, by the way. This was during the height of the pandemic and dine-in at restaurants were verboten at the time. My computer repairer is only a few doors away.

This was the first time we dined there. The restaurant decor was better than average. 

Above, at Cocina de Dominguez. 

I tried out their chile rellenos and the chili peppers were large and loaded with plenty of cheese. The red sauce had a nice kick to them. They were quite good.

I forgot what Larry had, but he was pleased with his meal. He ran into a local silver jewelry artist friends while there. It is typical of small town life where one always manages to run into someone they know.

We will definitely go there again. 

Yesterday In Gallup

Above, from left, Russell, yours truly and Larry at El Sombrero Restaurant.

Yesterday, I was in Gallup as I had to take Larry Lucier to his physical therapy session. 

While he was doing that, I had other things to attend to, such as picking up a framed poster that had to have the glass of the frame replaced as it fell and cracked. 

Following that, I headed over to the Gallup indoor flea market on Coal Ave. to browse around. I didn't see anything that I would want, but it was a fun way to pass the time. 

After Larry was done, we headed over to the El Sombrero Restaurant on Historic Route 66 for dinner. This was the first time Larry and I have been there (and Larry has lived in the area 12 years). 

He ordered a burrito with green sauce and I ordered chile rellenos with red sauce. 

While there, we spotted one of our community buddies, Russell Azbill. He had just finished eating and was heading out. We called him over and he sat with us and we had a good conversation on wills, space program, autographs, guitars, guns and other topics. 

On the food, Larry was pleased with his, but I thought mine was just "okay". The rellenos were good but the sauce was disappointing. There was no kick to it. The chips and salsa that was brought after we sat down was mediocre. 

Thus far, this was the most disappointing Mexican restaurant in Gallup. The better ones that I have been to include Genaro's, Don Diego's, El Rancho Hotel's restaurant, Earl's, Cocina De Dominguez and Kiva Café (in Milan-Grants). There's one left in Gallup I have to try: Jerry's Café. It is a small restaurant and usually has a line of people waiting to get in. I've been told that Jerry's Café is one of the best in Gallup.

Business In Gallup and Snow At the Continental Divide

Above, the mesas northeast of Jamestown covered in snow. These are at the Continental Divide. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This afternoon, I went into Gallup to take care of a few things, including stopping at the bank and to check with my mechanic on a future project.

The bank couldn't help me as they only have drive-up service and I need to replace a debit card with a faulty chip. They said I can call customer service to do this.

The future "project" is the Jeep. I have a slow fuel tank leak (I have a gas can collecting the dripping gasoline). It stops when it goes below five gallons, so it is my guess is the leak is on the upper portion of the gas tank. I checked with my mechanic to see if he can handle the job of replacing the fuel tank. He said can and that the most difficulty is getting parts. I told him that I have sources for parts and that will not be a problem.

Above, the mesas a little further west of the top photo has no trace of snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After those two stops were done, I went to try out a restaurant I spotted in the business complex that my computer repairer is located. I spotted it last week when I went to pick up my computer. It is called Cocina de Dominguez, a Mexican restaurant. Since there's no dine-in service in any restaurant in New Mexico at present, I ordered take out.

I decided to try their chicken chimichanga dinner. I am happy to report that it was good. Their red sauce is as hot as Genaro's and I was sweating profusely. It was a good think that I have some sour cream to "extinguish" it. I give the place a "thumb's up"!

One odd thing that I saw as I was headed to the freeway from home was that the mesas to the northeast of Jamestown were covered with snow, even though they were facing south (or the sun), which would cause the snow to melt faster than other sides. The point where the mesas were covered with snow is where the Continental Divide is. I have been told that there are weather changes at the Continental Divide, compared to other nearby areas. Now I've seen it for myself.

The mesas closer to Jamestown (or west of the Continental Divide) had absolutely no snow, een though they are all roughly the same elevation. I took the two photos that accompany this blog post illustrating the difference.