Indigo Crow Cafe

Last night Mike and I went out to dinner with some close friends to a magnificent restaurant, Indigo Crow Cafe, in the quaint little village of Corrales, NM.

I cannot believe that I had never been before! From start to finish, it was an amazing experience. I called yesterday afternoon and spoke with Don Raber, one of the owners, who said they would happy to work with me on finding a suitable GF meal. If there wasn’t one already, then they would create something gluten-free for me.

From the moment we walked in and were greeted with a hug by the owner himself, I began to relax and allow myself to enjoy the evening, trusting that I was in good hands. From start to finish the staff was exceptionally hospitable and very interested in making sure I had a safe meal. After I zeroed in on the special of the night, the Grilled Filet Mignon, I pulled out my Triumph Dining Card for American Cuisine (if you do not have a set of these already…you HAVE to get one! They are very informative, have the corresponding language for each cuisine type, in addition to English, and kitchen staff really appreciate them!) and the server took it back to the kitchen to see if it was gluten free as-is and it was. I could also have the Saffron Mussels, Romaine Salad with Ranch (which they so graciously made for me since I could not have the Caesar Salad because it had Worcestershire Sauce in it that contained wheat…talk about attention to detail!) and the Creme Brulee.

We all shared the Mussels that were served in a saffron-garlic white wine sauce. They were cooked perfectly and were delightfully tender with absolutely no “fishy” taste.

The Grilled Filet Mignon was the special of the evening. The filet was grilled to my preference of medium rare and served with a Shallot-Thyme Red Wine Reduction. The temperature was spot on, the sauce was rich and a perfect companion to the succulent beef. I do believe it was the best steak I have ever had. The filet was served along side Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Seared Garlic and Haricot Verts. The mashed potatoes were light and creamy. The roasted beans were tender with a light crunch, just the way I like them.

To top it all off, my husband and I split the Creme Brulee topped with juicy red strawberries. A symphony of cold, creamy custard and a crisp, warm layer of burned sugar that is the perfect contrast to the slightly tart strawberries. I was really excited when they brought it out in a shallow porcelain dish which I think is much better than a deeper dish.

Sorry about the photo...we had already eaten half before I realized I forgotten to take a picture!

All in all, it was the perfect evening. We went in to spend time with very dear friends and left having made some new ones. I highly recommend if you live in the Albuquerque area or are in town for a visit to go enjoy a magnificent culinary experience at Indigo Crow Cafe in Corrales. The restaurant was packed, so I would encourage making a reservation and while you are the phone, ask for Don and tell him about your gluten free needs so they can make sure your dining experience is as flawless as mine was.

Indigo Crow Cafe, 505.898.7000, Don and Regina Raber, owners

My new buddy, Don Raber! It makes you feel well taken care of when the owner comes out several times to check on you. We actually have a few mutual friends from my time in the restaurant/hotel industry, pre-motherhood.