The Taos News from Taos, New Mexico • Page 26

B8 April 11,1996 THE TAGS NEWS Two special booksignings ANTONIO R. GARCEZ "Adobe Angels: The Ghosts of Santa Fe and Taos" 2:00 4:00 pm Saturday April 13 SAGE WALKER "Whiteout" (Collapsing Ecosystems 30 years from now) 2:00 4:00 pm Saturday April 20 TAOS 122D Kit Carson Road block east of the Plaza) Parking in rear of building at Roberto's Restaurant 758-3733 KTAO Presents Great DJ Dance Music! Every Saturday Night Starts April 13th cover before 8:30 cover after 8:30 NAGUAL COFFEE HOUSE Cabot Plaza Kit Carson Road Produced by New Spirit Douimvesi manners ffO Sierra Sports Center 758-3320 400 Frames sizes to complete with glass, mat and wiring acrylic oil frames include gessoed canvas Discount for purchases of4 or more! Deadline for Art Briefs, Gallery Guide is Friday noon, due Pasa deadline is Monday noon. The Taos News 758-2241 The Sagrebrush Inn Restaurant has offered fine Southwest dining since 1929 ince 1929 several generations of visitors have admired the large pueblo style and very picturesque building that dominates the southern end of Taos Valley. Against a backdrop of the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo mountains in winter or the aspen- dappled mountains in late September, the Sagebrush Inn appears as an oasis on the sagebrush mesa for which it was named. First called the Chamisa Inn when it ivas built by Frank and Helen Kentnor in 1929, the name was later changed to the Sagebrush Inn for better name recognition.

The Kentnors rented the building to the Los Alamos Boys School for a year and-a half during World War" II, while the Manhattan Project was developing the world's first atomic bomb in Los Alamos. Helen Kentnor also loaned the dining room for the first services of the St. James Episcopal Church until its congregation could complete their own building. She continued to run the inn, which served food and drink only to guests, for a few years after Frank Kentnor's death and the end War II. But changes in the nation's touring habits and the increase in airline travel meant less business for the country- style inn.

Kentnor sold the Sagebrush to Myron Vallier, who continued to run it as a country inn. Vallier then added the lounge; later he opened it to private parties, then he opened the dining room and lounge to the public. Visiting the Sagebrush Inn was like visiting an art gallery. Old Navajo rugs hung on the walls of the lobby augmented by large paintings by Taos artists of the day. Gisella Loeffler painted windows.

Ristras of red chile glowed from the pillars in the lobby. Comfortable chairs pulled up in front of the fireplace. The lobby also featured a huge picture window for contemplation of the Sangre de Cristos. The tiny lounge featured furniture and a painted bar. Often Ramon Hernandez and later Antonio Mendoza softly sang and played for the audience of a dozen or two.

It was a time when Taos was everyone knew everyone else who frequented the lounge. In 1974 Ken Blair and Rolfe Milke purchased the Sagebrush from Vallier. Both had just left El Patio Restaurant located just off Taos Plaza. They made several changes beginning with the lounge which they moved to the gloomy old lobby. They left the art collection and Navajo rugs and the bar and installed live entertainment nightly.

They began to serve lunches and dinners for large private groups in the lobby lounge, since the old dining room was quite small. By 1980, Blair, then the sole owner, had added to the Sagebrush the large Los. Vaquwos cUaingjopui oo ite north, aide the building. Later, he enclosed a small old patio that adjoined the original dining room to create a larger room suitable for small private parties. The decorations of both rooms were in the original style with two large fireplaces dominating Los Vaqueros and another huge picture window.

Blair also increased the number of guest FAYNE on FOOD by Fayne Lutz rooms to 100, all furnished with handmade fur- niture and decorated in the old Taos style. A pool and tennis courts soon followed. The Sagebrush had become a small city catering to the guests' every need. A new kitchen was added to Los Vaqueros, a service bar, and then a convenient patio. With the increase in size of the Sagebrush dining room to 125, the kitchen needed refurbishing.

Los Vaqueros had a handsome new kitchen added as well, and grills were installed. Today, the kitchens are presided over by chef Richard Blair, an executive chef certified by the American Culinary Federation. Breakfast is served in the dining room from 6-11 a.m., daily. Complete American-style breakfasts are served, as well as New Mexican breakfasts. Both the Sagebrush dining room and Los Vaqueros dining rooms are open for dinner at p.m.

daily. They serve until 10 p.m. The Sagebrush Inn does not serve lunch. The Sagebrush and Los Vaqueros dining room menus include the finest steaks and seafood available, plus selected chicken and New Mexican dishes. During the season, an elaborate salad bar is available to diners with their entrees.

Chateaubriand, filet mignon, prime rib, honey almond or grilled duck, trout, scampi and steak and seafood combos adorn the menu. A selection from the extensive wine list will set off your entree perfectly, A fresh dessert tray is available. The lounge opens at 4:30 p.m., and entertainment is normally scheduled until midnight. For special luncheons, weddings, receptions or other affairs, contact Louise Blair general manager, at 758-2254. Reservations are usually necessary.

The Sagebrush has plenty of parking. It is located three and one-half miles south of Taos Plaza on Pasta Sur-.