Country clubbing
The Terrace at Taos Country Club offers one of the best alfresco options
W ITH COVID-19 PUTTING AN END TO MOST OF OUR FAVORITE SUMMER ACTIVITIES, many of us are discovering novel ways of entertaining ourselves. People who would never have set foot on a golf course are taking lessons and finding pleasure in being outdoors (albeit, masked for safety) and working on their handicap.
The Taos Country Club, in Ranchos de Taos, opened its doors to the public on Aug. 1, 1992. In the first weekend alone, more than 200 golfers took to the links – eager to test their skills and equipment on the newly completed nine-hole course.
Fed by effluent from the town of Taos water treatment facility less than a mile due north, the golf course maintains its green links sustainably with grey water that otherwise would go unused, and provides hours of pleasure to both golfers and spectators alike.
Almost 30 years later, the course has grown to include more holes and more players, but whether you decide to take up the game in earnest or are simply working up an appetite, The Terrace at Taos Country Club is one of the best options for an alfresco meal during this confusing time we find ourselves living through.
Mother Nature provides its own ambiance and great views, plus, when the weather is gloriously warm, diners feel more festive. And because the outdoors is the attraction, the relaxed atmosphere can also assist in letting go of the stress of everyday living during this pandemic.
Shaded by an overhead shelter, the large round tables seat four to six comfortably, and with more than the mandated distance between each table, this feels as safe a spot one is going to find while still being able to socialize with a couple of friends and enjoy a great meal outside.
Jacob Herrera, the general manager of The Terrace, told Tempo that they have designed their current menu to complement these unusual times.
“WE NO LONGER SERVE BRUNCH OR DINNER,”
Herrera explained. “Rather we have a set, smaller menu that features hearty plates that appeal to hungry golfers coming off the course, as well as their partners who may or may not be playing.”
As always, Herrera and his kitchen staff work with local growers and ranchers to provide the freshest food possible, accompanied by the excellent beer and wine lists, and creative craft cocktails The Terrace is known for. There remains enough of a selection to please even the pickiest eaters – vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. “There is definitely something for everyone,” Herrera noted, as he handed us our menus when we ate there one recent Sunday. We sipped on our drinks, which arrived minutes after ordering them, as we perused the still substantial offerings.
Hearty sandwiches, a great selection of salads and one of the best burgers in town, not to mention the restaurant’s awardwinning chile, are always on the menu, with special brunch items added on Sundays. One of the most popular, being the heavenly eggs Benedict with smoked trout instead of bacon. Order a mimosa to sip alongside it and you’ll forget that we are living in uncertain times, for a minute.
My companion decided on the French toast, which was large enough to feed two, piled with berries and drizzled with pure maple syrup – it was more dessert than meal to my eye.
The service is excellent – the masked waitstaff are discreet yet available, and our water glasses were kept filled throughout our meal.
The spectacular vistas and green manicured links add to the feeling of expansiveness and respite from our daily routines, and returning home after an afternoon out-of-doors, dining on delicious food can seem as if one has enjoyed a minivacation after months of virtual lockdown.
Masks are required until you sit down at your table. Visit The Terrace online for more information at taoscountryclub.com/ terrace/bar-and-grill.