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The Food Dood kills the Feed for shot at expansion

For more than 15 years, my eyes, ears and palate have focused on the flavors and dining trends of the 405 diningscape with occasional taste-abouts in other markets. It’s been a rich and rewarding experience. However, henceforth, this palate resides in The City Different.

That’s right, last Sunday I completed a move to Santa Fe, New Mexico, after accepting a job as the new Editor of the Santa Fe Reporter. The move puts me four hours from my daughter,  Kate, instead of 12 – which was played a major role in the decision.

But the biggest role was the job. I’m now overseeing a publication that’s covered arts, culture, and food with distinction for more than 50 years. Turns out they were looking for someone with a background covering news, politics and investigative journalism to join the staff. The chance to lead a newsroom that feels form-fitted to my interests in a place that’s mesmerized me for years was among the easiest yesses I’ve ever given.

(As a bonus, I no longer have to cuss the ongoing corruption of my tax dollars by Minister of Public School Destruction Ryan Walters and his co-conspirators. New Mexico has its own problems, but I can assure you the issuance of Trump bibles at public schools ain’t one of ‘em.)

The greatest challenge I face is proximity to good food. I just moved into a classic Santa Fe nest just a 10 minutes by foot from the moles of Sazon. Kakawa Chocolate House is a five-minute walk. My office is a two-minute drive from The Chocolate Maven Bakery & Cafe. The nation might be headed for civil war, but my coping skills are facing critical mass.

What the move means for The Feed is a change in name and broader coverage. The Food Dood Feed is henceforth The Food Dood & Friends. Going forward, we will have regular reviews from from Jared Gleaton Eats, Pizzabout with Rob Crissinger, and you can follow the culinary path of young chef Ben Krodel. I will be contributing Oklahoma content through the end of the year with a light sprinkling of northern New Mexico flavor. By early 2025, I should be ready to share insights from the City Different beyond The Shed, Coyote Cafe and Pascual’s. Immersing my palate in Norteno foodways is a dream come true.

While I’ve moved away from Oklahoma, I have plenty of reason to stay engaged. Besides numerous friends and some family, The Crossroads Cuisine project continues. I’m in the middle of a second incredible writing project with an Oklahoma City client that will continue through the end of the year. And don’t be surprised to see me return for some special engagements by year’s end.

I will be in town in two weeks to record our final episodes of the first season of The Food Dood & Friends podcast. If you’re downtown Saturday, Nov. 9, good chance I’ll be at Bar Arbolada between 4 and 6 if you want to raise a glass. I’ll have more details as the date nears, but to know for sure become a paid subscriber today. Those who ante up, will be the first to know and be eligible for giveaways. Besides, I’ve got three new mouths to Feed, y’all!

Now, enjoy our latest Food Dood & Friends podcast, in which we talked about a really cool tribute for the late, great Cathy Cummings, another Oklahoma restaurant getting national recognition, and an update from Green Country dining with Jared Gleaton.

One postscript, last week we shared a great interview with chef Zach Hutton, formerly of Alma and Scratch Paseo. In the interview, Zach reveals his next plans at the Old Icehouse in Edmond. Zach reached out over the weekend to say the new place was in soft opening. Look for it to open to the public as early as next week.