The Minister in Italy

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Mid-November, M’tucci’s Minister of Culture and Brand Manager, Howie Kaibel, escaped New Mexico for a brief trip to Ischia and Italy at large. Ischia is a small, volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, near the Gulf of Naples along Italy’s southwestern coast. This was the first visit to Italy for Howie and his family, and when it was time to head home, one thing was abundantly clear: they couldn’t wait to return. Here is his report:

Ischia itself wasn’t a big highlight. The island flourishes during warm months, but during the off-season everything, from dining to swimming to shopping, enjoys a siesta. So aside from a visit to the Aragonese Castle (first constructed in the 5th century AD), we spent much of our time ferrying to the mainland. 

Our first visit was a two-day venture in Rome. Following the opening of M’tucci’s Bar Roma in May, I was particularly interested in tasting some traditional Roman cuisine, and the city absolutely didn’t disappoint. Reveling in simple but nuanced pasta dishes such as Cacio e Pepe (literally “cheese and pepper”) and Linguine con le Vongole (linguine with clams), sipping various aperitifs, digestifs and regional, exceptionally affordable wine, the flavors and pace of Italian dining heavily determined our daily routine. Italian culture, particularly from a gastronomic perspective, insists on patience, conversation, living in the moment, and savoring each bite. 

Before I left Albuquerque, I asked one of M’tucci’s founders, Katie Gardner, for her advice on Rome. “Well, you are visiting during the fall, so it won’t be crowded, but there’s one place that’s always packed: the Vatican. Do yourself a favor and book a guided tour, it’s totally worth it.” We did, and it was. The full tour ran about five hours, and truly delivered artistic ecstasy.

The final day of the visit was spent in Naples, known for its pizza, and we were ready to do whatever it took to sink our teeth into a slice of an authentic pie. We set out early, initially visiting L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, the actual birthplace of pizza, only to find a line trailing around the block. Undeterred, our family visited another two, three, five famous pizzerias, each estimating a wait of anywhere from one to two hours. Eventually, we settled into a street side table at a nondescript restaurant near the historic district, tired, hungry and somewhat defeated, and ordered two classic Napoli pizzas: Margherita and Marinara. 

Perhaps this wasn’t the most tremendous pizza on earth, but know this, reader: in Naples, every pizza is epic pizza. Knife from the center (they won’t slice it), in triangles, fork each bite, and work toward the edges. Hand-stretched melted mozzarella, meets herbs and delightfully unsweetened and unsalted San Marzano marinara, held ever-so-carefully on an impossibly thin and spongy, stretchy, earthy dough that demands a slow chew. Sure, you think you know pizza, but you don’t know pizza until you’ve visited Naples.

Italians simply eat, and live, on virtues that won’t align with the American standard of fast food and supposed productivity. They believe in community, in family, in a shared relation to one another, and they refuse to hurry. 

At M’tucci’s, we understand that we are an American company serving American guests with American expectations, and we’re happy to serve up a brief business lunch or early evening dinner for our guests, we’re built for those experiences.

However, at our core, M’tucci’s supports the tenets of Italian culture. We urge you to stay a while, to indulge in a first, second and third course, to take a moment to truly connect with the people you’re dining with, to forge memories. At M’tucci’s we believe food is life, and life is family.

Christmas Cookies (plus bonus Kisses)!

Available at all locations until 12/31. $30 for 4 of each cookie: Chewy Lemon Sugar, Chocolate Crackle, Berry Crumble, Biscochitos, and Butterscotch, plus 5 Hazelnut Kisses.

M’tucci’s Twenty-Five World Cup Watch Party!

Saturday, December 3 @ 7:30am

Bar Service, plus morning beverages and nibbles. $6 Korbel Mimosas

Stay for a special Breakfast Buffet with NM United and Korbel Sparkling Wine

Book now by clicking here

Basil Hayden Whiskey Flight @ M’tucci’s Italian for the next week.

We are partnering with our friends at steel bender brewyard. On 12/23 Chef Brianna’s Rocky Road Clusters are featured with Brickie American stout

Join m’tucci’s in supporting the jcc. Chef Shawn and Crew are making latkas for this event saturday night.

Weekend Specials

M’tucci’s Italian

Ravioli - Beef filling, Sweet Potatoes, Local Oyster Mushrooms, Brown Butter Sage Cream Sauce, Pecorino & Parsley $27

20 oz Bone In Ribeye: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $51

Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi - Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $29

Braise - Wild Boar Chop: Red Wine Braised Double Chop over Creamy Gorgonzola Polenta, Sautéed Garlic Spinach, Cimichurri $31

Weekend Cocktail

Orange Toddy - Jameson’s Orange Irish Whiskey, Fresh Lemon Juice,


M’tucci’s Moderno

14 oz. NY Strip - Traditional Italian Salsa Verde, Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, & Grilled Asparagus $36

Pan-Seared Scallops - Roasted Artichoke, Braised Escarole, Mashed Potatoes, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, & Smoked Prosciutto Powder $34

Beef Tips Tortelloni - Cajun Seasoning, Grape Tomatoes, Onions, Rosa Sauce, Gorgonzola Cheese $21

Weekend Cocktail

Chai Spiced Pear - Bombay Sapphire Gin, St. George Spice Pear, Chai Simple Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice, Splash of Soda, Cinnamon Sugar Rimmed Glass


M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

10 oz. NM Bison NY Strip - Grilled Broccolini, Whipped Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Blackberry bone Marrow Butter $28

Pan-Seared Swordfish - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Greens, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $34

16 oz. NM Braised Bison Short Ribs - Creamy Farroto, Roasted Fennel, Spinach, Sweet & Savory Tomato Onion Chutney $41

Weekend Cocktail

Rye Crampus - High Desert Double Rye, Aperol, Taylor Port


M’tucci’s Bar Roma

5 Cheese Ravioli - Prosciutto & Pancetta Brodo, Shallots, Roasted Oyster Mushrooms, Snap Peas, Carrots Cacio di Roma and Fresh Parsley $23

Pan-Seared Lemon & Rosemary Stuffed Rainbow Trout - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Arugula with Garlic, Seared Stem-on Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $29

Weekend Cocktail

Whistle Fig - Piggyback Whistle Pig Rye, Fig Syrup

Live Music for December & January

M’tucci’s Bar Roma - Wed 6:30-8:30. Sunday noon-2pm

12/4 Oscar Butler

12/7 Shane Wallin

12/11 Lani Nash

12/14 Gilbert Uribe

12/18 Shane Wallin

12/21 Lani Nash

12/28 Shane Wallin

1/4 RJ Perez

1/8 Matt Jones

1/11 Alex Long

1/15 Javier Ortega

1/18 Jason Seel

1/22 Abby Deeter

1/25 Rob Martinez

1/29 Xandra

M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - Thursday 6:30-8:30 * Friday 7:30-9:30

12/2 Lani Nash

12/8 John Martinez

12/9 Shane Wallin

12/15 Matt Jones

12/16 Alex Long

12/22 Abby Deeter

12/23 Gilbert Uribe

12/29 Chessa Peak

12/30 RJ Perez

1/5 Marissa

1/6 John Martinez

1/12 Amy Faithe

1/13 Gilbert Uribe

1/19 RJ Perez

1/20 Javier Ortega

1/26 Amy Faithe

1/27 Lani Nash

M’tucci’s Moderno - Thursday 6:30-830 *Friday 7:30-9:30

12/2 Jason Seel

12/8 Abby Deeter

12/9 Gilbert Uribe

12/15 Oscar Butler

12/16 Lani Nash

12/22 RJ Perez

12/23 Rob Martinez

12/29 Marissa

12/30 Javier Ortega

1/5 Xandra

1/6 Lani Nash

1/12 John Martinez

1/13 RJ Perez

1/19 Oscar Butler

1/20 Matt Jones

1/26 Chessa Peak

1/27 John Martinez

Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!