2024 in Review, Pt 2

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In 2024, we created wine, beer and spirit classes for our servers and bartenders. The wine classes were taught by M’tucci’s Twenty-Five Beverage Manager and Level One Sommelier Liv Jordy and the beer classes were taught by Monica Mondragon from Steel Bender Brewyard. After completing the classes, servers and bartenders attended field and tasting trips to Sheehan Winery and Gruet Winery. Increasing the knowledge of our staff means a better experience for our guests.

After the blow-out week-long 10th Anniversary celebrations in 2023, we could be forgiven for taking a quieter approach to our 11th Anniversary last July. Nahhhh!!

Months of planning led to a multi-course dinner with local musicians at Old Town Farm. A short rain squall didn’t dampen the mood or the festivities, as we enjoyed great wines and a special menu created by our chefs. What will we do for number 12?? Stay tuned.

After the fires and flooding in Ruidoso, we teamed with Santa Fe Brewing and raised more than $2,200 for local Ruidoso musicians who were affected by the natural disasters. M’tucci’s and Santa Fe Brewing donated 100% of all SFB beers sales from the month of August to a Ruidoso foundation for their artists.

Shortly after our 11th Anniversary dinner in July, new items were added to the menu at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and new items were added to the menus at M’tucci’s Bar Roma and M’tucci’s Moderno in August. Quite often, new dishes are added after first appearing as a Weekend Special. You, our guests, vote with your taste buds and determine which dishes are added to our menus.

Shown below are:

Grilled Zucchini Rigatoni and Coffee-Rubbed Red Chile Pork Tenderloin at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

Shrimp Fritti and Blackberry/Pecan Salad at M’tucci’s Bar Roma

Calabrian Braised Mussels and Pan-Seared Atlantic Salmon at M’tucci’s Moderno

A local fundraiser called 505 Food Fights pits local chefs and bartenders against each other in a months-long competition. This year, our very own Addy Nicole from M’tucci’s Catering and M’tucci’s Italian took the top Bartender honors.

The M’tucci’s Barrel program continued to grow in 2024, with the addition of Angel’s Envy and Russels Bourbon to our existing partnerships with El Tesoro Tequila and Maker’s Mark Bourbon. Look for the additions of Blanton’s Gold and Patron Añejo to our barrel offerings in 2025.

M’tucci’s ended 2024 with our popular Holiday Gift cards, but added a new component this year. We donated 5% of total sales of all cards to local non-profit Mandy’s Farm. In addition, we partnered with Tito’s Vodka during the month of December to support Road Runner Food Bank. Tito’s donated $1 for every cocktail we made with Tito’s vodka. At the moment, we are still compiling the numbers for those donations.

My family and I finally made it to Puglia in Italy after the 2020 Covid lockdown cancelled the trip. The seafood, the small towns and the slow pace of living in Puglia were unforgettable.

Look for a report on the amazing Extra Virgin Olive Oil we discovered in the remote (no trains, no expressways) Gargano Peninsula in the 1/24 edition of La Gazzetta.

Thanks for reading the only weekly restaurant newsletter in New Mexico.

Weekend Specials

M’tucci’s Italian

Pesto & Ricotta Ravioli - Roasted Chicken, Chestnut Mushrooms, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Sautéed Jalapeños, Red Onions, Pesto Cream Sauce, Crispy Prosciutto, fresh Basil $27

14 oz. Ribeye - Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $42

Pan-Seared Swordfish - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $33

Sackett Farms Pork Shoulder - New Mexico Red Chile Braise, Calabacitas, Roasted Corn, Caramelized Onions, Feta, Parsely $25

Weekend Cocktail

Put the Lime in the Coconut - Bacardi Rum, Green Chartreuse, Coconut Liquid Alchemist, Pistachio Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice


M’tucci’s Moderno

24 oz. T-bone - Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Sautéed Broccolini, Italian Salsa Verde $42

Pan-Seared Swordfish - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Broccolini, Roasted Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $37

Beef Tips Raviolini - Beef Tips with Cajun Seasoning, Grape Tomatoes, Rosa Sauce, Raviolini, Green Onions, Gorgonzola Cheese $23

Weekend Cocktail

Cinnamon Cran Margarita - Mi Campo Tequila, Luxardo Triple Sec, Cinnamon Simple Syrup, Cranberry Juice, Fresh Lime Juice, Toasted Cinnamon Stick

M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

Creamy Pesto Tortelloni with Blackened Chicken - Cheese Tortelloni, Blackened Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Red Onions, Pesto Cream Sauce $25

Pan-Seared Pistachio-Crusted Rockfish - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Zucchini, Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $33

6 oz. Filet - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Creamy Horseradish Remoulade $37

Weekend Cocktail

Vida Rosado - Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, St. Germain, Ramazotti Aperitivo, M’tucci’s Strawberry Basil Shrub, Fresh Lemon Juice

M’tucci’s Bar Roma

Pan-Seared Ruby Trout - Garlic Whipped Mashed Potatoes, Braised Arugula with Garlic, Seared Stem-on Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $29

Roasted Sackett Farms Pork Loin - Marinated and Herb Roasted Loin, Green Chile Creamy Polenta, Grilled Asparagus, Mushroom Gravy $24

Weekend Cocktail

Peach Fuzz- New Amsterdam Peach vodka, Mango Shrub, Fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Monetti Prosecco Float

Live Music for January

M’tucci’s Bar Roma - 6:30pm Wednesday & Noon Sunday        

1/12 Robb Janov

1/15 Myles Chavez

1/19 Cali Shaw

1/22 Chris Dracup 

1/26 RJ Perez 

1/29 Michael Rascon 

2/2 Chris Dracup

2/5 Shane Wallin

2/9 Gilbert Uribe

2/12 Cali Shaw

2/16 Michael Rascon 

2/19 Ceekay Jones

2/23 RJ Perez 

2/26 Robb Janov       

M’tucci’s Moderno - 6:30 Thursday & 7:30 Friday              

1/10 Michael Rascon 

1/16 Chris Dracup

1/17 RJ Perez 

1/23 Matt Jones 

1/24 Mya Gutierrez 

1/30 TBD

1/31 Cali Shaw

2/6 Shane Wallin

2/7 Gilbert Uribe 

2/13 RJ Perez 

2/14 Robb Janov

2/20 Ceekay Jones

2/21 Cali Shaw

2/27 Mya Gutierrez 

2/28 Michael Rascon 

M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - 6:30 Thursday & 7:30 Friday          

1/10 Alex Maryol

1/16 Shane Wallin

1/17 Gilbert Uribe

1/23 TBD 

1/24 Matt Jones

1/30 Myles Chavez

1/31 Chris Dracup 

2/6 Cali Shaw

2/7 Michael Rascon 

2/13 Chris Dracup

2/14 TBD

2/20 Shane Wallin

2/21 Matt Jones

2/27 Gilbert Uribe 

2/28 RJ Perez 

Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!