5-Minute Fridays

At Vara Winery & Distillery, wine and spirits have more in common than first meets the eye. At VARA, grapes don’t stop at wine—they become the foundation for brandy, vermouth, vodka, and gin. In this episode, distiller Ayisha Mares and CEO Jon Murray talk about how Vara expanded from winemaking into distilling—and how a growing lineup of spirits opened the door to an equally creative cocktail program.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Quivira Coalition⁠.

At ⁠Mañana Taco⁠, Chef Nathan Mayes brings his Austin roots to Albuquerque with a New Mexico spin on the breakfast taco. Parked alongside Little Bear Coffee in Nob Hill since 2024, the truck turns out house-made flour tortillas filled with local eggs, responsibly sourced meats, and fresh vegetables. In this episode, we talk with Mayes about trading fine dining for a tiny kitchen on wheels, building a loyal following around damn good tacos and salsas, and recently expanding with the addition of a brick-and-mortar location.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Quivira Coalition⁠.

Chef Kattia Rojas grew up with the flavors of Costa Rica, learning from the food cooked by her mother and grandmother. After starting ⁠Buen Provecho⁠ as a catering and farmers market business, she found a permanent home at El Vado in 2018, where she built a menu around the Costa Rican flavors and ingredients she knows and loves. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we talk with her about the food of her childhood and the dishes she now serves at her restaurant, from casados with ropa vieja and sweet plantains to traditional Costa Rican tamales. 

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Quivira Coalition⁠.