Secret City Kitchen Opens In Los Alamos!

Secret City Kitchen owner Jeremy Varela officially opened his new restaurant today in Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
Secret City Kitchen staff Violet Starr, left, and Jackie Casias-Gutierrez preparing lunch deliveries today. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
Secret City Kitchen officially opened for business today in Los Alamos.

Owner Jeremy Varela sat down this afternoon with the Los Alamos Daily Post to discuss his new business.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do since moving to Los Alamos from Las Cruces in 2006,” he said. “Lisa Kratzer who owned the Decadent Table closed her business and was going to turn it back into an apartment last summer so I asked her to let me try this first.”

The space is equipt with a commercial grade kitchen and all the accessories, which was ideal for Varela’s new business.

Varela, 38, moved to Los Alamos because his wife Tina is from here; she works at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The couple has two children, one attends Mountain Elementary School and the other attends Los Alamos Middle School.

Varela has two employees, Violet Starr and Jackie Casias-Gutierrez. He explained that they have been conducting a soft opening for several weeks and made their first lunch delivery Oct. 23.

“Almost all of our food is homemade and we are proud of that,” he said. “We really put our focus on perfecting the restaurant’s products and processes.”

Secret City Kitchen is at 4710 Quemazon but dining in is not an option, yet. Varela’s business model is delivery only and right now that happens 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or while supplies last, each Friday. He may expand to other days depending on demand, he said.

Varela is inviting guest chefs to stop by and cook with him. He recently invited a man who is from Cuba to help him perfect a Cuban sandwich.

“I welcome guest chefs to come in and cook with me and share recipes from their home countries,” he said.

Varela’s kitchen will be closed next week for the Thanksgiving holiday and starting in December, he will offer “stress-free family dinner night” with family-style dinners delivered to homes each Wednesday. He also does catering.

Varela is hiring more staff for his Secret City Kitchen and asks applicants to check out the employment opportunities on his website. For information about Secret City Kitchen, visit secretcitykitchen.com.

Menu

Sandwich & Wraps

Comes with choice of pita chips, pretzel bites, or rotini salad. Substitute soup or salad for $2. Gluten-free brioche is available.

  • Turkey Jack – home-brined, slow roasted turkey breast served on toasted sourdough with green chile, jack cheese, and sliced avocado $8.
  • Swiss Hammy – deli sliced ham served on pretzel roll with melted swiss cheese and honey mustard $7.
  • Pollo Club Wrap – blackened chicken drizzled with chipotle cream sauce topped with jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon, avocado, and wrapped in flour tortilla $8.
  • Southwestern Wrap – spanish rice, black beans, roasted corn, avocado, and chipotle cream sauce wrapped in flour tortilla $9. (Add chicken or turkey for $2.)

Bowls

  • Chef Salad – romaine lettuce topped with boiled egg, herb-seasoned garbanzo beans, turkey, ham, cucumber, broccoli, onions, tomato, avocado, and cotija cheese with choice of dressing $8.
  • Rice bowl – spanish rice topped with black beans, roasted corn, romaine lettuce, tomato, avocado, and drizzled with chipotle cream sauce $7. (Add chicken or turkey for $2.)
  • Rotini Salad – tri-color rotini tossed with homemade italian dressing, broccoli, carrots, red onion, olives, and topped with parmesan cheese $5.
  • House salad – romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion with choice of dressing $5.

Dressings – Red Pepper Vinaigrette, Italian Vinaigrette and Ranch.

Soups

  • Soup of the day – Roasted Butternut Squash garnished with spiced pumpkin seeds $5 cup / $8 bowl.

Wednesday Dinner Delivery

  • Cold Platters – Antipasto – thinly sliced hot capicola, sopressata, prosciutto, and genoa salami served with artichoke hearts, monterey jack, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncinis, olives, and toasted sliced bolillo $60 serves 8 to 10 and $80 serves 16 to 20.
  • Sandwich – sliced Secret City Kitchen turkey, sliced ham comes with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, monterey jack, cheddar, and bolillo rolls $40 serves 8 to 10 and $70 serves 16 to 20.
  • Mediterranean – roasted red pepper hummus, four-grain tabbouleh, bruschetta tomatoes served with pita chips and fresh vegetables $30 serves 8 to 10 and $50 serves 16 to 20.
  • Fruit – assorted fruit served with refreshing yogurt dip $35 serves 8 to 10 and $60 serves 16 to 20.
  • Veggie – assorted vegetables served with ranch and southwestern ranch $30 serves 8 to 10 and $50 serves 16 to 20.
  • Sweet Tooth – chocolate chip cookies, blondies, and assorted fruit served with whipped cream $30 serves 8 to 10 and $50 serves 16 to 20.
  • Hot Options – Chipotle IPA Cheese Dip served with pretzel bites, pita chips and an assortment of vegetables. Gluten-free dip also available. $30 serves 8 to 10 and $50 serves 16 to 20.
  • Cuban Chicken – seared marinated chicken thighs served over tomato chorizo sauce served with roasted corn, black beans, and wild rice $14 per person.
  • Taco Bar – seasoned chicken and pulled beef. Comes with all the taco fixings, soft tortillas and spanish rice. Veggie taco stuffers also available. $13 per person.

Luncheons/Dinners

  • Box Lunches – Choose from items on the lunch day delivery menu, comes with side and drink $11 per person.
  • Family Dinner Night (coming in December) – Wednesday is stress-free dinner night. Specialty items and guest chefs will make Wednesdays delicious and easy for the family. Orders are taken Monday through Wednesday of the week of delivery while supplies last, serves 4 $30.

Call 505.819.3676 to order or chat about a custom catering for an event or dinner party.

Secret City Kitchen owner Jeremy Varela takes a lunch delivery order today at his new business. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Turkey Jack Sandwich. Courtesy photo

Antipasto Cold Platter. Courtesy photo

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