The National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque

Point me in the direction of a good Mexican restaurant and I’m happy. It might stem from my younger days, watching my mom eat hot tamales from a jar. Occasionally I still see those tamales at the grocery store, tubes of white swimming in red.

Imagine my joy when the Mexican restaurant offers a buffet lunch-the luxury of sampling! The aromatic smells of La Fonda del Bosque caught my attention, the minute we entered the door. Situated in the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque, La Fonda has received glowing reviews from foodies and has my not-quite-so-expert stamp of approval. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

If you listen carefully between bites, you might hear the sounds of children, since this part of the center was once an elementary school.

The lunch buffet at La Fonda is only the beginning or the ending, depending on when you visit. The NHCC is an evolving institution dedicated to Hispanic culture, past and present. Since opening in 2000, the center has grown to become more of a campus rather than just a center.

Encompassing 50 acres, the location is part of Albuquerque’s oldest neighborhood, called Barelas.

From both a historic and geographic standpoint, the NHCC couldn’t be in a more appropriate place. Barelas and the Rio Grande lie along the “Camino Royal” or Royal Road, which was one of the first trade routes between Mexico City and the New World.

The creation of the artwork within El Torreon, (The Tower) at NHCC has become a story of its own. Artist Frederico Vigil is hard at work on a monumental fresco depicting centuries of Hispanic history and culture, inside El Torreon. Although it appears modest in size from the outside, standing at 45 feet, the interior walls will take Vigil years to complete, perhaps until 2009.

The tower is planned as a contemplative space, to be viewed before entering the center. The height and concave walls present a unique “canvas” for Vigil, who learned the buon fresco technique in the 80’s from disciples of the great Mexican painter, Diego Rivera.

Due to the scope of the project, Vigil moved from Santa Fe to Albuquerque to be closer to the NHCC. He style uses bold designs and intense colors. Having seen the artwork in progress, I can honestly say it won’t be something easily forgotten.

Architecture of the NHCC tells yet another story. The campus is a blend of Meso-American, Pueblo style and traditional Spanish, mirroring the diversity of Hispanic peoples.

Education is an important component at NHCC. Workshops and classes are available, covering a range of topics. The National Latino Writers Conference draws a long list of presenters annually. A branch of Instituto Cervantes, a Spanish language school is also housed at the center.

NHCC is a many-faceted facility, offering a performing arts complex, a place to study genealogy, traveling exhibits and more. Whatever takes you to NHCC, make time for lunch at La Fonda.