Tom Quinlan has worked in the food service industry for 35 years, most recently as an account manager with National Restaurant Supply. After living in Phoenix for a while, he has returned to St. Louis to open Adobe Reds, a new restaurant coming to Midtown Alley at 3108 Olive St., in the space formerly occupied by The U.
Adobe Reds will offer Southwestern-style fare, according to Quinlan, who admitted that while the food may be better described as “New Mexican,” the term is probably unfamiliar to local diners. So, what does “New Mexican” mean to Quinlan? As reported by the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Bonwich, the ingredients and techniques that characterize this cuisine include Hatch chiles (named after their geographical origin in the area surrounding Hatch, N.M.), pecan wood-smoked meats and stacked enchiladas.
Although Adobe Reds’ menu hasn’t been finalized, Quinlan gave The Scoop a sneak peek at the rough draft. Offerings include a variety of quesadillas, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, pizzas and salads, all boasting bold Southwestern flavors. Those green Hatch chiles will show up in numerous dishes, including corn chowder and pork stew. And the stacked corn enchiladas covered with red and/or green chile sauce will even be offered the authentic New Mexican way – with a fried egg. Sweet endings include sopaipillas (a puff pastry topped with honey, cinnamon and cinnamon ice cream) and a dessert called Chocolate Lightening, a brownie that’s been given a spark of heat thanks to a pinch of cayenne and a topping of chocolate-chipotle ice cream.
Quinlan noted that minor changes were made to the interior space, such as converting The U’s order counter into a bar. He hopes to open the doors at Adobe Reds in early May, though he said he will know more about the target date after a liquor license hearing next week.
For a sneak peek at Adobe Reds, click here.
This article appears in April 2011.