Press

September 1, 2025

The winding highway meandering along the murky Rio Grande through Embudo is among the most scenic in the Land of Enchantment, particularly in mid-autumn when leaves turn a vibrant shade of gold. For  nearly two decades, motorists drove slowly not only to take in the foliage, but to imbibe the hazy applewood smoke plumes emanating from Sugar's BBQ & Burgers .  Enchanting aromas wafted into motorized conveyances like a sweet Texas smoke signal beckoning passers-by to try a combo platter or a brisket burrito.  In 2023, the drive alongside the Rio Grande became somewhat less captivating with the discernible absence of those fragrant aromas.

From First Up

3 October 2024 

By Liam Easley, Taos News

Apr 24, 2004

Just before her one-year anniversary this May, Alyson Hyder decided to close her eatery, Aly's A La Cart, to give the restaurant a face lift. Just eight days later, on Saturday (April 20), Hyder held a reopening party to celebrate the restaurant's refreshed look.

According to Hyder, they didn't get as much work done as they had hoped before opening back up for business, but returning customers should nonetheless see the difference.

Jun. 05, 2024

By Jennifer Levin

ALY HYDER STARTED SELLING meat pies from a five-foot food truck in Taos Ski Valley during the pandemic. Skiers could enjoy fresh, hot, individually sized meals without even taking off their gloves. They were an instant hit.

"Have you been to New Zealand?" asks Hyder, who grew up there. "There are pies everywhere—in cafés, in bakeries. You go get your gas, and there's a pie warmer at the gas station. But here, it's a niche."

In just a few short years, Hyder moved from the miniature food truck to a full-size model, and then to a full-fledged restaurant, Aly's A La Cart, a charmingly renovated boxcar with a red facade just north of downtown Taos. For summer, Hyder is redoing the patio and outdoor seating area, where diners will have views across the road to a field that is stunning at sunset.