In the 1978 movie Same Time Next Year, Ellen Burstyn’s character lamented that her husband considered his years in the Army the best years of his life. When Alan Alda’s character, her partner in a 26-year adulterous affair, commiserated that many men felt that way about their time in the military, Burstyn retorted, “but he spent two years as a prisoner of war.” I can’t relate to being a prisoner of war, but can fully appreciate why so many men cherish their time in the military. More than playing sports in high school, the military develops a camaraderie and esprit de corps you will never experience anywhere else. Even Hawkeye Pierce, they cynical anti-military doctor who served in Korea with the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) recognized “I’m “closer to these people than i’ve ever been to anybody else in my life, or ever expect to be.”
When diagnosed with PTSD, Jim recognized there was something he could do to help similarly affected veterans process and heal. He undertook the mission of leading a veterans’ writing group that harnesses the power of storytelling to confront and heal from trauma. Jim recruited his friend and fellow veteran Tom to help with the effort. They meet weekly at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Albuquerque with veterans in the writing therapy group. With their coaching, veterans transform their traumatic experiences into written stories. Moreover, they find support in a safe, understanding space. For veterans, it’s an outlet for self-expression, offering a sense of relief and connection through writing. The group is planning a reading tour throughout the Land of Enchantment during which they will share their stories at veterans’ organizations.
Jim and Tom have since expanded their roles. Along with members of the VA Writing Group, they visit restaurants in the Albuquerque area and share their observations in a podcast they call Mañana Cafe. In weekly episodes, Jim and Tom have shared their insights on well over 100 restaurants in the Albuquerque area (with forays into Santa Fe and throughout the Land of Enchantment). Their format is simple and you don’t have to wade through half-a-million words (hint to self) to find out what they think of a particular restaurant. Each podcast includes video and is about five minutes long. I first met Tom in July, 2025 at the Blackbird Coffee House in Old Town. In December, he invited me to join the VA writing group for lunch at a brand new restaurant in Corrales. I brought along my dear friend Bill Resnik who, while not a veteran, is one of the most giving civic-minded people I know.
If you’ve never heard of the No Competition Supercharged Bistro, you’re not alone. To their “embarassment and amazement,” Corrales residents Tom and Jim stumbled upon it and shared their review on Mañana Cafe. They were so impressed that they declared it the “best in New Mexico burger joint.” They graciously wanted me to share their restaurant find with them and other members of the VA writing group. The audaciously named No Competition Supercharged Bistro is adjacent to the Sandia Bar on the corner of West Ella and Corrales Road. As you’re driving on Corrales Road, you’ll definitely espy the Sandia Bar, but there’s no visible signage telling you of the restaurant.
The No Competition Supercharged Bistro occupies the kitchen spaces at the newly renovated Sandia Bar. You’ll place your order at a window and pick it up at a counter. There is no seating within the tiny confines of the restuarant, but you’re welcome to enjoy your meal at the Sandia Bar or–weather-permitting–use one of the bar’s numerous outdoor tables. Should you choose to dine al fresco, you’ll be sitting under a canopy of arboreal giants. If you elect to find a table at the bar, you’ll be impressed by the upscale milieu–especially if you remember the days when it was the local biker bar hangout.
The No Competition is a member of the Primera Agua Hospitality Group which owns and operates a number of restaurants in the Albuquerque area. Among them are Flatiron Bites and Brews and Garduño’s Nativo. When you place your order at a Primera Agua restaurant, you’re enrolled in a rewards club where you will earn points toward free food and invitations to exclusive events (similar to credit cards with their cash back rewards programs). We were surprised at just how quickly the line to place our orders moved. On a rare sunny and warm day in December, we elected to dine outdoors in a shaded table. Our group ordered a number of different menu items, many of which were shared among us. I was fortunate enough to sit next to the delightful Laurel, one of only a few group members who also served in the Air Force…