Chile Thrives On Native Soil
Above: A Jemez Pueblo family with a chile ristra, ca. 1905. Courtesy of Simeon Schwemberger collection at the Center for Southwest Research, UNM Libraries. LOOKING AT HIS FIELD in early July, Jemez…
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Tag: Red Chile
More Than Just Salsa
Illustration by Chris Philpot. CAPSAICIN, THE ALKALOID that makes chiles taste hot, has been a healer since the ancient Inca and Aztec cultures. These days, super-hot chiles are bred specifically for…
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José Gonzalez: The Allure of Chile Farming
Above: José Gonzalez earned the Farmer All Star award from the Santa Fe Farmers' Market's Market Institute in 2015. IN A HUMID, tree-curtained corner of the Española Valley, José Gonzalez walks among…
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The Making of Chile U
BEHIND AN INCONSPICUOUS DOOR in the unremarkable hallway of a standard university building lies a one-room wonder. There, a former classroom bursts with racks of colorful seed packets, shelves of…
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Matt Romero: The Passion of Chile Roasting
IN NEW MEXICO, chile is handed down in recipes and with seeds the same way some families pass along an heirloom watch. Such is the case with Matt Romero, reigning chile roaster at the Santa Fe…
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Nick Maryol: Feeding the Soul
Above: Nick Maryol shares his passion for New Mexican cuisine at Tia Sophia's. Photo: Kate Russell. Nick Maryol started bussing tables at Tia Sophia’s when he was 6. It was as much family obligation…
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First Fruit in Space: New Mexico Chile Pepper
Illustration by Chris Philpot A MISSION TO MARS is still a decade away, but scientists at NASA already plan to stock it with green chile. Why? We could say because it tastes so good, but the answer is…
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The Ultimate New Mexico Chile Tasting Guide
“THE RÍO GRANDE IS OUR MOTHER RIVER,” says chef Michelle Chavez. “A minerality happens because of the snowmelt and rocks and geological factors that make up our state. If we didn’t have that water and…
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The Mystery of Big Jim
IN THE EARLY 2000s, Mesilla Valley chile farmers brought a conundrum to Paul Bosland. “Our chile doesn’t taste right anymore,” they told him, “not like what we grew up with, not our chile.” Since…
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