The culture of our food

What is it about the Northern New Mexican culture that intrigues me? I must admit I was not born in this area but I was brought here when I was really young. I can still remember how confused I was Driving into Taos and seeing snow for the first time, as fascinating as that was it was still not as memorable as the first time I remember smelling green chile roasting.

I have been living in Northern New Mexico since 1992 and I have embraced the culture in my own way. The one aspect of the culture that I have really taken a liking to is the culinary culture.

There is something very unique and wonderful about it. Where else in the world will you go into a restaurant and be asked, “What will it be, red, green, or christmas?” but of course there is more to New Mexican cooking than just Red or Green Chile.

Out here in New Mexico, food brings people together. No matter if it is an ordinary day or special occasion, we use food as a way of showing those around us that we appreciate them, or for making a stranger feel welcome. Out here, you cannot visit a relative without them wanting to feed you first. I honestly cannot remember the last time that I went and visited a relative of my wife and wasn’t offered a meal.

Even in my own home even though there are only three of us, we always make sure we make enough just in case we have an unexpected guest. Nothing to us is more awkward then showing up to a persons house and watching them eat, and as a host it would be extremely rude to not feed a guest. That is why we are always taught to make sure we made enough.

It is amazing how food is part of all our lives. Not only does it keep us alive but it also bring us closer to others in a spectacular way. No Matter what culture you come from I’m sure food does the same for you.

A Disco for my Birthday!

When I mention that I received a disco for my birthday, I don’t mean bell bottoms and Bee Gees music. I’m talking about a grill made from a Tractor’s plow disc. This neat little device is widely used widely in New Mexico (aka a Cowboy Wok) and is definitely an ideal sidekick for home, camping, and making chicharrones in a Matanza. For those of you who do not know what a Matanza is, it is a time people gather together to slaughter an animal, usually a pig, but that will be another article.

Over the years I have encountered this type of grill only a few times and it has always intrigued me. My wife and I have always lived in an apartment until recently, so everywhere we lived we were not allowed to own a grill. A few months ago we bought our first home and now we make our own rules.

Knowing my birthday was coming up, about a month ago I started to express my interest in a new grill. At first, I was expressing an interest in a charcoal grill which doubles as a smoker because of its ability to do both, but as time went on memories of a disco grill came to mind and I had to have one.

We went shopping everywhere for a disco and could not find one. Ignorant as I was, I thought that these were sold in stores, I soon found out that these grills are not found in the store but have to be made by hand. Of course, there are some generic form of these type of grills in a few feed stores but the metal is not the same so the flavor of the food it produces will be different. Luckily, we found someone in our town who actually keeps the tradition of making the disco by hand and makes a customized version for everyone that orders his creations.I was the happiest man in the world when we got the call that my grill was finished. I couldn’t believe that I was going to have a custom grill made for me and I could’t wait to fire it up. I know that as I learn how to use this grill I will be sharing in my adventures and recipes that I make for my family. I hope you will enjoy them!

Cooking Carnitas!

Armadillo Eggs!

Until then Happy Eating!

 

 

Looking for for a pizza fix? Taos Pizza Outback is your place to be.

 

Taos Pizza Out back is definitely not your typical pizza place. If you are looking for a cheap pie and/or a franchise flavor you are definitely missing out on an experience this place has to offer.

My family and I always come to this place when we have a pizza craving, and since we are always looking for the unique, this restaurant falls into that category.

Located in the north side of Taos, NM Taos Pizza Out back is one stop you should make while visiting. This family friendly place is a great way to spend an evening out with the family, eating flavorful pizza, and the sound of reggae and various  music genres playing in the background. Unlike a lot of the major pizza franchises this is not your typical pizza.

When you first the a glance at the menu you realize that you are in for a treat. You do have the option of creating your own pie or trying many of the various specialty pizzas which vary in sizes and tastes. By First bite you can tell the attention paid into the detail of each pie. With a handmade crust, to the sauces, and the ingredients used for the toppings.

I apologize about the picture above but before I could snap a picture of the whole pie my family dug right in. This pie is known as the Shredder, a pizza topped with smoked mozzarella, fresh tomato, green chile, mushrooms, choice of meat, topped with house dressing. If you ever find yourself in there I do recommend a salad with their house dressing, it’s amazing!

Always Happy Eating!

The restaurant is located at,

712 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos NM. 87571

575 758 3112

Hot wings? I think yes!

One of the best ways to spend a snowy evening is a night out with the family at a restaurant, It’s days like this that you get the feeling that none of you want to cook. So on this particular evening we actually decided on a place to eat, and I have to say hands down that I was not disappointed. In a small town like Taos, a place like this little bar can be a diamond in the rough. We ended up choosing the 575 sports and Co.

This place is owned by a local beautician whose salon is located adjacent to the restaurant. So if you are burdened with having to take your significant other to a hair appointment you can walk next door and enjoy a beer and a game as well as delicious food! What’s neat about it is it seems that it was once a mechanic shop converted into a bar. In the summer the giant garage door in the dining area will be open to let in a cool breeze for all the customers
I have to say that this place has the best hot wings in town! Forget any other alternative like the major pizza joints, this is your place to be!

The restaurant is located at 109 Paseo de Pueblo Sur, Taos NM 87571. If you’re in the area give it a try and Happy Eating!

Who Makes the Best Green Chile Burger?

One thing is for sure, we New Mexicans are very serious when it come to Green Chile Burgers. Many fast food places have jumped on to the bandwagon and advertise that they serve New Mexico green chile as well, but nothing compares to restaurant qualit y.

There have been many debates statewide as to who makes the best green chile burger. I am curious to see what places people frequent just to eat that very thing. I know when it comes to my personal choice I like to eat my burger open faced and smothered with green chile. I live in Taos, NM and one of my favorite places to eat this would have to be the Station Cafe 3 one 6.

This little place is a fairly new restaurant owned by the same order of Orlando’s New Mexican food in El Prado, New Mexico. The Sloppy Bro as it is named is easily my favorite dish and I love that they serve with some of their famous beer battered fries. This dish is definitely one everyone should try and believe me it will not disappoint.

The Restaurant is located at316 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571

So I welcome any comment as to your opinions on this subject. Happy eating!

Yu Garden’s Curry Shrimp and Hot and Sour Soup

 

 

 

I figure my first official blog is to include one of my favorite dishes, curry shrimp. There are times when my wife and I do not know what to make for dinner and we end up having an endless debate as to what we will have for the evening. These types up debates tend to look like this… Sorry love.

Anyway after all the dramatics we tend to find ourselves coming to the same conclusion and that is Yu Garden Asian Cuisine in Taos, NM. This little place seems to be a gem hidden among many stones, so a lot of locals have not yet found it. It is a young restaurant, but has the flavor of seasoned vets who have made this food for generations. I have never had Asian food with so much flavor especially in this tiny part of the state. So this is definitely a stop to make.

The restaurant is located at 1033 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571. hidden in a small strip mall next to an insurance agency and a small coffee shop. One great thing about this place is not only the Curry or the Hot and Sour Soup, but the fact that the owner who goes by the name Amanda, will come to your table and make sure that your dining experience was pleasant. If you find yourself in the neighborhood I suggest this as your next stop.

Since I live in Taos County, many of my blog posts will surround a lot of the eateries in the area, but I do get around and find myself in many different places.

If you have any suggestions as to where I should eat next, please comment below. I will be more than happy to check it out. Happy eating!

Fun and Food!

 

One of the greatest part of growing up in Northern New Mexico is the culture, and the food that brings us all together. I have noticed any different restaurants and cuisines show itself in the past few years and I see that the whole food culture in New Mexico is changing. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy traditional New Mexican cuisine but I also enjoy the many different styles of cuisines that are showing itself everyday. I want to share my experiences in the different places that I find myself and the food that is served. I hope you enjoy this blog and I hope to entice you to try new things! If you have any suggestions, recipes or places that I should check out, leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!