January 2019
travelnewmex.com | winter 2019
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visit
santa fe
Museum of International Folk Art A Gathering of Voices: Folk Art from the Judith Espinar and Tom Dillenberg Collection
on Museum Hill in Santa Fe • 505.476.1200 • internationalfolkart.org
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture What’s New in New: Selections from the Carol Warren Collection on Museum Hill in Santa Fe • 505.476.1250 • indianartsandculture.org
New Mexico Museum 0f Art Wait Until Dark
on the Santa Fe Plaza • 505.476.5072 • nmartmuseum.org
New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors Atomic Histories: Remembering New Mexico’s Nuclear Past on the Santa Fe Plaza • 505.476.5100 • nmhistorymuseum.org
Find your place with the Cultural Atlas of New Mexico app. http://atlas.nmculture.org 2
Partially funded by the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission and the 1% Lodgers’ Tax.
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museumofnewmexico.org
~ 9,000 Feet Above Stress Level ~
e Lodge at Cloudcroft
In the Sacramento Mountains you wi discover a place where the dining is elegant, the golf is one of a kind and the spa wi soothe your soul. Since 1898 e Lodge has been a place to relax, renew and rejuvenate.
601 Cona Place Cloudcroft, New Mexico 88317 eLodgeRest.Com • 575-682-2566 • 800-395-6343
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index 6: Snowy Season Forecast for State’s Diverse Winter Activities 8: New Mexico Movie Locations Show Tourists the State Through a New Lens 14: New Mexico-Inspired Cuisine Gets a Kick from More Than Just Chile 16: Explore Cultural Richness in Los Lunas and Valencia County 19: Chama: New Mexico’s Mecca for Winter Fun
Petroglyphs in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photography by Marble Street Studio.
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The New Mexico Top Destinations Magazine is published once a year by Moon Dog Publishing. The Publisher does not take responsibility for the accuracy or legitimacy of the advertiser’s message or that of the guest writer/columnists or any aspect of the business operation or conduct of the advertisers in the magazine. Moon Dog Publishing reserves the right to edit all articles for accuracy and style. For more information and advertising rates,
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Pecos National Historical Park
Stories told here.
WHAT WILL YOU DISCOVER? During your stay in Santa Fe County, embark on a day trip excursion and discover the wondrous ruins of Indian pueblos at Pecos National Historical Park. Explore the cultural exchange and geographic features that played such a crucial role in the rich history of the Pecos Valley, while remembering the people who once prevailed in this region. SantaFeNMTrue.com
@SantaFeCounty
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Snowy Season Forecast for State’s Diverse Winter Activities Whether you ski or snowboard, or even if you prefer sledding or snowshoeing, this season for winter activities in New Mexico should be optimal no matter what your speed. “We are expecting 150 percent to 200 percent of normal (snowpack), but you never know,” said George David, executive director of Ski New Mexico. “The season started out (in November) about 120 percent of normal, with normal being over a five-year period. So, we’re optimistic it will be a good year.” Record low temperatures and heavy snowfall across the state at the turn of the year seemed to confirm earlier loose predictions that this could be one of the New Mexico’s best seasons for outdoor winter sports. Before snow even started falling, Taos Ski Valley kicked off the season as the top trending ski destination in the U.S., according to a report by travel search and booking engine Kayak.com. By the beginning of 2019, the northern New Mexico ski resort, known for its world class sheer runs, boosted its attractive meter by recording a snow base of nearly 50 inches. The average for the resort is 25 inches at base. Ski Santa Fe also saw about 50 at the beginning of the year. Other ski areas, such as Angel Fire, Pajarito and Sipapu averaged in the low 30s at base. (Snow reports came from SkiNewMexico.com.) “When people think skiing and snowboarding (across the nation), they don’t think Taos and Ski Santa Fe, but those are hidden gems,” said Tom Horrocks, who resides in New Hampshire and works as marketing communications manager for SnoCountry.com. The website is a worldwide source for snow and ski resort conditions. Ruidoso recorded the most snow in a single day at the end of 2018, with 20 inches Dec. 28, breaking the previous record of 14 inches. So, it came as no surprise that nearby Ski Apache opened 2019 with a whopping base of 60 inches.
Assuming the trend continues through February, skiers and snowboarders should be flocking to New Mexico’s ski destinations. For those who don’t do either, the opportunities are numerous not only for other snowrelated activities but also for people who would rather avoid snow altogether. Winter Activities in the Snow • Cross country skiing: Just about any of the state’s ski resorts offer incredible crossSkiing country opportunities. Among the best may be the Enchanted Forest Ski Area at Red River, the state’s only full-service cross-country ski and snowshoe area. It has 20 miles of well-marked and widely-groomed, patrolled trails and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For a list and description of some of the state’s other top destinations, visit https://bestthingsnm.com/cross-countryskiing-trail/. The Chama area, too, is a cross-country skiers paradise with marked trails for all skill levels. Maps are available at the Chama Visitors Center. • Rent a yurt in the wilderness. As long as you’re trekking through the woods, why not take a break by getting a good night’s rest in a yurt? They are available in Red River, Taos and just outside Chama, near Cumbres Pass in Southern Colorado. https://enchantedforestxc.com/lodging/, http://www.yurtsogood.com/Home.html and https:// southwestnordiccenter.com/. • Snowshoeing: As with cross-country skiing, the places to snowshoe are limitless. Check out the deep woods snow of the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains. Snowshoes can be rented at the preserve, located within a crater that is the remnants of an ancient volcano. https://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/winteractivities.htm. Another pristine area is the San Juan Wilderness near Chama, where you can snowshoe along well-marked trails right up to a yurt for an overnight stay. See the Chama Visitors Center for maps. • Ice fishing: Eagle Nest Lake State Park, 11 miles northeast of Angel Fire, is a local favorite for winter fishing. The 2,200-surface acre lake contains trout, salmon and perch. A license is required, so check with the Department of Game and Fish at 888-248-6866 before you head out. Also, be sure to make sure the lake is fully frozen.
Cross country skiing 6
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(continued on Page 10)
Southern Slam Dance Group (Zia)
INDIAN @INDIANPUEBLO
Sky City Buffalo Ram Dance Grou
PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER IndianPueblo.org Sky City Buffalo Ram Dance Group (Acoma)
HANDCRAFTED ART • NATIVE DANCES ROTATING EXHIBITS • NATIVE CUISINE
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Experiencing a Celebration of Pueblo Culture • Immersive Museum Traditional Native Dances Every Weekend • Pueblo Inspired Cuisine • Native Artisans Indian Pueblo Cultural Center • 2401 12th St NW, ABQ NM • 505.843.7270 • @IndianPueblo travelnewmex.com | winter 2019
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New Mexico Movie Locations Show Tourists the State Through a New Lens To see the world, one need only visit New Mexico. At least Hollywood often considers the state a good stand-in for much of it. Locations statewide have doubled for places ranging from Texas, to Stockholm, to Mars, spanning more than 600 movie and TV productions since 1898. The 121 years of filmmaking has turned the state into a film tourism playground. For both residents and visitors, a self-guided film location circuit can be a unique way to see New Mexico’s cities and outlying areas, while eating, sleeping and shopping in places your favorite stars have been. Snap a selfie while kicking back at Angel Fire Resort & Flying Horse Ranch in the Northern New Mexico ski town of Angel Fire, one of several spots where Johnny Depp played Tonto in the Lone Ranger. Or, picture yourself in the gaze of George Clooney at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. He walked its grounds while filming portions of The Men Who Stare at Goats. From Gallup near the Arizona border to Las Cruces down south, every corner of the state and all points in the middle can boast claims to fame on screen. The State Film Office’s online database contains photographs of more than 6,000 locations statewide at https://nm.reel-scout. com/loc_results.aspx. New Mexico’s impressive diversity of backdrops - snow-capped mountains, sandy deserts, urban skylines, Western ranches, government outposts, The city of Raton is among lush forests, etc. – enable more than 30 locations studios to transform New highlighted on a userMexico into almost any place friendly, self-guided Film Trails map provided by on the globe. This eliminates the New Mexico Tourism the need for film crews to Department as part of a Film travel far and creates new Tourism Initiative. (Photo reasons for the rest of us to Credit: Don Gray, contract plan trips around the state. locations coordinator for the New Mexico Film Office)
Self-guided film excursions
In conjunction with the Film Office, the NM Tourism Department began an official Film Tourism Initiative. Its New Mexico Film Trails website, which identifies production locations for the public, was the first step in programming, said David Griscom, tourism development director. The Trails site categorizes film locations by six state regions. It provides information about specific sites and associated attractions, in addition to a downloadable film trails map with GPS coordinates for the sites listed. (https://www. newmexico.org/places-to-go/true-trails/film-trails/) 8
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The Tourism Department began working last year with communities to create experiences that allow visitors to interact with the locations, Griscom said. Atomic bomb history buffs and fans of the 2014-2015 TV series Manhattan can take their photos in front of a recreated entry gate to Los Alamos National Lab. It is designed to look as it did in 1943, during the Manhattan Project. Las Vegas, NM, has maintained certain elements of the Longmire TV series sets so tourists familiar with the modern Western crime drama can take photos in front of the backdrops.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was partially filmed in Chama, near the Colorado border. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad departs daily from Chama between late May and October, taking tourists on a 64-mile trip through high desert, mountain canyons and lush meadows. (Photo Credit: Don Gray, contract locations coordinator for the New Mexico Film Office) (continued on next page)
New Mexico Movie Locations Show Tourists the State Through a New Lens (continued from previous page)
A “potpourri of productions” go all the way back to the early history of film in New Mexico, said Don Gray, contract locations coordinator for the Film Office. “There was a time when one out of five Westerns were shot in the Gallup, New Mexico, area. In the late ‘30s to mid-‘60s, there were hundreds of Westerns shot in that area,” he said. “We pulled out some examples from films that people could go and see and visit,” using the Tourism Department’s Film Trails map. Among the 30+ films the map highlights are: • Only the Valiant, starring Gregory Peck and Ward Bond, filmed in Red Rock Park near Gallup. • The original 1959 production of Journey to the Center of the Earth at Carlsbad Caverns. • The Transformer films, shot in part at White Sands National Monument. • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, filmed in Chama, near the Colorado border. • No Country for Old Men, which had many scenes staged in Las Vegas, NM’s, Plaza Hotel. • Red Dawn, shot in part in Las Vegas, where a mural used in the cult classic is still visible at the corner of 6th and Grand. • and Contact, in which Jodie Foster used the Very Large Array, west of Socorro in the southwest part of the state, to communicate with aliens. Seeing Albuquerque through Breaking Bad tours But it’s Albuquerque that has attained pop culture status as a result of two Emmy Award-winning TV series, Breaking Bad and spinoff Better Call Saul. Fans worldwide book reservations with Breaking Bad RV Tours and ABQ Trolley Co., to see sites from those hits and other productions. Both have tours that include major locations from the series and a pretty comprehensive view of Albuquerque in the meantime. (Albuquerque is consistently included in MovieMaker Magazine’s annual list of the “Top 10 Cities to Be a Movie Maker.”)
Producers of Academy-award winning No Country for Old Men set many scenes in Las Vegas, NM’s, Plaza Hotel. (Photo Credit: Don Gray, contract locations coordinator for the New Mexico Film Office)
ABQ Trolley Co. offers ghost tours, pub crawls and a “Best of the City” tour, in addition to its “BaD Tour,” which takes place the second and fourth Sunday of each month. But even its City tour includes a good number of film locations. (abqtrolley.com) “We do see Tim Allen’s house from Wild Hogs and play a clip from it, Jesse’s house (from Breaking Bad), Chuck’s house from Better Call Saul. … And we talk about the history of film and the tax credits and go by The Railyards, which is a huge film location,” said Jesse Herron, co-founder of Albuquerque Tourism & Sightseeing Factory, of which ABQ Trolley Co. is a division. Breaking Bad RV Tours conducts a Hollywood-style tour in a replica Breaking Bad RV. The 48-mile journey lasts three hours, stopping at 25-30 locations and for lunch at Los Pollos Hermanos, or Twisters, made famous by the show. (breakingbadrvtours.com)
From urban landscapes in Albuquerque to dry, cracked desert expanses near Las Cruces, New Mexico provides film producers a host of backdrops. Parts of the Clint Eastwood western Hang ‘Em High were shot in Las Cruces. (Photo Credit: Don Gray, contract locations coordinator for the New Mexico Film Office)
“It’s a very unique experience,” says Frank Sandoval, who owns the company with his wife. “Guests say it reminds them of taking a Hollywood tour, and Albuquerque is our studio.” More than 360 movie and TV productions have filmed in New Mexico since 2002, when the State introduced competitive tax incentives. travelnewmex.com | winter 2019
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Snowy Season Forecast for State’s Diverse Winter Activities (continued from Page 6)
• Snowmobiling: Head to Carson National Forest, where more than 50 miles of snowmobile-accessible trails await. Stop by the Visitors Center for a trail map and rules of the snow. Keep in mind also that the State of New Mexico requires a permit for all OHVs/snowmobiles. https://www. fs.usda.gov/activity/carson/recreation/ wintersports/?recid=44054&actid=92 However, no permits are required for snowmobiling in the wide open spaces near Chama. That’s because the recreational areas of this Northern New Mexico town are actually right across the border in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It is advisable, however, to take your own snowmobile, as rentals were not available recently. • Tubing: There’s no better place to take your rear end for a glide down a mountain than Ruidoso Winter Park in Alto, N.M., the “Holy Grail” of tubing. Boasting the most twists, turns, bumps, jumps, and bobsled curves, the area has more lift capacity and the largest tubing snow-making system in the Rockies, according to its website. Other ski areas with official tubing slopes: Angel Fire, Taos and Red River. Each also has sledding, which uses a different apparatus to get you down. https://www.ruidosowinterpark.com/ • Rent an igloo: If you visit Ruidoso Winter Park, take the chance to rent an igloo. The park offers a package that includes a heated 12-foot by 12-foot igloo with tables and chairs, unlimited snow tubing, and zipline passes for six guests, reserved tubes, handmade pizza, beverages, and much more. https://www.ruidosowinterpark.com/ • Ski biking: If you love to mountain bike and ski, this combines the two. Ski biking can be done at Angel Fire and Sipapu ski areas. Sipapu offers ski bike lessons and rentals. Taos Ski Valley is working on creation of a ski bike program. What makes New Mexico unique in the winter is that the climate often allows people inside of a single day to combine traditional winter activities with others usually better suited to warmer weather. The state’s Tourism Department calls this a “ski plus” adventure. “Visitors can hit the slopes at any of our ski resorts in the morning, come off the mountain after a few runs and explore ancient ruins in the warmth of the afternoon,” says Aimee Awonohopay, public relations director for the department. In the unlikely event that the winter months have a meltdown, anyone pining for winter sports still has a snowball’s chance for outdoor fun in the snow come spring. SnoCountry’s Horrocks says history shows springtime to actually be the best season for winter activities in New Mexico. “You get those storms that roll up from the Southwest, blessing everything from the Four Corners to Central and Northern New Mexico, so you get places like Taos and even Sandia Peak getting in on some of the action. In those areas, the most guaranteed time to get good ski time is in the spring (through April),” he said. 10
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Winter activities for those who want to avoid the snow • Ride in or watch hot air balloons: The annual SnoBall Rally in Chama, a small mountain village at New Mexico’s border with Colorado, is scheduled for Feb. 23-24. Watch colorful hot air balloon decorate the sky and soar over the Chama Valley’s picturesque snow-covered mountain backdrops. http://www.chamasnoball.com/ • Visit the Bosque del Apache: While there is always something interesting to see at this bird refuge, you will find the greatest numbers of birds from early November to late January, according to the website. In addition to viewing cranes and geese and many species of ducks, you can drive the auto tour loop or hike the trails and see hawks, eagles, blackbirds, ravens, coots, and other birds along with occasional mammals, such as mule deer, coyotes and jackrabbits. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bosque_del_ Apache/seasons/index.html • Enjoy Mardi Gras in the mountains: Red River Ski will host costume balls, a Cajun-food cookoff, crawfish boils and much more Feb. 28-March 5. https://www.redriverchamber. org/mardi-gras-in-the-mountains/ • Soak in hot springs: Jemez Springs and Ojo Caliente are local hot spots for relaxing soaks in natural waters. http:// www.jemezsprings.org/attractions/hot-springs-spas/ and https://www.ojospa.com/ • Experience a chocolate fantasy and shop: Sample chocolate to your sweet tooth’s delight, and shop among beautiful storefronts for Valentine’s Day gifts during Chocolate Fantasia in Silver City’s historic district on Feb. 9. • Stay warm in a mountain lodge: The Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant in the Taos Ski Valley provides respite for skiers and non-skiers alike. Known for its beer and rich German foods, it bills itself as similar to a visit to the Bavarian Alps in the Southwest. https://www.taosskivalley. com/member/ bavarian-lodgeand-restaurant • Horseback riding: Take a trail ride through New Mexico’s winter landscapes. Horseback riding is offered throughout the state. Visit Trip Advisor for information. https://www. tripadvisor.com/ Attractionsg28952Activities-c61t62-New_ Mexico.html Bosque del Apache. Photography by Marble Street Studio.
experience
SOCORRO unlike any other city Bosque del Apache Photography by Colleen Gino
www.facebook.com/ Visit us at: SocorroNM www.SocorroNM.org Elfego Baca Heritage Park History Wheel
San Miguel Mission Church
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travelnewmex.com | winter 2019
We represent the Native American,
Hispanic and Latino People.
If you want to experience the culture, bring an event or book room nights
then give us a call today!
(505) 842-9003 • SiABQ.org
New Mexico-Inspired Cuisine Gets a Kick from More Than Just Chile New Mexicans will put chile in just about any food. Not the cheesy or beefy variety marketed as chili with an “i” in Texas but the locally-grown, spicy red and green peppers that have been a staple for the state’s Puebloan and Hispanic populations for hundreds of years. Chile so defines the culture that in 1999, the New Mexico Legislature adopted an official state question, “Red or green?” It’s famously asked of diners at just about any eatery in the state serving traditional New Mexican food. While chile of either color undeniably enhances dishes such as enchiladas and tacos and is a must-try for any visitor to the state, cultural influences on cuisine extend far beyond the pepper. The mere addition of chile to any given dish is only a starting point to understanding and appreciating New Mexico food. For example, the ubiquitous Albuquerque turkey sandwich, often made with green chile and guacamole, and the popular green chile cheeseburger give locals and visitors alike a taste of New Mexico in an otherwise familiar American food. Independent eateries and specialty shops sell everything from chile-infused chocolate, to wines with notes of chile. Chiles have even invaded locally-served Northeastern fare, such as green chile England clam chowder, and Italian dishes like green chile lasagna. However, for diners seeking a broader introduction to New Mexico-influenced cuisine, more culturally wholistic food experiences do exist. They are contemporary, yet regional, and find inspiration beyond simply adding red or green chile to standard national fare. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s Pueblo Harvest restaurant serves dishes that not only inspire the palette with unique locally-based ingredients but also educate the customer about indigenous food and peoples. Executive chef Brent Moore says the Albuquerque restaurant is an
Smoked duck and waffles. Photography by Ashley Browning.
experiential extension of the museum, a way to taste the native culture, not just see it. Pueblo Harvest focuses on meals with ingredients Moore characterizes as “pre-contact,” meaning that Native people gathered, grew or hunted them before Spanish colonization. “We try to use ingredients native to North America, as opposed to those brought over by Spaniards,” or even introduced by other parts of Europe or the Middle East, he said. “There was a totally different way of cooking and thinking prior to that. The focus was around sustainability of everything. The culture was living with the land, not forcing the land to do what you wanted it to do. What was available, was available. Animals were hunted rather than shepherded into pens and raised to be food. Ingredients revolved around the seasons and what the earth could give you.” In keeping with that mindset, Moore and his team cook according to what each season produces. They use locallysourced spices, such as sage, juniper and sumac, and locally-sourced game, such as bison, elk and rabbit. He then gives the dishes a contemporary twist and presentation. New to the menu as of late December are items such as: • Smoked duck and waffle, consisting of smoked duck breast, sweet yucca waffles, sage-infused agave syrup and puffed wild rice • Mashed yucca cakes with two eggs, sumac-scented walnut milk gravy and yucca chips • Grilled bison flank, with pickled acorn squash, and sage and piñon pesto • Tribal trout, which consists of New Mexico trout, a yam purée, wild greens, prickly pear syrup and fried sweet potato strings
Bison Flank Steak. Photography by Ashley Browning. 14
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• And the Three Sisters, a specialty dish made of weaved (continued on Page 18)
where do you belong? Fort Stanton Historic Site, Lincoln County. Photograph by Tim Roberts.
Established in 1855 as a military post, Fort Stanton is one of the most intact—and impressive—19th-century military forts in America. It is certainly one of the most authentic historic settings in the southwest United States. Learn more at nmhistoricsites.org/fort-stanton or by calling 575-354-0341. The Cultural Atlas of New Mexico leads you to historic and cultural places throughout the Land of Enchantment. Organized by region, proximity and interest, the Cultural Atlas will help you find where you belong.
http://atlas.nmculture.org
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Explore Cultural Richness in Los Lunas and Valencia County New Mexico’s culturally rich heritage of creating vernacular art to adorn churches, private chapels, and residences began in the early years of the SpanishColonial era and was firmly entrenched by the mid-Eighteenth Century. The advent of an artisan class, known as santeros, depicted religious iconography to celebrate their Christianity. Santeros, a term which denotes saint-makers, on Spain’s far northern frontier portrayed San Isidro Labrador and Santo Niño de Atocha, as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Christ Child, in retablos (two-dimensional santos), bultos (three-dimensional santos), and alter screens to decorate the interiors of churches and homes from the Rio Arriba to the Rio Abajo. In the Nineteenth Century, santeros enriched the interiors of churches in the Rio Abajo such as Saint Augustine Church at Isleta Pueblo and Immaculate Conception Church in Tomé. In the immediate vicinity of Los Lunas, these historic churches stand as tangible reminders of the
Catholic heritage in New Mexico. Visitors in the Rio Abajo are reminded of this heritage upon viewing the historic Catholic churches in Peralta, Valencia, Tomé, Los Lunas, and Isleta Pueblo. The region is a true New Mexico destination to experience the architectural, religious, and cultural significance of the Catholic Church’s presence in the Land of Enchantment. To celebrate this heritage, the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts offers “Ayer, Hoy, y Mañana – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” an exhibition of traditional Hispanic arts from March 1 through May 3, 2019. Santeros and artisans, many of whom have participated in Santa Fe’s Spanish Market and have exhibited in museums in the United States and abroad, will show through their work the living tradition of artistic expression that began during the Spanish-Colonial era. We invite you to discover and explore the less traveled roads in Los Lunas and the Rio Abajo to replenish your soul and spirit. The Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts is located at 251 Main Street SE on old U.S. Route 66. For additional information, please call 505-352-7720 or visit us on Facebook at LosLunasMuseum.
Saint Augustine Church at Isleta Pueblo. Photography by Stephanie Birr. 16
travelnewmex.com | winter 2019
Ayer, Hoy, Y Mañana Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow!
An Exhibition of Traditional Hispanic Arts March 1st - May 3rd, 2019 Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts
“San Isidro in all his Glory” by Jean Anaya Moya; Photograph by Minesh Bacrania travelnewmex.com | winter 2019
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New Mexico-Inspired Cuisine Gets a Kick from More Than Just Chile (continued from Page 14)
zucchini, blue corn bread, fermented black bean and corn, and a sunflower crisp. Similarly, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm in Albuquerque’s North Valley prides itself on menus that showcase its signature Rio Grande Valley Cuisine, which pays homage to the rich history of the region. Featuring local farmers’ products, regionally harvested fish and meat, and wild plants such as day lilies, devils claws (a native squash), and native sumac, menu ingredients are 80 percent local, said Los Poblanos executive chef and native New Mexican Jonathan Perno. “New Mexico is underrated and not looked at as a food place as much as it should be,” said Perno, who is in his 11th year at Los Poblanos. He previously studied under some of the world’s top chefs in Alaska, California, London, Paris and Italy. “This is just as rich and deep in culture and flavor as any of those places, but you have to be true to the state and true to the season,” he said.
Pueblo Burger. Photography by Caitlin Cano.
• Whoo’s Donuts in Santa Fe has become famous, and widely Instagrammed, for its most popular concoction, a blue corn, blueberry, lavender donut. (Lavender and blue corn are native to the area.)
For those with more basic tastes, New Mexico food that pushes the boundaries of chile alone are readily findable even in the most unexpected places.
(continued on Page 20)
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Chama: New Mexico’s Mecca for Winter Fun One of the best-kept secrets in New Mexico is the enchanting little village of Chama at the top of the state. It is not only home to warm weather delights, like the Cumbres & Toltec steam railroad and trout fishing, but is also a hotspot for winter sports. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing— everything but downhill skiing is abundantly available in Chama’s gorgeous open country. With its lively Western-style business district, several hotels and cozy dining establishments, Chama is located on U.S. 84 in the beautiful and diverse Chama Valley near the Colorado border. (Take the “Chama Highway” out of Española.) The valley, created and traversed by the Rio Chama, is situated in the southern Rockies at 7,860 feet elevation, with nearby Brazos Peaks offering mountain vistas and scenic gorges. The valley’s human history is rich with stories of toil and innovation, from the indigenous Indian people to Hispanic settlers, to trappers and latter-day business people attracted by the varied resources. Winter especially offers breathtaking beauty in the Rio Chama Valley. Days are sunny, and nights are clear and star-filled. In the valley, the combination of bright sunshine and lack of humidity make for surprisingly comfortable days despite cold temperatures.
Chama, New Mexico ---
Plenty of snow to play, cross country ski or snow mobile in! www.chamanmv.com
In the surrounding mountain passes, you’ll find a reliable base of snow. The gentle terrain of the mesas makes for perfect cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Groomed trails and marked tracks crisscross easily accessible public lands. This area has five yurts available for those wishing to spend the night. In colder years, visitors and residents gather for fine ice fishing on Heron Reservoir. For your safety and comfort, Chama locals warn to always check with the appropriate ranger district before heading out. Never travel alone, and make sure you are adequately prepared for a variety of weather. For more information, go to Chama Valley Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-477-0149.
Advertisement purchased with Village of Chama Lodgers Tax
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New Mexico-Inspired Cuisine Gets a Kick from More Than Just Chile (continued from Page 18)
• Taos Cow, a cozy and eclectic ice cream parlor/café in Arroyo Seco, just north of Taos, serves piñon-caramel, cherry ristra (cherry, chocolate, and piñon) and lavender flavors – among a host of other revolving delights – using local ingredients that make their ice cream uniquely New Mexican.
Despite the local culinary movement to broaden the culturally-inspired dining experience beyond chile, the red and green remain the dominant choice of just about any eatery in the state. Here’s a short list of locations and dishes – many taken from the State Tourism Department website - that propel New Mexico chile into national and international dishes:
• At Vick’s Vittles Country Kitchen, diners at the greasy spoon on Central in Albuquerque can order Santa Fe Pancakes, consisting of blue corn buttermilk pancakes with roasted piñons and Hatch green chile in the batter. (It also consists of cheddar-jack cheese, but there’s nothing New Mexican about that.)
Italian • Pastaggio’s in Las Cruces serves several chile pasta dishes, including green chile alfredo, meat and green chile lasagna, and grilled chicken fettucine with red chile alfredo sauce. • Chile is also common on pizza at numerous eateries around the state.
Whether your taste tends toward gourmet or grab-‘n-go, “New Mexico offers culinary treasures unlike any other,” said Aimee Awonohopay, public relations director for the New Mexico Tourism Department. “Our unique dishes, inspired by Native American and Hispanic influences, show how various cultures have blended. Visitors to our state will also taste the way America has been eating for the last 1,100 years. It is a living culture here. With every bite, you will not only taste history but learn how different cultures have come together. You will leave New Mexico a changed person. Very few places offer this experience.”
Cuban Babaluu’s Cocina Cubana in Santa Fe uses Hatch green chile to spice up its Caribbean Crawfish Creole Green Chile Boil and Sautéed Littleneck Clams. The chef also uses Chimayo red chile to add a kick to mango sauce and even to subtly flavor ice cream. Mediterranean A side of green chile can accompany your Middle Eastern meal at Pars Cuisine in Albuquerque. Irish Clancy’s Pub – an Irish Cantina in Farmington serves customers a bowl of New Mexico green chile alongside the traditional Irish stew of pork and potatoes. Seafood Las Cruces’ Aqua Reef reels in customers seeking seafood with a New Mexico twist with offerings like its Aqua Reef Roll, featuring Saku tuna, green chile, cucumber and scallion with dynamite sauce. Asian • At Gallup’s Badlands Grill, you can start with green chile wontons filled with ground beef and green chile, served with a green chile marmalade. Then move on to a wholly American 16-ounce New York strip steak topped with green chile, mozzarella and cheddar cheese. • Shohko Café in Santa Fe has a signature green chile tempura as well as a Santa Fe roll, which combines green chile with shrimp tempura and avocado. Wine Hatch green and red chile wines are available at select local grocers and St. Clair Winery in Deming. Desserts • Green chile pistachio brittle can be found at Chocolate Dude in Albuquerque. • Candy Mountain Fudge in Red River has developed a following for its New Mexico flavors made with New Mexico chile powder and nuts, including green chile pistachio fudge and red chile chocolate pecan fudge. • Santa Fe’s La Lecheria craft ice cream parlor creates flavors you won’t see anywhere else - green chile, brown sugar red chile and even mole.
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