Let the Beauty of what you Love be what you Do...
~Rumi

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Local Flavor :)


It's chile harvesting season in New Mexico! And there is nothing like fresh roasted chile, let me tell you! While there are many roasters set up in parking lots & at the farmer's market here in Santa Fe, I had always wanted to go to the Chile Festival in Hatch, NM, so I got the weekend off from work, and off I went. For those of you that are not familiar w/ Hatch... it is considered "The Chile Capitol of the World," and there is something special about Hatch Green Chiles!


Here's a shot driving into the Festival, set just a mile or so out of town. Having never been before, I did not know what to expect. It had the feel of a small town county fair~ rides for the kids, vendors & booths (both local & out of state) selling all sorts of items, & tons of food options.
(I had the green chile relleno burrito & green chile ice cream!)


Booth & vendors~ nothing (except the food!) really caught my eye...


until I found the "chile section..." sampling the red chile salsa, I was sold.
:)


I think more than the festival itself, was just walking around the town of Hatch & seeing chiles hanging from nearly everywhere... and the scent of fresh roasting chile wafting through the air. Not to mention to observe a typically sleepy little town transform into a bustling metropolis of chile lovers!




I did not eat at Sparky's  this time around, but I have before, and I will tell you they've  got a pretty darn good Green Chile Cheeseburger... as you can probably tell by the line out the door!


Chiles...


chiles...


... and more chiles!




It was a really fun experience, especially as a photographer & chile lover.
For more information on Hatch & the Chile Festival, click here .
For an interesting & important article about the fate of the New Mexico Green Chile click here. For other chile related data & links, here's a fun website~


 Before I wrap it up, I've got to share a couple other places w/ you, should you ever be out this way. :) The first is  The Buckhorn Tavern.  It's a little gem of a place just off of I-25 in San Antonio, NM. Their Green Chile Cheeseburger beat out Bobby Flay (of the Food Network ) in a "throw down."


Let me tell you, they live up to their reputation! It's gotta be one of the best Green Chile Cheeseburgers around.


Another place I've got to share w/ you that I just happened to find while looking for lodging in Truth or Consequences (what a cool name for a town,) is Blackstone Hot Springs. This place is quaint, hip, cool, relaxing... well just plain wonderful. They only have 7 rooms, most of which go for the rate of a regular hotel room, but their tubs carry healing hot spring water direct from the source! 


An awesome place for the weary traveler to relax. My only regret is that I only had one night, so I didn't get the chance to check out the town much. If you get the opportunity, I'd highly recommend this little oasis in the desert~ stay a couple of nights if you can!
...

11 comments:

Barb said...

Becky, please tell me you didn't eat the burrito and chile ice cream plus the green chile cheeseburger in the same day! I have heartburn just reading about it. Love your chile photos. Good Luck on finding a rental.

Randy said...

Thanks for sharing this Becky. Your photos are wonderful and now I wish I had gone. Well next year. Next up is the Whole Enchilada Festival in La Mesilla at the end of the month. Wish you could have been there with Kate and I. It was so much fun.

Pat said...

I love seeing the red chiles hanging in bunches like that. Brings back memories of my time in New Mexico. I'm not a real spicy eater but that hamburger looked good!

Ms. Becky said...

this looks like a lot of fun. all those chiles!!! they're so colorful. and I've never had a green chile cheeseburger but that one looks delicious. and huge. the hot springs looks like my kind of spot. I've been to Ojo Caliente and that was a fantastic experience, but I bet way more expensive than this place. I much prefer quaint, hip, and cool. happy day to you Becky.

Kate said...

A wonderful medley of photos. Perhaps I'll be able to go to Hatch sometime in the future. Hope all is well an d that classes are keeping you busy and happy!

Tammie Lee said...

that hot tub really does look inviting! I want to take a bath now. the last persons post I visited was about bees and I got up and had a spoon of honey. i must be open to suggestion right now! The chili festival looks wonderful. my favorite chilies are sweet ones.

John Brisson said...

The easy comment..."hot photos"!!!!

Rick said...

What a bunch of cool (or should that be hot ?) places, Becky ! Wow - green chile ICE CREAM ? Who'd have thought ! Love those colorful shots of all those chiles. I hope you have a cast iron stomach ;-)

Have a great week, Becky !

clairz said...

Can't wait for next year at Hatch! Your pictures are marvelous, Becky.

Annie said...

Hi Becky, not sure how I missed this post, I have been waiting to hear about the trip, and here it is! I am a red chile girl myself.
I am glad you had a fun trip and that bath looks like heaven :-).
xoxo

marianne said...

what great photos! thanks for sharing. i had hatch chiles in ft worth last year, glad to now know the story behind them!