I had heard a lot of good things about Albuquerque and Santa Fe but never had a chance to visit New Mexico (NM) until recently. Needless to say, I was totally blown away by the art and culture of this desert state. The Government of New Mexico calls it the Land of Enchantment, and they are not kidding. New Mexico is a melting pot of culture. From colonial architecture, ghost towns, Native American cultural sites, art galleries and to providing a vast playground for outdoor enthusiasts, this place has something for everyone. And of course, one cannot forget to mention their unique cuisine….more on that in a bit.

Santa Fe – A Place of Beauty & History

Founded as a Spanish colony in 1610, Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital, sits in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It is well-known for its Pueblo-style architecture; its historic district’s crooked streets wind past adobe landmarks including the Palace of Governors (a History Museum now) and the Museum of Contemporary Arts with beautifully painted pillars. Santa Fe is also a creative arts hotbed. There are entire streets of wonderful art galleries where (usually) the artists themselves find time to talk to you about their art and how they have been influenced by the wonderful natural wonders that surround them. These galleries are like free museums and the artists are only too happy to have you browse.

The best outdoor things, for me, are outside of Santa Fe – a short drive away. Hiking in the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument was unforgettable. The limestone rocks famous for their scenic cone shaped formations, composed of pumice, ash, and tuff deposits from volcanic eruptions 6–7 million years ago are totally stunning. Once you huff and puff to the very top, you are rewarded with amazing views of the Rio Grande valley beneath.

The Cuisine of New Mexico

Back to New Mexico’s cuisine. This is the first state in the US where I discovered that I can only eat so much spice. When they tell you “our green chile sauce has a lot of kick to it, be careful”, you better be careful. I learnt my lesson during my second meal. I turned red and hiccupped while sweat was generously pouring down my face – it took a lot of cold water and ice cream to get me back to normal! Incidentally, in New Mexico, chili is spelled chile with an “e,” not an “i.” The former refers to the pepper, the latter the meat and bean dish. Chile sauce goes great with a lot of Mexican food, especially tamales, which are now my all-time favorite.

During the 10 days we spent in NM, at least 8 of my meals were tamales (yes, my wife was completely frustrated, thanks to my tamale fixation)! I also had a rating scale set up for myself to rank the tamales by texture, flavor and presentation. My #1 pick was at a restaurant called Estevan. Tamales served with both red and green chili sauce and are referred to as ‘Christmas Tamales’. I couldn’t decide if I liked the red or green sauce more so I would always ask for both.

And then I learnt how to make red sauce from the experts!  My wife gifted me a Red Chile Workshop at The Santa Fe School of Cooking where they taught me how to make tortillas, red chili sauce and salsa. I loved every minute of the lesson! Not only were they teaching us little tricks (like tacos are hard when they are cooked but leaving them wrapped in a cloth keeps them soft and moist), but sharing interesting stories on how this cuisine evolved in NM.

Once an Indian – Always an Indian!

One can love tamales only so much, especially when one was not born eating them. My craving for Indian food got really strong about half way into the trip. I also needed something mild to counter all the chile I had been eating. As luck would have it, I saw a huge billboard advertising vegetarian cuisine under the name ‘Annapurna’. Annapurna is derived from Sanskrit meaning the giver of food and nourishment. Anna means “food” or “grains” and pūrṇa means “full, complete and perfect”. That really got my attention and I quickly pulled up the site on my phone, to look at the menu.

It was one of the most interesting vegetarian menus I had ever come across – it had items like Yogi Bowl and Steamed Veggies . They also had vegetarian pizza, tacos, muffins and a whole lot of other interesting dishes on their menu. This restaurant only has two locations, both in NM – one in Santa Fe and the other in Albuquerque.

Vegetable Multigrain Khichdi

What really got my attention was their Vegetable Kitchari – The Ultimate Ayurvedic Dish. I realized that the kitchari was what I needed at that exact moment and made it to the restaurant for lunch. I was very impressed with the dish. It was everything I wanted it to be. Mildly spiced, filled with vegetables and the right quantity. Reminded me of my own Spicy Oats Khichdi and Vegetable Multigrain Khichdi. It definitely hit the spot!

Fly, Fly, Up in the Sky!

Before I end this post, I would like to call out another great NM experience, hot air ballooning. This was my first ever experience in a hot air balloon and I loved every minute of it. It’s fascinating to watch how they carry the huge balloon (I never realized how huge it was until I saw it up close). The basket in which you stand during the flight apparently weighs a ton (literally- not kidding!). They haul all this equipment to a designated site for take-off and then land the balloon in a different site. The ‘pilot’ and the truck are in constant communication during the ‘flight’, to ensure they pick up the equipment and passengers from the right spot. Most importantly, we had a great pilot who entertained us with a lot of fun filled facts and stories of how hot air ballooning evolved. He finally ended up serving us champagne and lite bites after the flight – he said this was a ritual they strictly followed, after every flight. Now what’s not to love about that experience?! If you want to enjoy this experience when you’re in NM next, check out Rainbow Ryders. They also have locations outside NM.

Give a serious thought to New Mexico, the next time you plan a vacation. Fall or Spring are considered the ‘season’ here, and it’s more expensive during this time. Winter is far cheaper and, far less crowded and just as much fun.

For Tips and Information about visiting New Mexico, visit their official website. Happy Travels!

Other Travel Articles on our Website

• Ahhhh…..Antarctica
• Vietnam Ramblings – Part 1

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