Dining

2025 Dia De Los Muertos On Santa Fe Plaza

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From Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe:

SANTA FE — The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is once again transforming the historic Plaza into a sea of marigolds, music, mojigangas, and community remembrance—and we need your help to keep the two-day festival free for everyone.

The heart of the City Different will beat to the rhythm of mariachis and the beauty of marigolds when the free Día de Los Muertos Festival returns to the historic Santa Fe Plaza on Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1.

Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe in cooperation with the City of Santa Fe, the family-friendly celebration blends ancient Read More

NMRA Unveils 2025 Hospitality Industry Awards Winners

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NMRA News:

The spotlight was on New Mexico’s culinary community as the New Mexico Restaurant Association unveiled the winners of the 2025 Hospitality Industry Awards. Held Sept. 29 at the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown, the evening embraced the vibrant energy of Havana Nights—where tropical flair met timeless elegance, and the state’s most outstanding hospitality professionals were honored in style.

Celebrating leadership rooted in purpose, the NMRA proudly names Russell Hernandez of Salud de Mesilla in Mesilla as the 2025 Restaurateur of the Year.

From his start as a high school intern Read More

C’YA Fundraiser ‘Life Is Short, Eat Dessert First’ Saturday

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By BERNADETTE LAURTIZEN
Executive Director
Champions of Youth Ambitions

This week divine desserts from local and regional businesses are coming together to support, Life is Short, Eat Dessert First. The Champions of Youth Ambition’s (C’YA) fundraiser will support a variety of programs from mail for military troops and veterans to elementary science education and the Community Asset Awards, which kicks off Nov. 1.

The commUNITY partners for the grab and go event include the following: Pig & Fig, The Blue Window Bistro, The Enchanted Jammery, NM Cookie Corner, Hungry Bear/The Read More

Red Or Green? A New Mexico Love Story

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NMCC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Red or green? It is a question that has been pondered for the past 400+ years. In 1996, it was anointed as New Mexico’s “Official State Question.” In the middle of this answer is ‘New Mexico Certified Chile™.’ The New Mexico Chile Association doesn’t pick favorites, or even hint at taking sides. Knowing that “Love is a Choice,” the organization just wants the question “red or green” to be asked and answered with New Mexico-grown chile varietals.

New Mexico’s love story of “red or green” can be compared to other romances such as William Shakespeare’sRomeo and Juliet or Jane Read More

New Mexico Restaurant Association To Honor Dorothy And Larry Rainosek With Lifetime Achievement Award

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NMRA News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Restaurant Association (NMRA) Wednesday announced that Dorothy and Larry Rainosek, the visionary founders of Albuquerque’s beloved Frontier Restaurant and Golden Pride establishments, will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Hospitality Industry Awards ceremony Sept. 29, 2025.

The NMRA Lifetime Achievement Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the restaurant and hospitality industry in New Read More

ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® On New Mexico Piñon Coffee As Official Coffee Sponsor

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BALLOON FIESTA News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, set to launch Oct. 4-12, 2025, is soaring to new heights with a new local partner. New Mexico Piñon Coffee is the official coffee sponsor for this year’s event, welcoming thousands of visitors to Albuquerque’s painted skies.

New Mexico Piñon Coffee, a staple in New Mexico since 1994, will warm guests with a variety of locally inspired flavors. Today, it is one of the largest roasters in New Mexico, capturing the essence of the Land of Enchantment with every product it releases. From its logo design Read More

Isleta Grill Sweeps People’s Choice, Blind Judging Awards At New Mexico State Fair Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge

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NMSF News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The highly-anticipated New Mexico State Fair Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge crowned Isleta Grill of Isleta Pueblo as both the People’s Choice Champion and the Blind Judging Champion. Isleta Grill also captured the Blind Judging crown in 2024.

Hungry fairgoers crowded Main Street, hoping to get a taste of the nine best green chile cheeseburgers in the state and the competitors did not disappoint with nine delicious, chile-topped burgers to satiate the crowd.

Thank you to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, as well as the competition’s sponsor, the Read More

NM State Fair Announces Unique Foods Contest Winner

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STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE —The New Mexico State Fair has announced the winners of this year’s highly anticipated Unique Foods competition. The Unique Foods Contest highlights the best of the best Fair Foods.

The Unique Foods Competition lived up to its name, drawing entries that showcased the creativity that defines Fair Food. B&B Concessions took home the crown with their Sweet and Spicy Spam Fries. Spam strips are battered and deep-fried to extra crispy before being glazed with sweet syrup and topped with a spicy aioli. This treat is served in an original Spam can. B&B Concessions Read More

Crucet Steps Up As Community Sponsor For C’YA’s ‘Life Is Short, Eat Dessert First’ Fundraiser

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By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Champions of Youth Ambitions

When Champions of Youth Ambitions needed a new fundraiser after the loss of the Festival of Trees, we decided it was food that brings everyone together. We set out to do a dessert to go opportunity called, “Life is Short, Eat Dessert First.”

The idea is that for many, even in this community, going out to dinner is a luxury—one some can’t even afford. Eat dessert first will allow many more to spend a little bit of money to help make a substantial difference and treat themselves or someone they love in the process.

Originally, it was intended to be an Read More

Best Of Liddie’s Recipes: Gazpacho

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Gazpacho. Photo by Liddie Martinez

By LIDDIE MARTINEZ
Española Valley

At the height of summer, my childhood days were spent playing stickball with the neighborhood kids, wandering along the riverbanks looking for lizards or rabbits or wildflowers, roaming the acequia with my sister searching for wild asparagus and harvesting veggies with my grandma in her garden.

Tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers were brought in by the bucketsful and, for us, that meant fresh Gazpacho was readily available.

My mom used to make it by the gallon and leave it chilling in the refrigerator for us to serve ourselves Read More