AboutValerie S Expertise I can answer questions regarding travel around NM, including hotels, restaurants, sights and information about the New Mexico Pueblos. I live in the Albuquerque area and of course know a lot more about this city and environs, but can also answer questions about Santa Fe, Taos, national parks and culture.
Experience I have lived in NM for 19 years and have a deep love for our multi-ethnic culture. I have volunteered for the Albuquerque Convention and Vistor's Bureau. I have been involved in the travel industry for 7 years.
Education/Credentials BA History for University of New Mexico
Expert: Valerie S Date: 9/7/2004 Subject: Chili Peppers
Question Hi Valerie
We are going to be in Abluquerque/Santa Fe the first weekend in October (2nd trip - loved it last year). Last year we got addicted to the chili peppers and I would love to bring some home. We have about a 6 hour flight home. Do you have any recommendations of where to buy my chili peppers? I think some places sell them frozen but not sure if they pack them for travel or how expensive that would be. I would buy fresh but not sure how much work it would be to roast them or how they would travel. Any suggestions.
Also, any restaurant suggestions? We were thinking of going to the sunday buffet at guarduno's. Hopefully it's the items off the menu (chili rellanos, burritos, etc). We plan on going to Tomasitos and SF School of Cooking while we are in Santa Fe. Any Albuquerque restaurant suggestions.
Thanks,
Cindy
Answer Hola Cindy,
I'm glad you enjoyed your visit enough to return to our beautiful state! And of course the first weekend of October means not only green chile but Balloon Fiesta, so you'll have a great time!
Chile is definitely addictive! Transporting chile can be tricky. The best (and easiest) way is to take fresh chile, but then you do have to roast them when you get home, as you pointed out. (Roasting is not difficult with a gas grill, but it can be time-consuming.) Buying it fresh and already roasted, you can transport it in heavy freezer bags (I'd double-bag each sack). But you'd have to get them put into the freezer very quickly once you get home. Frozen...well I'm not sure how you'd pack that either, unless you buy a cheap styrofoam cooler at Walgreen's (or somewhere like that), get a little dry ice and duct-tape the dickins out of it. (Or maybe even forgo the ice and just pack it in the cooler; those tubs are rather deeply frozen solid). Every grocery store in town has tubs of frozen green chile, as well as containers of red chile puree and sauce. I guess I'd check with the airline you're using to see what their policy is on a cooler with dry ice. (Or call Southwest Airlines, which has a call center here in Albuquerque; I'd think they would have dealt with this question before!) Let me know what you decide to do; I'd be curious for future inquirers.
This covers Albuquerque. (There is also a link on that article over to another one I wrote on Balloon Fiesta). In Santa Fe, Tomasita's is good, I also like the Shed, just off the Plaza, and Tecolote, on Cerrillos Road.
I hope this helps! If you have additional questions, feel free to let me know.
