The_NM_TX

  Coming from Colorado, our wine country was pretty much the most western part of the state, 4 hours away from Denver. There were wineries in the Denver area, but most of them were tasting rooms, and those that made wine had the grapes brought in from Western Colorado, and even some from California. So, being in New Mexico I find it fascinating how there are wineries and more importantly vineyards throughout the entire state. In the northern part of the state like Taos, the southern most part in Las Cruces, and everywhere in between including the Albuquerque area. With so many wineries, and the state being so big, it can be difficult to try most. Thankfully, every year on Memorial Day Weekend these wineries come together to pour their offerings to the masses. I was lucky enough to be able to attend this years New Mexico Wine Festival.  Balloon Fiesta Park was the setting for the festivities, the sun was out, and it was a gorgeous day to sample some wine, ciders, and everything in bet

  Santa Fe is a town that I am relatively new to exploring and familiarizing myself with. But, of the few things I do know about it is that they have a great beer and food scene. But like in so many cities some of the best breweries and restaurants are off the beaten path, and not always the easiest to find. Off Cerillos Road, in a small building where the sign doesn’t even face the road lies a restaurant that not only makes delicious scratch made food, but also brews a wide variety of award-winning beers. Easy to drive by, not the easiest to find, but worth it at the end is finding Rowley’s Farmhouse Ales.  From the outside this does not look like a restaurant at all, but instead like a farmhouse with its wooden planks, and sheet metal roof. Only a small sign in the parking lot tells you that you are in the right place. The inside is very comfortable with mostly covered patio seating, a few small tables inside, and a bar. The beer list here is long, although some of them are guest t

  No matter how many I visit I still love finding and trying new coffee shops. Some of them have been around for a while and are new to me, while others are newer businesses. Recently on my explorations I have been lucky enough to discover 2 newer coffee shops in the Albuquerque area. Both are unique in their offerings, and I am glad to have discovered and tried both. Chicky’s Coffee: This coffee shop/roaster is located off the beaten path in Bernalillo on Camino del Pueblo in a small strip mall. But inside is a small shop where the coffee is roasted on sight, and they also offer freshly made drinks. What makes this shop particularly great is that the walls are adorned with local artwork, and the roaster out in the open amongst the tables. Of course, the other reason this shop is great is the coffee. The freshly roasted beans for sale are from all over the world, but my favorite is the Sumatra roast. It is full bodied, rich, with a slightly earthy flavor, and very smooth with each s

  Prior to me moving here the only thing I knew about New Mexican agriculture was the Hatch Chile. It wasn’t until after moving here that I realized that New Mexico was also a major producer of Blue Corn and Lavender. While I have enjoyed both products in multiple food forms from tortillas to honey, one thing that has surprised me is how the craft beverage industry has embraced it. There are multiple breweries, cideries, and distilleries that have used these simple ingredients in their various beverages and the end results are amazing. The farm to table movement has always been big in food, but now we can also enjoy farm to pint glass. When it came to seeing beers featuring blue corn the first two I had were Compa by Steel Bender, and Denim Tux by Bow and Arrow. Instantly I was hooked on the usage of this ingredient as a grain, and I am glad to see that other breweries are using it as well. Most recently La Cumbre released their own version of a blue corn lager, and it is just refres

  When it comes to celebrating the culture and history of New Mexico I love that there is no shortage of ways to do that. There are more museums, and events than I thought possible that celebrate the rich history and culture that defines this state. One of the most important aspects of that is through the Native American culture, and the annual Gathering of the Nations held at Expo New Mexico. After missing out on it in 2022 I knew that this year I had to make it happen, so at the end of April it was circled on my calendar, and I was ready to attend it for the first time. Other than large crowds I was not sure what to expect from it, and one thing I did not realize was that it is the largest gathering of its kind in North America. After waiting in a decently long line to get in I was very excited and curious to explore and see what this event was all about. The event space is divided into 3 areas, the food area, the Indian Traders Market, and inside the Tingley Coliseum.   After wa