When you visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, you’ll find an unlimited number of things to do. Explore the parks and mountains that surround the city, visit a Santa Fe gallery, and try out the local fare. The food scene in Santa Fe is just icing on the cake. With all the different cultures melting into New Mexico, a new style of cooking has been created. Here, chefs have perfected New Mexican cuisine. So, what is New Mexican food? You will have to come stay at El Farolito to find out for yourself!
If you’re planning a trip to Santa Fe, our free Vacation Guide is a great resource! It tells you all the best places to go and things to do during your stay at El Farolito, including restaurants so you can answer the question “what is New Mexican food” for yourself. It even has a list of annual events that can help you decide the best time to visit Santa Fe!
What is New Mexican Food?
The answer to “what is New Mexican food” is a bit complicated. There are no hard and fast rules for the exact difference between Mexican and New Mexican food, but the distinction is mostly based on the flavor and ingredients used. Many believe that New Mexican food is a fusion between Mexican and Pueblo cooking, with potential influences of Spanish and other Native American cuisines. While it is not exactly Mexican, it is not quite Tex-Mex either; it lies somewhere in between.
Ingredients in New Mexican Food
New Mexican food can mostly be characterized by its ingredients. The main ingredient in this cuisine is chiles that derive from Pueblo cuisine. Green chiles are used in most of the dishes and usually roasted over the fire. A green chile sauce is created and poured over enchiladas, burritos, and sopaipillas. They’re also included in many staples like burritos or fried into rellenos. Vegetables are also used more often in New Mexican dishes as well as whole corn kernels, black beans, ground meat, and lots of yellow cheese. New Mexican cooking was born from ingredients that were handy, so they began to incorporate American foods that were are not as available in Mexico.
Come to Santa Fe to Answer “What is New Mexican Food?” For Yourself
Santa Fe is full of New Mexican food. Come visit some restaurants to try this fusion of flavors for yourself! If you’re looking for some New Mexican food with heavy Pueblo influences, try out The Shed. Its cuisine is based on three crops grown by the Pueblos: corn, beans, and squash. They also incorporate fresh chiles that they grind in-house! Then, compare it to the traditional Mexican food at Sazon. Sazon’s chef grew up in Mexico City and now has brought traditional Mexican cooking to Santa Fe. Here, you’ll find a Mexican staple: mole. Visit this incredible restaurant so you can decipher the difference between Mexican and New Mexican food!
Stay at El Farolito
Staying at El Farolito can help you solve the question of “what is New Mexican food.” Our bed and breakfast is located in the heart of Santa Fe, just minutes away from some of the best New Mexican food in the state! Delight your senses in one of our eight beautifully appointed rooms and casitas, tucked among gardens and intimate walled-in patios. Get an authentic, comfortable Santa Fe experience when you book your stay at El Farolito!
