Ques for Abq. and NM Natives (schools, live, moving)

[Chaparral]

Originally Posted by Lowcountry Girl

Chaparral, already addicted to jalapenos...are New Mexican Chiles possibly better???

Of course tastes can vary from person to person, but for me its not even close! If a tasty green chile dish rates a 10, jalapenos would be around a 2 or 3. Also, some prefer the flavor of New Mexican red chile. Some establishments do better jobs with one versus the other. And if you are ever asked "Red or Green?", chile is what they are referring to. But the fun is trying each in the many ways they are prepared and deciding for yourself!

...and now that I think about it, I think a thread about local New Mexican restaurants would provide some lively conversation! Just about everyone has their own personal favorites (in ABQ or otherwise), and hold VERY strong opinions about them. Kind of like religion and politics...

[winnie]

I think Northern Albuquerque was very nice.

I mean North of Menual Blvd when I say that BTW.

[Lowcountry Girl]

oh yes! I would love to know where to eat! We have a few options of where to live, and NE ABQ and Rio Rancho keep coming back up us great places for a family, great food might be the tie-breaker!lol~ Red or green? Can I ask for both???

[Lowcountry Girl]

ps. Crackerjack has some great recipes on an earlier thread;-)

[Chaparral]

Originally Posted by Lowcountry Girl

oh yes! I would love to know where to eat! We have a few options of where to live, and NE ABQ and Rio Rancho keep coming back up us great places for a family, great food might be the tie-breaker!lol~ Red or green? Can I ask for both???

Red AND Green??? You maniac!!!

That is actually not an uncommon choice, and one I make often. Why choose when you don't have too?

And if you're still considering family-friendly areas, be sure to check out Paradise Hills, Taylor Ranch, and Ventana Ranch (all on the west side of ABQ), in addition to the ones listed above. All would make excellent choices for a re-locating family!

[Crackerjack]

Originally Posted by Lowcountry Girl

ps. Crackerjack has some great recipes on an earlier thread;-)

Thanks for the kind words Lowcountry Girl! And if anyone else has any Mexican or New Mexican recipes, please feel free to post them on the New Mexican Recipes thread! Thanks again!

Lowcountry Girl, I have to say New Mexican red and green chile is the best in the world. If you ever taste them, you will never want anything else!

[Cathy4017]

And if you are ever asked "Red or Green?", chile is what they are referring to. But the fun is trying each in the many ways they are prepared and deciding for yourself!

True, LOL!!! New Mexico green/red chile is indeed food of the gods.....

Ordering enchiladas in a New Mexican restaurant....

Red or green?
Hot or mild?
Stacked or rolled?
beef, chicken or cheese?
Onions or not?
Cheddar or monterey jack?
Flour or corn tortillas?
If corn tortillas, yellow or blue?
You want an egg on top of those?
You want black or pinto beans?

I will NEVER forget my first enchiladas over 20 years ago in a Santa Fe restaurant....at that time, typical enchiladas to me were rolled, red and cheddar cheese! I just asked for enchiladas, and the waitress didn't ask any questions.

I got a plate of round, stacked tortillas, interlaced with ground beef, green chiles and white cheese.

I looked at the waitress and said, "M'am, I ordered enchiladas.."

"Those ARE enchiladas," said she with a withering look.

They were delicious, by the way.....LOL!!!!

[PHX]

I was born in Santa Fe, raised in Albuquerque. I graduated from UNM. I live in Phoenix now, but visit NM often. NM is a beautiful state. Family traditons and Hispanic culture are deeply rooted. I think it is slow there, (in Albuquerque) not as progressive/ dynamic as Phoenix. There really isn't alot to do, but if there was, it wouldn't be a smaller town. It is full of creative, quirky types, and lots of transplants who want it to be like where they came from. Many of them live in Rio Rancho, which reminds me of Phoenix. I think the housing market is odd. Very expensive. They have no water. You follow a schedule or get fined. Drive 1 mile over the speed limit and you will get a hefty ticket. I understand why people like it there, but it has faults just like everywhere else. Some are easier to accept than others.

[Lowcountry Girl]

Hi PHX, thanks for adding more info, those of us that are serious about moving need all the info we can get. This is a little concern (I think someone may have lightly touched on the subject, elsewhere) do New Mexicans think that "transplants" are going there to replicate their former homes? I for one, love where I'm from, and would be happy to stay here. On my many visits to New Mexico though I have come to feel that is where I would be happiest..boring reasons like the weather, the culture...so on and so forth. I'm sure you hear people say "We don't do that like that where I come from" they do here in SC, not that many though. I want to live in New Mexico because it is New Mexico, just as I love South Carolina for being South Carolina.. I hope that NM folks don't dislike "transplants" (just the word implies dislike) and I hope that someone can ease my mind about this..TIA

[PHX]

I was born in Santa Fe, and was raised in Abuquerque. I was just there 2 weeks ago visiting my family. I love being home, but once you have lived somewhere else, you never view things the same way. New Mexico has an abundant Hispanic history, and those who have successfully merged with the culture who are not Hispanic love the people and their ways, for the most part. If you are a highly adaptive individual, you can achieve greatness no matter where you hang your hat. Perspective is key. I live in Phoenix now, and I love it because I have adapted. My roots are in the South, however, and it too has many attributes. If you have specific questions about NM, I will happily answer them.