New Mexican cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, Native American and Mexican ingredients and techniques. While familiar items like corn, beans and squash are often used; New Mexican cuisine has its own distinct preparation, ingredients and flavor.

The defining ingredient is chile. Chile comes in two varieties, red or green, depending on the stage of ripeness in which they were picked.

Join us in a tour and you’ll get to start to understand that: Mexican ≠ New Mexican ≠ Tex Mex. Francine will help you get straighter picture of the differences walking you through markets, hispanic grocery stores, pub and so on.

The gastronomy of New Mexico is in itself an attraction and you the best food is everywhere to be found. From the high end finest tables t the brewery passing by middle range restaurant and cafe , excellence is found everywhere. The best beef jerky is purchased on the side of the road. If someone tries to sell you a breakfast burrito/tamales from a cooler or trunk, YOU BUY THEM!  They are the best you’ll ever sample.

You’re sick? I’ll make green chile stew. And she will prepare you one if she gets to stay at the home with a kitchen during the tour…she’ll cook some of very best NM food just for you with all her Gusto and passion, because she really gets passionate about it. Sopapillas can be eaten for any meal. But what is a sapodilla (or sopaipilla)? It’s a fluffy pillow. It does translate as a pillow. People love to eat it with dripping honey at all time of the day, with any meal and once you had then 2-3 times you might get addicted.

Microbreweries are popping up around and yes, of course, you are to miss the Chile beer! Well Santa Fe, Taos and other places around are not to be left on the side track as microbreweries are all over the place with a wide variety of the coolest beers ever. Did I forget to say that green or red chile beer accompanies perfectly well an excellent pizza? Let me show where to have it…you’ll want to spend the night there with the locals. But don’t leave out the Margarita trail in Santa Fe. F.T.Jetsetting can get you your Margarita trail passport and while sampling 2 margarita a day you end up receiving few gifts. You got it at this point right?  Chile margarita are to be found along the trail. 

people. Evidence of their settlement is the state’s top cultural attractions like Bandelier National Monument and the Gila Cliff Dwellings. In fact, the Native American culture is still alive and well with 11 active pueblos scattered around the state.

The Province of New Mexico was established in 1598.Santa Fe was founded in 1608, essentially making it the oldest town in America eventhough New Mexico would not become an official state until 1912. Santa Fe was developed by the Spanish as a trade center, with the Native American tribes eventually connecting with Anglo traders from the east coast. Santa Fe remains one of America’s most fascinating destinations, with a downtown packed with beautiful historic sites.

Albuquerque was the next big town to be established in 1706 as an alternative settlement to Santa Fe. The territory was passed to Mexico in 1821 after the War of Independence. The Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 ended with Mexico ceding most of the American Southwest and California to the US, including New Mexico.