Edible Trails

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New Mexico Tourism Department’s
Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail Launches

The State of New Mexico rolled out the first of its new Culinary Trails initiative with the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail, celebrating the state’s iconic burger. Forty-eight restaurants were selected from nearly 200 nominees statewide by a combination of popular vote and a panel of culinary and tourism authorities. The purpose of this and the trails to come is to further attract visitors who make travel choices based on food and beverages, their local producers, and related experiences. The trails will ultimately showcase New Mexico restaurants, farmers markets, wineries, microbreweries, and other producers throughout the state.

Cheryl Alters Jamison, four-time James Beard award-winning author and Culinary Liaison for the Tourism Department said “The green chile cheeseburger was chosen for the first of the trails because it’s one of our hottest foods, in all respects. Just about everyone loves a good burger, so even visitors unfamiliar with our fabulous green chile will often try it when corralled in a bun with a meat patty. Burgers are a great value, something we can all relate to in these tough economic times. They’re also fun food, and who can’t use a little injection of levity in our lives these days? The Trail is a way to promote the state’s farmers, ranchers, and food producers as well as keep New Mexicans and visitors aware that our state’s heritage of chile production is endangered by cheap imports that have little of the quality associated with true New Mexican chiles.”

Nomination Criteria and Voting

Any New Mexico-based restaurant with a business license and good standing with the New Mexico Health Department was eligible for nomination if it serves a burger (beef, bison, or “veggie”) with cheese and New Mexican green chile, on a bun or other bread. Nominations came from patrons and restaurateurs from late August through the end of September.

The popular vote was—well—extremely popular, with nearly 8,000 votes logged online and, additionally, by in-person voting at the New Mexico State Fair, the Whole Enchilada Fiesta in Las Cruces, and the Viva Santa Fe 400th Anniversary Kick-Off Weekend. The top twenty popular vote-getters became part of the Trail. The selection panel then looked at a combination of other criteria, including overall quality and ingredients, geographic location, diversity, and appeal to visitors. Panel members were: Edible Santa Fe’s publisher Kate Manchester, Gil Garduño of Gil’s Thrilling (and Filling) Website and Blog (www.nmgastronome.com), both of Albuquerque, and from Santa Fe, Martin Leger with the New Mexico Tourism Department, and Cheryl Jamison, who is overseeing the development of the Trails initiative.

A Sampling of Tasty Spots

The selected restaurants include spots like Ella’s, a homey Main Street cafe in Reserve, Michael’s Mini-Mart a community gathering place in Velarde, and the recently renovated La Plazuela in Santa Fe’s historic La Fonda Hotel. Wildly renowned spots like The Owl Bar & Café in San Antonio, Bobcat Bite outside Santa Fe, and Bert’s Burger Bowl in the heart of Santa Fe made the list too.

Home of the Laguna Burger, found in a superette/Conoco station a burger’s throw from I-40, is owned by the Laguna Development Corporation. Other spots in traditional Native communities include Tacos Takeout in Zuni and Ancient Way Café in Ramah. Abe’s Cantina y Cocina in Arroyo Seco continues to be presided over by Abe Garcia, who started the business after his return from World War II. His daughters help him run Abe’s today, and cook up the scrumptious burgers. Many other spots are multi-generation family affairs too, like the Circle T Drive-In in Belen where three generations of Tabets are involved. New Mexico chains Blake’s Lotaburger and Taco Box also made the list, both feature restaurants in many of our state’s far-flung communities.

Hitting the Trail

Cheryl Jamison said “We hope many locals as well as out-of-state visitors will find it rewarding to check out many of the restaurants when they are travelling throughout the state. We already know of folks making travel plans specifically around eating in one or more of the stops. Remember, it’s always a good idea to call ahead to check on hours and meals served before hitting the trail. Many of the selected restaurants have been featured on the website www.nmgastronome.com, so readers may want to check there for a review.”

Future culinary trails will focus on traditional Hispanic and Native American cuisine as well as contemporary chefs and restaurants creating their own signature cooking styles, plus the world of global flavors available here. Jamison will oversee the development of the later Tourism Department trails.

The Trail can be accessed online now at www.newmexico.org/ greenchilecheeseburger. For more information contact Cheryl Alters Jamison at 505-982-2041 or b-c-jamison@msn.com.

The Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail

Abiquiu

Bode’s General Store

Highway 84, 87510

505-685-4422

www.bodes.com

Alamogordo

Blake’s Lotaburger

1320 N. White Sands Blvd. 83310

505-434-0466

Edible Trails

Edible New Mexico

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