New Mexico’s Chile Kings: Fabián García and Roy Nakayama

Dave DeWitt Chile History Leave a Comment

By Rick Hendricks [Editor’s Note: This essay is excerpted with permission from Sunshine and Shadows in New Mexico’s Past: The Statehood Period 1912-Present, published by Rio Grande Books (www.RioGrandeBooks.com) in collaboration with the Historical Society of New Mexico.] New Mexico is the only state in the United States that boasts a state question: “red or green?” While such a question …

Virginia Indians Smoking Fish on a Boucan, Theodor DeBry, 1590

How the World Cooked ‘Cue in 1878

Dave DeWitt Eyewitness Historical Barbecue Leave a Comment

By Sir Edward Tylor Editor’s Note: Here is a solid—if short—attempt to summarize what was known about outdoor cooking around the world in 1878. This is an early example of food history writing that resonates with me because the author is comparing and contrasting cooking styles from around the world. Tylor is actually debunking claims that Americans invented barbecue. Roasting …

Wedding BBq

A Barbecue Wedding-Feast in the Southwest

Dave DeWitt State-By-State Barbecue History Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: For some unknown reason, the author did not specify precisely in what part of the Southwest the events were held. The barbecue was an established institution in the Southwest. It had in no other part of the country so many devotees. There was a charm in the name that would at any time call together a large concourse …

Cooking with Fresh Chile Peppers

Fiery Foods Manager Cooking with Chiles, General Leave a Comment

By Dave DeWitt, Nancy Gerlach and Jeff Gerlach; Photos by Harald Zoschke   Most chile lovers are familiar with New Mexican green chiles, which are the large (5″ to 10″), fleshy, mild chiles that are also called Anaheim chiles. (Anaheim is actually a variety of New Mexico chile, as are Sandia, Big Jim, etc.) These same green chiles are the …