Day 6: The Cuisine

Sopapilla Sunday from The Burrito Co.

Before we left for our trip, a neighbor told me that we would be eating our way through Santa Fe. They weren't kidding! Michael and his family have always raved about the food, but I had yet to experience it live and in person. 

The food in Santa Fe is unlike any kind of Mexican or Tex-Mex food I have ever had. It's hard to explain, but it's different. Everything tastes very homemade as if it was scooped from a pot cooking on grandma's stove. The food is very fresh. They have the basic fajitas, tacos, tamales, burritos, and enchiladas that you would find on any Mexican food menu, but the key here is green and red chili. Everything is either smothered or filled with one or the other (green or red) or you can ask for "Christmas" (the combination of both). And it's not the same out of the Ortega can. These chilies are fresh.

Sopapillas became an obsession for me while we were there. They’re like deep fried bread pockets that are slightly sweet. They are served stuffed as a savory dish or as a dessert with honey, butter, or ice cream. They are so incredibly good. I bought a cookbook with a recipe for them, so I look forward to making them myself soon.

Last and certainly not least is Frito Pie, a regional favorite that is quite popular. We purchased them for lunch from the Five and Dime downtown on Wednesday. It’s basically a little bag of Fritos cut on the side and filled with cheese and chili. It's a heart-stopper, but seriously yummy!