Monday, February 23, 2009

Chile slight has locals seeing red (and green)

Not that there's anything wrong with northern New Mexico chile. But in the Mesilla Valley, extolling the virtues of Chimayo chile to the exclusion of the panoply of southern New Mexico chiles is a mighty spicy gauntlet. A bill introduced by Rep. Elias Barela, D-Belen, and pending in the House Education Committee would name "We Love it Real Hot," by Alberto Onaldo Martinez, the state's official bilingual poem. The state already has an official poem, "A Nuevo Mexico," by Luis Tafoya, which was adopted in 1991. "We Love It Real Hot," reads, in part: "Ah, Chimayo chile is so delicious to eat!/That cure-all food is a special treat,/So fiery good, it makes us sweat,A runny nose is more proof yet./A hot bite and you're chile afflicted,Another bite and you're chile addicted!/Caramba! It's hot, turistas say,/They beg for more when out our way." Apart from the fact that Martinez's description of being overcome by Scovilles seems more suited to a "turista" rather than a chile-in-your-chocolate New Mexican, the poem has raised hackles, especially among those in Hatch. Barela was unavailable for comment. Rep. Andy Nuñez, D-Hatch, said he's worked with the northern farmers and their peppers — which he described as "small and mostly skin" — lack the techniques, varieties and meat of the Mesilla Valley. "I'm upset with it, too, because I'm a Hatcher," Nuñez said from Santa Fe. "It hasn't come to any committee or floor, but I will mention it to them. The people up here don't know what good chile is." New Mexico grows twice as much chile as California — with Doña Ana County leading in production — and residents eat the most chile per capita in the country, according to SouthernNewMexico.com...Silver City Sun-News

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