TAOS COW
Northern New Mexico’s Exotic Ice Cream Flavors

A stop at Taos Cow (now with two locations–Arroyo Seco and Taos) is a must for summertime tantalizing tastes. The vendor offers premium, all natural, RBGH free ice cream treats. Favorite flavors among locals include Luscious Cherry Ristra (chunks of dark chocolate and piñion nuts giving it a Southwest twist), Piñion Caramel (Vanilla ice cream with piñion and vanilla caramel chunks), Mexican Chocolate (chocolate ice cream with cinnamon and dark chocolate chunks), and Lavender (flavored with organic New Mexican culinary lavender seed) ice cream flavors. Taos Cow also serves breakfast and lunch items as well as gourmet coffee and tea.

Get your licks. // Taos Cow Website

RIBBON FRIES
The Skillet

The ribbon fries at The Skillet restaurant in Las Vegas, New Mexico, are a visual and culinary delight. These golden, crispy spirals of thinly sliced potatoes are fried to perfection, creating a tantalizing crunch with every bite. Lightly seasoned with a blend of savory spices and a dash of lime, they offer an irresistible combination of flavor and texture. Served hot and piled high on a rustic plate, the ribbon fries are a delicious appetizer or side dish to one of the many signature gourmet tacos, burgers, or sandwiches. Their delicate, freshly cut ribbon-like shape not only adds a playful touch to the presentation but also ensures maximum crispiness, making them a beloved treat for locals and visitors alike. Located in the heart of Las Vegas’ Bridge Street historic district, The Skillet is the community’s premier art-bar and restaurant serving delicious contemporary Mexican food and inspired atisan cocktails.

Get the ribbons. // giant-skillet.com/

A New Mexico BLT Original
Cafe Pasqual, Santa Fe

It’s difficult to highlight just one item off Café Pasqual’s menu in downtown Santa Fe. From the breakfast menu’s Cornmeal Pancakes and Huevos Barbacoa to the lunch menu’s Blue Lady Garden Enchiladas and Pomelo and Avocado Salad, there’s a range of irresistible Mexican fare, all hand crafted from local and organic ingredients and served around a community table in a historic adobe.

But one entrée stands out—especially if your taste buds yearn for the distinct and irresistible taste of bacon. Gift yourself the cornucopia of sensations that arise with a bite into their popular Toasted BLT Sandwich. Now, it’s easy to overlook such a common dish—that is, until you set your eyes on the masterpiece before you. Here, this humble menu item unfolds into a decision well made.

Quickly, you discover this BLT sets a new bar—a standard that may haunt you when ordering the sandwich elsewhere. Trust us, the suffering is real. This BLT is unlike any you’ve had before, and it will sear itself into your mind.

It’s difficult to describe the symphony of flavors: Chile-rubbed bacon, heirloom tomatoes, roasted green chilies, melted Manchego cheese, and fresh mayonnaise, all carefully layered between sides of toasted chile cornbread cut into four corners. It’s served with a choice of field greens or kale salad, and for those who may prefer a variation from bacon, it can also be ordered with turkey bacon or wood-smoked pastrami as a substitute.

Pasqual’s BLT is the kind of offering one would come to expect from the rich, vibrant authenticity of New Mexico. Bravo to the Chef!

BLT for me. // pasquals.com

SANTA FE BISCOCHITO COMPANY
Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Santa Fe Biscochito Company brings a rich New Mexican tradition to life with every batch of their handcrafted biscochito cookies and freshly brewed coffee. Made using time-honored recipes, their biscochitos are crisp, buttery, and delicately flavored with anise and cinnamon. Each cookie carries the warmth and heritage of generations past, offering a nostalgic taste of Santa Fe’s unique culinary culture. Red and green chilies add to the flavor palette for a range of choices. Gift baskets can also be ordered to gift a taste of New Mexico.

Paired with their locally roasted coffee, the experience becomes even more comforting. The coffee is bold and smooth, with a deep, earthy flavor that complements the subtle sweetness and spice of the biscochitos. The combination is both grounding and satisfying—and don’t forget to try the Biscookies, an ice cream sandwich favorite.
Owner and award-winning baker Richard Perea takes great pride in using quality ingredients and honoring traditional methods, while still offering a product that feels fresh and timeless. Whether you’re a lifelong New Mexican or discovering biscochitos for the first time, their cookies and coffee offer a connection to place, memory, and simple pleasures. It’s a treat that speaks to the heart of New Mexico and the Southwest.

B is for Biscookie. // santafebiscochitocompany.com

SHANE’S FLAMING BRISKET POPPERS
Red River, New Mexico

There are certain foods that taste like a place, and during summer in the mountains, Shane’s Flaming Brisket Poppers are one of them.
On Main Street in Red River you’ll find a place that feels like home. Families meet here; visitors come back year after year. The outdoor patio is always full of life—hikers still in trail shoes, cyclists fresh off alpine rides, and families settling in for a long, relaxed afternoon.
And make sure to arrive hungry. From a smoker out back, the deep, peppery scent of brisket that’s been cooking for hours floats on the breeze, mingling with the unmistakable aroma of rendered bacon. That’s where poppers come in.
Each arrives as a small, delicious masterpiece, indulgent but not overwhelming. A fresh jalapeño stuffed with cream cheese and tender smoked brisket, wrapped tightly in bacon before being cooked until crisp. The first bite delivers: bacon snaps, the brisket is smokey, tender, almost buttery, and the jalapeño offers just enough heat with its slow-building glow.
For travelers exploring Red River, bacon-wrapped smoked brisket jalapeño poppers aren’t just a menu item, there part of the experience—smoky, spicy, and perfectly suited to long summer afternoons at altitude.

Hot topic: // redriverbrewing.com