"Red, Green, or Christmas?"
June 6, 2012 1:05 PM Subscribe
I'm dying for green chile. Try as I might, I can't find New Mexican green chiles anywhere in Sacramento.
Any MeFite locals who can help? Should I order them online? I lived in NM for a while and I really miss the delish cuisine.
Any MeFite locals who can help? Should I order them online? I lived in NM for a while and I really miss the delish cuisine.
Best answer: Have you checked out La Superior, the big Mexican ("Latino"?/"Hispanic"?) grocery store on Stockton Blvd. (I think it's right past 22nd Ave.)? I feel like they would have this kind of thing. Otherwise, I might call around to local restaurants, see if they make this kind of thing, and see if they'd be willing to tell you where they buy their stuff.
posted by lovableiago at 1:10 PM on June 6, 2012
posted by lovableiago at 1:10 PM on June 6, 2012
Best answer: Here's another place to check out if you haven't already. Apparently they have a big "wall o' chiles" ....
posted by lovableiago at 1:12 PM on June 6, 2012
posted by lovableiago at 1:12 PM on June 6, 2012
I did some research on this a few months back, and I think your best bet is probably to buy them frozen online. They freeze extremely well, particularly if you're using them for stew (which is what we use them for in my house) and the prices are pretty reasonable.
Hopefully someone else will come in and offer specific recommendations for places to order!
posted by Narrative Priorities at 1:20 PM on June 6, 2012
Hopefully someone else will come in and offer specific recommendations for places to order!
posted by Narrative Priorities at 1:20 PM on June 6, 2012
It's been a few years since I've gocery-shopped in Sacramento, but I remember seeing them at Raley's.
posted by trip and a half at 1:20 PM on June 6, 2012
posted by trip and a half at 1:20 PM on June 6, 2012
The green chiles we're used to seeing are Poblanos. I get them fresh and roast them on my barbecue or stovetop.
The ones in cans are poblanos, but I like mine fresh.
If you can get them frozen on-line, I'd go for that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:48 PM on June 6, 2012
The ones in cans are poblanos, but I like mine fresh.
If you can get them frozen on-line, I'd go for that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:48 PM on June 6, 2012
Best answer: I doubt that they would have any at La Esparanza (and do not go into Harvest Foods unless you love disgusting smells) as it's more of a bakery / spice shop but I think the supermarkets on Franklin are worth checking out. Mercado Loco always has a good array of chiles (and the fresh salsa is amazing!) or Hacienda Market.
Good luck.
posted by Duffington at 1:53 PM on June 6, 2012
Good luck.
posted by Duffington at 1:53 PM on June 6, 2012
We live in Sunnyvale CA (not too far away). Every so often, we go together with a friend to buy a crate of chilis shipped from New Mexico. After they arrive, we have a chili roasting party and freeze them.
Nothing in this world smells better than roasting poblano chilis.
me-mail me if you want information about how we order them. Don't have it handy now.
posted by rw at 2:06 PM on June 6, 2012
Nothing in this world smells better than roasting poblano chilis.
me-mail me if you want information about how we order them. Don't have it handy now.
posted by rw at 2:06 PM on June 6, 2012
Best answer: Here in Texas, when we get fresh New Mexico chiles in stores, they're marketed under the name "Hatch." They're only around seasonally. A quick google turned up this discussion thread which suggests that there might be Sacramento-area supermarkets doing something similar.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:09 PM on June 6, 2012
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:09 PM on June 6, 2012
if by green chilies you mean hatch chilies, you should absolutely just buy them online.
i've heard great things about this site you can either buy them seasonally fresh, or you can buy them frozen (and smoked and peeled) year round. if you buy them fresh, you can buy more than you need and do the smoking, peeling (wear gloves!), and freezing, then maybe give them out as early christmas presents.
posted by nadawi at 2:17 PM on June 6, 2012
i've heard great things about this site you can either buy them seasonally fresh, or you can buy them frozen (and smoked and peeled) year round. if you buy them fresh, you can buy more than you need and do the smoking, peeling (wear gloves!), and freezing, then maybe give them out as early christmas presents.
posted by nadawi at 2:17 PM on June 6, 2012
The City of Hatch, NM, is the Chile Capital of NM, though they may stake a claim of a larger area. That's where you have your big-time hot-chile-eating contests during their annual festival. Green chiles arent' the only variety they grow there, and you can get some real oddballs chiles, like heatless habaneros (scare your friends!) and such.
But that's the reason for the name. I can't get them up here (Seattle) either, so I usually fake it by slicing and mixing jalapenos and poblanos.
If I were you, and had to have the real thing, I'd investigate businesses in Hatch and see if you can't get a box overnighted to you, preferably the night before you have a grill-party.
posted by Sunburnt at 2:18 PM on June 6, 2012
But that's the reason for the name. I can't get them up here (Seattle) either, so I usually fake it by slicing and mixing jalapenos and poblanos.
If I were you, and had to have the real thing, I'd investigate businesses in Hatch and see if you can't get a box overnighted to you, preferably the night before you have a grill-party.
posted by Sunburnt at 2:18 PM on June 6, 2012
Spent several years growing up in nm and you need to do what i do: fly to cruces during harvest in aug/sept and fly home 50lbs. You can have them roasted in nm when you buy and bring home frozen or bring home fresh and roast yourself. Make it an annual tradition! Also, get some cheap pecans while you are there.
posted by TestamentToGrace at 2:37 PM on June 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by TestamentToGrace at 2:37 PM on June 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
fwiw, 50 lbs fresh from the farm i linked is only 100 bucks, probably less than a vacation would cost, but also less fun.
posted by nadawi at 2:42 PM on June 6, 2012
posted by nadawi at 2:42 PM on June 6, 2012
My favorite chile comes from Sichler Farms, so much so that I still drive down to the farm to buy it every year -- if I were you I'd buy it frozen & roasted from there.
posted by vorfeed at 3:06 PM on June 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by vorfeed at 3:06 PM on June 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
To be clear, I specifically remember buying Hatch New Mexico chiles at Raley's in Sacramento a few years ago.
posted by trip and a half at 3:09 PM on June 6, 2012
posted by trip and a half at 3:09 PM on June 6, 2012
Best answer: If you ever make it down to San Francisco, be sure to lunch or dine at Green Chile Kitchen in the NOPA neighborhood. Everything is covered in New Mexican green chiles!
Also, have you checked Corti Brothers yet? I'm always amazed at the things that turn up there.
posted by missmobtown at 8:57 PM on June 6, 2012
Also, have you checked Corti Brothers yet? I'm always amazed at the things that turn up there.
posted by missmobtown at 8:57 PM on June 6, 2012
Wherever you get them, I'm pretty sure the season doesn't start until August and ends in October. So, if you're looking for fresh, you'll have to wait.
posted by SenorJaime at 4:11 AM on June 7, 2012
posted by SenorJaime at 4:11 AM on June 7, 2012
Response by poster: OP here - great suggestions everyone! Thank you so much! I'll try local stores first, then look into it online.
posted by luciddream928 at 11:42 PM on June 8, 2012
posted by luciddream928 at 11:42 PM on June 8, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by luciddream928 at 1:06 PM on June 6, 2012