We Austinites pride ourselves on living la vida locavore for the most part, except when it comes to chile peppers. Then we welcome all comers – fresh or roasted, dried, smoked or canned.
In August, we throw our arms open wide to embrace the chiles that are the pride of a tiny Southeast New Mexico pueblita known as Hatch. Folks there even refer to Hatch as the “Chile Capital of the World,” so we have those kind of community bragging rights in common. They hold their own Hatch Chile Festival, in case you’ve got a vacation planned in early September.
The big, elongated green peppers take their name from the village and are the major cash crop in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. Buyers and brokers from grocery store and restaurant chains descend on the Hatch area early in the year, contracting to buy crops in bulk. Shipping usually starts in midsummer and supplies have been arriving in Austin for about a week now. Here’s the scoop on what some local businesses are doing with them.
• Austin Slow Burn: The folks here tell us this time of year is all about Hatch chiles, and they are just trying to stay ahead of the local demand for their Hatch Green Chile Queso and Green Chile Jam. Chips and queso anyone?
• Stubb’s Anytime Sauces: The folks who make sauces and condiments under the iconic Stubb’s label just sold the company to spice giant McCormick for a very tidy sum and the line is expanding. Their Green Chile Anytime Sauce is made with Hatch chiles, pineapple juice, lime, jalapeños, and brown sugar. Where are those pork ribs?
• Chuy’s Green Chile Festival: This annual event always showcases tasty new menu items and keepsake souvenirs like t-shirts at all locations. They had me at green chile pork rellenos wrapped in bacon. Aug.17-Sept. 8.
• Z’Tejas Hatch Chile Festival: All three local Z’Tejas outlets are gearing up for their annual chile celebration and will offer special menu items for a couple of months, starting Tue., Sept. 8.
• Whole Foods Market: Look for fresh peppers in the produce department at all five local outlets, where they are currenty on sale for $0.68 per pound through Mon., Aug.17. We’re also told that store team members are using roasted Hatch peppers in lots of new prepared food recipes. The Hill Country Galleria store is offering a $10 Healthy Hatch Cooking Class on Wed., Aug. 12, 6pm.
• Central Market: Our homegrown gourmet grocer started celebrating Hatch chile craziness 20 years ago this summer, and they are blowing it out this year. Not only do they have the chiles fresh and roasted, they’ve got products featuring Hatch chiles in everything from meat, bread, and side dishes to ice cream and cookies. Ongoing through Tue., Aug. 18.
This article appears in August 7 • 2015.