Thai Boran – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Many of us with a puerile sense of humor can probably recall giggling like silly school kids the first time we visited a Thai restaurant and perused a menu. We went straight into the gutter the first time we came across such foods as phat prik and fuktong curry. Even after learning that “phat prik” is actually a stir-fried chili dish and “fuktong curry” is a pumpkin curry, the sophomoric among us couldn’t order these dishes with a straight face. It gets even worse when we actually learned how to pronounce the names of Thai dishes. Not even Bob Newhart could order “cow pod guy” (chicken fried rice) or “cow pod moo” (pork fried rice) with his usual deadpan delivery.…

Red and Green: New Mexico’s Food Scene is On Fire – April, 2026

NEW MEXICO CHEFS INTRODUCE INDIGINOUS CUISINE ON CHOPPED: Santa Clara Pueblo’s Ray Naranjo and Fruitland’s Justin Pioche made the Land of Enchantment very proud during an April 21st edition of The Food Network’s “Chopped” program. In an episode titled “Indigenous Inspiration,” the chefs created meals using mystery ingredients.  In addition to the two New Mexican chefs, the competition featured Mariah Gladstone (Blackfeet/Cherokee) and Jessica Walks First (Menominee).  Each chef was required to prepare a three-course meal across appetizer, entrée, and dessert rounds, with one chef eliminated each round.  Chef Naranjo was the second chef eliminated despite having prepared a delectable dish praised by the judges.  When the smoke cleared and judging had concluded Chef Pioche was declared winner of the…