SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF CHEESE: I often self-gloss as a turophile, a connoisseur, enthusiast, or lover of cheese. Compared with Hanna Lee of Albuquerque’s Mouse Hole Cheese Shop, I’m a rank amateur. At the 2026 Cheesemonger Invitational (often referred to as the “Olympics of cheese”) in New York, Hannah eaarned the title of “Best Cheesemonger in America,” one of the cheese industry’s most prestigious honors. Hannah is a cheesemonger at the Mouse Hole, the city’s only cut-to-order cheese shop. The Mouse Hole specializes in small-batch artisan cheeses from around the world and offers seasonal food, cheese pairings and a Cheese of the Month Club. The Downtown Albuquerque shop specializes in sourcing artisan cheeses from small producers who prioritize quality, animal welfare and sustainable farming..
FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME TO EAT: The Gospel of Matthew (25:35) teaches about kindness, love, and helping people in need. “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Navajo Chef Justin Pioche, a 2026 “Chopped” winner cooked alongside incarcerated individuals and world-renowned chefs at Grafton Correctional Institution in Ohio for a charity dinner organized by the EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute. Pioche, who has personal ties to the justice system, used the opportunity to mentor inmates and demonstrate how culinary skills can provide a pathway to a fresh start.
NEW MEXICO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION (NMRA) CEO TO RETIRE: Carol Wight, CEO for the New Mexico Restaurant Association since 2002 announced her retirement for late 2026 after 25 years of service. Her career has been defined by advocacy, resilience, and heart. A former restaurateur, Carol has been one of New Mexico’s most influential advocates for restaurants. Her tenure spanned economic swings, regulatory battles, workforce challenges, and the unprecedented disruption of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Through it all, she became known for her clarity, tenacity, and unwavering commitment to helping restaurants survive and thrive.
BELOVED RESTAURANT CLOSES: On 31 July 2026, My Moms, a beloved downtown restaurant renowned for its New Mexican cuisine, family-oriented atmosphere and famous chef-owner closed its doors for good. Chef Marie Yniguez launched the restaurant in 2022 as a tribute to the mothers who have been essential to her life. Family-inspired artwork and decor honored those mothers. Marie, who stole the show on several Food Network programs, indicated rising food and supply costs ultimately made it difficult to continue operating. She pointed to significant increases in the price of meat and other goods over the past several years, adding that higher expenses forced the restaurant to raise prices. She was unwilling to pass those costs onto her customers.