Hatch, New Mexico is famous for it’s chiles. It used to be that you had to go to Hatch, or someplace close by, to get them, but now they are widely exported. I think they are best in their home state, fresh roasted during chile season, which runs from early August to late September, which means I am here right in the middle of it. Roadside stands with drums of chiles rotating over flames, the distinctive, spicy aroma perfuming the air, wafting through my car window–irresistible! Of course I stopped and bought some.

Here is a poem I wrote a while back involving Hatch chiles.