The Latest News from New Mexico Tourism

April 13, 2010

Tourism Department offers Hot Promotional Opportunities for State's Culinary Businesses on Web Site's

Culinary Treasures Trail

New Mexico's busiest web site (www.newmexico.org) is about to get a whole lot busier, thanks to the New Mexico Tourism Department’s new cuisine section. Regular visitors to the site have noticed increased attention to culinary tourism in recent months, kicked off by the popular Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail.

"Promoting New Mexico tourism requires creative thinking to stand out from other states, regions, and countries," said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department. "We are further enhancing our website to attract the many visitors who make destination and other travel choices based on interesting cuisine and related activities, which our state offers in abundance. The effort allows us to work cooperatively with organizations like the New Mexico Wine Growers’ Association, the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association, and the State’s Agriculture and Economic Development Departments, who all share an interest in promoting New Mexico."

Added Cheryl Alters Jamison, culinary liaison for the Department, "The new section (www.newmexico.org/cuisine) features revised and expanded sections on food and beverages, local producers, cooking schools, and related culinary experiences. Want to tour a southern New Mexico winery, a Mora raspberry farm, a farmers’ market in Taos, or Four Corners microbrewery? Want to sign up for a Southwestern cooking class in Albuquerque? Or maybe you’re looking for a great place to chow down in Grants or Roswell; enjoy a cowboy supper under the stars; visit a farmer/cheese-maker who welcomes visitors; or enjoy a muy tasty gordita?"

The Department wants your help on the next trail to be mapped, the Culinary Treasures Trail. This new trail recognizes independent family-owned restaurants in business for at least 40 years. Places such as El Comedor de Anayas (Moriarty), Rancho de Chimayó, La Posta de Mesilla, Mary & Tito’s Café (Albuquerque), Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen (Santa Fe), Matilda’s (Española), and Billy Crews Restaurant (Santa Teresa) have helped establish New Mexico’s strong culinary heritage. If you know of a similar place that should be on this trail, follow the website links to the guidelines and nomination form.

Nomination deadline is Friday (May 15, 2010) at 5 p.m. Owners, staff, or patrons can submit nominations. All nominated restaurants that meet the guidelines will be included on the trail.

Additionally, all New Mexico restaurants, food growers and processors, wineries and other culinary businesses can enter their information on the site. From the www.newmexico.org home page, click on "New Mexico Business Listings," then follow the prompts to add your listing under “Restaurants” or "Food and Drink," or another section.

For more information about the NM culinary campaign, contact Cheryl Alters Jamison, NM Culinary Liaison, 505-982-2041  or b-c-jamison@msn.com.

Mike Stauffer, Communications Director, New Mexico Tourism Department, 505-872-7379  or mike.stauffer@state.nm.us.