Embrace a touch of smoky sophistication with this Blueberry and Peach Crisp, perfect any special evening. Whether you wield a full-blown smoker or simply a well-stocked liquor cabinet, you can infuse this beloved dessert with a subtle, intriguing smoky flavor. The secret lies in the scotch, which adds a complex depth to the sweet, juicy peaches and vibrant blueberries. It’s an innovative twist that transforms a classic comfort into an unforgettable culinary experience.
Looking for More Smokiness in This Blueberry Peach Crisp?
If you’re looking to up the smoky flavor in our Blueberry Peach Crisp beyond just the scotch and you have smoker available then you’re in luck. If you bake the crisp ahead of time and then gently heat it in your smoker before serving, you’ll receive an extra layer of smoky flavor. This allows the dessert to absorb even more of that tantalizing essence.
Recipe, Styling, and Story by Quelcy Kogel Photography by Matt Dayak
We challenge you to come up with a better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or any day of the year, than with these Pork Belly Tacos featuring Oyster Mushrooms and Pajeori.
Pork Belly Tacos Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 lb pork belly, sliced to your preference (thick or thin) Sesame oil Black pepper 1 package oyster mushrooms 8 tortillas 9 large scallions (green parts only) ⅓ cup Kewpie mayo 2 tsp Doenjang paste Sesame seeds for garnish
Pour a little sesame oil over the sliced pork belly. Season generously with black pepper.
Sear the pork belly on a grill or cast iron skillet. Set aside.
Then, grill the oyster mushrooms in the same pan and set aside.
Thinly slice the green parts of your scallion lengthwise with a sharp knife. Combine all the ingredients for the pajeori marinade, but do not add to the green onions until you are ready to assemble the tacos.
Stir the doenjang paste and mayo together. Adjust the amount of the paste you use to your taste preference.
Heat your tortillas on a hot pan and assemble while still warm.
To assemble the tacos, spread the seasoned mayo on a tortilla, top with the pork belly, mushrooms, and the green onion pajeori. Garnish with some sesame seeds and enjoy!
Recipe by Veda Sankaran / Styling by Anna Franklin / Photography by Dave Bryce
A classic Cuban drink that has been enjoyed for centuries, it is believed that the first mojito cocktail was created in the late 16th century by Sir Francis Drake, a British explorer who was visiting Havana at the time. The drink was originally made with lime, sugar, and mint, but over time, variations of the recipe have emerged, including the addition of rum and soda water. Our Eva Longoria inspired mojito recipe features white rum and club soda to top off the cocktail.
The actress’s 2023 CNN show Searching for Mexico showcased the food and culture of six diverse regions in the southern country, with the aim to illustrate Mexico’s multifaceted offerings beyond the cliche tacos and tequila. She inspired us to dive deeper into time-honored Mexican cuisine.
Eva Longoria Inspired Mojito Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 oz white rum
1 oz fresh lime juice
2 tsp sugar (or simple syrup)
8-10 fresh mint leaves
Club soda (to top off)
Ice cubes
Lime wedges and extra mint leaves for garnish
DIRECTIONS
In a highball glass, gently muddle the mint leaves and sugar (or simple syrup).
Add the lime juice to the glass.
Fill the glass with ice cubes and pour in the white rum.
Use a bar spoon or a long stirring stick to mix the ingredients together.
Top off the glass with club soda and give it a gentle stir.
Garnish the glass with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.
Recipe by Gabe Gomez / Photography by Dave Bryce / Cocktail by Sarah Cascone / Styling by Anna Calabrese
Check out our other Eva Longoria inspired recipes:
Originating in Spain, Sangria is a refreshing and fruity cocktail popular for summer gatherings and perfect for sipping on a hot day. Its name comes from the Spanish word “sangre,” meaning blood, due to the deep red color of the drink. The traditional recipe includes red wine, chopped fruit, brandy, and a sweetener, often served with ice and sparkling water. Our Eva Longoria inspired Sangria uses traditional ingredients but swaps sparkling water for club soda.
The actress’s 2023 CNN show Searching for Mexico showcased the food and culture of six diverse regions in the southern country, with the aim to illustrate Mexico’s multifaceted offerings beyond the cliche tacos and tequila. She inspired us to dive deeper into time-honored Mexican cuisine.
Recipe by Gabe Gomez Cocktail by Sarah Cascone Styling by Anna Franklin Photography by Dave Bryce
Originating from Veracruz, Mexico, Huachinango a la Veracruzana is a classic fish dish featuring a red snapper, natively found in the Gulf of Mexico, the western Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea. If possible, the fresher the snapper, the better for this savory recipe.
Eva Longoria’s 2023 CNN show Searching for Mexico showcased the food and culture of six diverse regions in the southern country, with the aim to illustrate Mexico’s multifaceted offerings beyond the cliche tacos and tequila. She inspired us to dive deeper into time-honored Mexican cuisine.
What is Huachinango a la Veracruzana?
Huachinango a la Veracruzana highlights the coastal flavors of the Veracruz region, blending the freshness of the fish with the vibrant, tangy sauce. The term “huachinango” refers specifically to red snapper in Mexico. The name comes from the Nahuatl word huachinanco, which translates to “red” or “reddish,” likely referring to the fish’s distinctive coloration. It’s often served with rice or tortillas, making for a flavorful and satisfying meal that showcases the culinary traditions of Mexico.
Huachinango a la Veracruzana Inspired by Eva Longoria Recipe (Red Snapper in Spicy Tomato Sauce)
Ingredients
1 whole red snapper
3 cloves of garlic, well chopped
2 large limes, juiced
1 cup chicken stock
1 medium onion, well chopped
1 can crush tomatoes, 28 oz
3 pickled jalapeños, well chopped
5 green olives with pimentos, sliced
1 tbsp capers
1 bunch of parsley, well chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp of vegetable oil
Pinch of dried Mexican oregano
Pinch of salt
Pinch of clove
Pinch of pepper
Instructions
Clean and scale the red snapper, leaving the head and tail intact. Use a sharp knife to make shallow cuts in the flesh of the fish.
In a bowl, mix the chopped garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and clove. Pour the marinade over the fish and let it marinate for 30 minutes.
Heat vegetable oil in a pan over high heat. Sear the fish for a few minutes on each side until lightly browned.
Add the chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, jalapeños, green olives with pimentos, and capers, onion, bay leaves, oregano, pinch of salt and pepper. Low simmer for 15 minutes.
Serve the entire snapper on a large dish. Garnish with parsley.
Recipe by Gabe Gomez / Photography by Dave Bryce / Food and Styling by Anna Franklin
Tacos de lengua, or beef tongue tacos, are a popular dish in Mexican cuisine. The tender, flavorful meat is slow-cooked with spices and served with fresh toppings on warm tortillas. While some may be hesitant to try tongue, it’s a delicacy in many cultures and is a sustainable way of using the entire animal. Our Eva Longoria inspired tacos de lengua recipe is a delicious and adventurous way to explore new flavors and expand your culinary skills.
The actress’s 2023 CNN show Searching for Mexico showcased the food and culture of six diverse regions in the southern country, with the aim to illustrate Mexico’s multifaceted offerings beyond the cliche tacos and tequila. She inspired us to dive deeper into classic Mexican cuisine.
Eva Longoria Inspired Tacos de Lengua Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 beef tongue, approximately 3-4 pounds
3 large white onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
A pinch of salt
A pinch of whole peppercorns
2 tbsp of olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
In a stock pot, fill two-thirds of it with water. Add the beef tongue, two chopped onions, garlic cloves, bay leaf, peppercorns, and salt. Simmer over medium-low heat for 5-6 hours.
Remove the beef tongue from the pot and allow it to cool to room temperature. Peel off the skin and shred the meat.
Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Add the remaining chopped onion and the shredded beef tongue. Sauté until the meat is slightly crispy.
Serve the sautéed tongue on warm corn tortillas, topped with fresh pico de gallo.
Recipe by Gabe Gomez / Photography by Dave Bryce / Food and Styling by Anna Franklin
Check out our other Eva Longoria inspired recipes:
Horchata traces its origins back to the sun-soaked terrains of North Africa, rebranded in Spain as “horchata de chufa,” courtesy of the Moors’ conquest that left an indelible mark on the Iberian palate. Eventually, it crossed oceans, landing in Mexico, unleashing its irresistible charm.
Enter Eva Longoria, whose CNN program Searching for Mexico is a love letter to the nation’s diverse culinary and cultural landscape; it is a deep dive into the heart and soul of a country as complex as a finely crafted mole. Inspired by her show, we developed this horchata recipe — our love language for Mexican culture and all its flavors.
Eva Longoria Inspired Horchata Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of white rice
1 cup of sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup of sliced almonds
1 can of evaporated milk
2 cups of almond milk
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, combine the white rice, cinnamon sticks, and sliced almonds. Cover with water and let it soak overnight.
After soaking, strain the water and add the mixture to a blender. Add evaporated milk and blend until smooth.
With a fine strainer, strain the liquid into a pitcher to remove any remaining solids.
Add the sugar, vanilla extract, and almond milk to the pitcher. Stir well until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Add a liter of water to the pitcher and stir. Serve over ice.
Recipe by Gabe Gomez / Photography by Dave Bryce / Food and Styling by Anna Calabrese
Check out our other Eva Longoria inspired recipes:
The Michelada cocktail is a popular Mexican beverage enjoyed by many around the world. What makes this drink stand out is its savory flavor — typically made with beer, lime juice, hot sauce, and other spicy seasonings; the Michelada serves well as a fiery accompaniment to any delicious Mexican meal.
About Eva Longoria’s Journey Through Mexican Cuisine
Eva Longoria’s 2023 CNN show Searching for Mexico showcased the food and culture of six diverse regions in the southern country, with the aim to illustrate Mexico’s multifaceted offerings beyond the clichés of tacos and tequila. She inspired us to dive deeper into time-honored Mexican cuisine, including trying out a Michelada recipe. Some variations of the Michelada recipe include adding tomato juice, clamato juice, or even a splash of Maggi sauce. Feel free to experiment and customize.
Check out our other Eva Longoria inspired recipes:
We understand the urge to stuff and deep fry your squash blossoms or add them to a quesadilla. Consider for a moment, however, a delightful pasta dish that combines the flavors of tender squash blossoms, salty guanciale (Italian cured pork jowl), and al dente bucatini pasta. We love our Farmer’s Markets in New Mexico and celebrate this week with recipes like the following: Bucatini with Squash Blossoms and Guanciale that will liven up any weekly menu.
What Are Squash Blossoms?
The squash blossom is an edible flower that comes from the Cucurbita plant, which grows in New Mexico and many other regions of the Southwest. If you don’t live in New Mexico, you can order it online, or swap it out with another kind of edible flower, as there are many different kinds. This bucatini recipe is great on its own, but you can also enhance it by adding a red sauce, as bucatini is one of the major sauce players in the pasta world. It soaks up sauce flavor like no other, and combined with the mouthwatering guanciale and little herbaceous bite from the squash blossom, this dish is a winner.
Prepare the squash blossoms by removing the stems from the blossoms and rinse. Fine chop the blossoms to integrate with other ingredients and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the bucatini pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the diced guanciale and cook until it becomes crispy and browned, about 4-5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the guanciale to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
Add the minced garlic to the same skillet with the rendered guanciale fat. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Add the squash blossoms to the skillet and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
Toss in the cooked bucatini pasta and crispy guanciale. Stir everything together to combine. Add some reserved cooking water.
Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle grated Pecorino Romano cheese over the pasta. Toss again to combine to create a silky sauce. Hit with a bit of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
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TABLE contributor and revered New Mexico food writer Cheryl Alters Jamison examines the delight-on-wheels of some of Santa Fe’s marvelous food trucks.
Dinner on the Move
Food trucks used to have a reputation as a source of inexpensive fast food, and not much more. You can still find cheap eats at trucks, but the quality has increased wildly over more recent years. Santa Fe was a little late to the food truck revolution, relative to Portland, Austin, and other towns also known for good eating. However, these days, our city is a delight for moveable feasting. You can find everything from Native American to vegan Jamaican. Come along with me on a tour around some of my favorites. To further reinforce the quality of these mobile meals, I took them back to TABLE’s photography studio, where our team gave them the glam turn the dishes deserve.
I think the sense of discovery is part of the fun of food trucks, so be sure to look for your own finds. Good areas for spotting multiple trucks include around Meow Wolf, by Santa Fe Antiques on Marquez Place, across from the State Capitol on Old Santa Fe Trail, and along Airport Road from Cerrillos Road to the Santa Fe Country Club.
If you have any doubts about the quality fare of some food trucks, look no further than my first choice. El Chile Toreado garnered a James Beard Foundation Best Southwest Chef semi-finalist nod earlier this year. Father-daughter team Luis and Berenice Medina shared the honor, but they are quick to credit the rest of their immediate family, as well, for the business’s success. Luis started this granddaddy of Santa Fe food trucks in 2003. Berenice worked in the stand growing up, then went off to Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles, and returned. When I asked Berenice whether she changed up any of the dishes after culinary school, she said no, because her dad had already perfected them. She was able to refine their business systems, however.
For many years, the truck sat on Cordova Road near the busy intersection with St. Francis Drive. After an ungainly apartment complex swallowed the lot, the Medina family rebooted and set up shop again in a nearby spot. They’re along Early Street off Cerrillos Road. A second, very recent, outpost sits on Siler Road in the Big Jo Hardware lot. Look for the cute logo of a mustache made of two chiles.
A Burrito for Any Time
Hefty hand-held burritos are a specialty any time of day, from 7:30 a.m. until mid-afternoon. Breakfast burritos stuffed with eggs and other goodies are hustled out the truck’s window by the dozens every morning. My favorites are from the lunch menu, though available all the hours the truck is open. I eat plenty of meat, but I especially like the veggie burrito here. It’s a well-balanced toss-up of sauteed potatoes, pico de gallo, beans, green chile, and more. The accompanying red salsa, fired up by chiles de arbol and Colorado, offers a particularly piquant counterpoint to the rich mixture. All of the fillings can be ordered in soft tacos, too. I switch back and forth most often among the carne asada, ground beef picadillo, pork carnitas, and chicken in adobo.
One of the treats here is the condiment bar. After you order, you’re given a plastic bag to spoon out your choices among a classic pico de gallo, a cabbage-and-cilantro mix, pickled red onions, and the grilled jalapeños that inspired the truck’s fiery name. If you’re a fan of Mexican Coke, it’s available by the bottle here.
You might never find this truck on your own, in spite of it being New Mexico sunset orange in color. It sits behind the Brakeroom — one of Santa Fe Brewing’s tap rooms — totally hidden by the small brick building, which was once the sleeping quarters for the nearby railroad’s brakemen. Owner Enrique Guerrero came to Santa Fe to be executive chef at La Casa Sena many years back. He went on to work for other high-end properties around town before deciding to be his own boss with this food truck. In addition to the Bang Bite on Galisteo, he has other trucks that cater movie sets.
Bang Bite serves one of Santa Fe’s best burgers, an extravaganza of Certified Angus, combining brisket, chuck, and short ribs. It can be topped in myriad ways. I like the classic green chile cheeseburger, which comes with cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped New Mexican green chile, and more green chile mixed into the mayo. About the most elaborate that I get here, sometimes, is to add a side of the bacon jam, but the burger doesn’t need it for flavor. Top-quality french fries accompany the burger and other sandwiches, like the Cubano or pulled pork. On Fridays, the truck serves first-rate fish and chips, with more of those great fries and seared green beans accompanying a hefty portion of crisply fried fish. Seating is available on the terrace of The Brakeroom or inside the charming space. Of course, you should accompany the meal with one of the Santa Fe Brewing Company beers. I opt for the Nutty Brown Ale. While there, be sure to find the fabulous Frank Zappa quote about beer in the front room.
Multiple Santa Fe trucks, two Albuquerque locations, and expanding! You can find a bright red Fusion truck in almost every part of town now. To me, Fusion’s all about birria, a juicy stewed Mexican meat mixture. I discovered the dish some dozen years ago while eating my way through Tijuana, and was thrilled to have it show up later in Santa Fe. The stew is typically goat on its home turf in Jalisco, cooked down to shreds in an adobo sauce of chiles, vinegar, garlic, and spices. Here though, it’s made with tender beef. When stuffed into tacos, the tortillas are typically dipped into the soupy liquid before frying up crisp. Then the tacos are served with a cup of the consommé for dunking, bite by bite. At Fusion, the tacos — called quesabirria — also have a thick layer of melted cheese inside, to add yet more delectable texture.
True to its name, Fusion creates a world of other dishes with the birria, too. Check out the ramen bowl made with the savory meat, or maybe the quesa pizza. Fusion offers some nice-looking salads and entrées of seared tilapia, chicken, salmon, and more, but honestly, I’ve never gotten to any of those or to the breakfast pancakes or waffles. Yes, it’s all about the birria to me. With a glass of the rice beverage, horchata, I’m totally content.
Jesus Mendoza’s cleverly named sushi truck sits near bustling Cerrillos Road, but you have to look a little to find it. Jesusushi is tucked into the parking lot surrounding Eclipse Car Wash. Apparently, it’s gotten pretty popular, because someone has painted some of the surrounding parking spots with “car wash” or “sushi.” Jesus used to work at both Kai Sushi and the late Osaka before starting his own business.
His menu is quite sizable for coming out of a mobile kitchen with a single chef. You can get simple pieces of nigiri or opt for elaborate rolls, including the namesake Jesusushi roll. It’s a tour de force, with shrimp tempura, avocado, cream cheese, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and a topping of torched salmon. I often opt for the salmon skin handrolls, which have the signature crispy skin in small crunchy pieces. The chirashi sushi bowl makes a colorful mix with its raw fish, cooked shrimp, seaweed salad, and tiny tobiko fish roe over rice. In some moods, I order the sashimi or the baked scallop roll, which also includes a couple of tempura shrimp in the mix. Jesus makes rice balls, and a variety of salads, and loads of other specialties. After a dozen trips, I still haven’t made it through them all, but I’m sure having fun trying.
I’ve gone most of my life without being a big fan of donuts or coffee. The Craft truck, parked across from the State Capitol, helped change all of that. Unlike most traditional donut shops, the donuts are fried fresh for every order before the finishing touches added. You can get a simple cake or raised glazed donut here. I started with those, and then went through a cinnamon roll donut phase. I since have worked up to some of the fancier — and fanciful — combos like cookies and cream with vanilla glaze and chocolate cookie crumbles, and the s’more, with chocolate glaze, graham cracker crumbs, and a torched marshmallow sitting jauntily on top. Sometimes I just get plain silly, with the Homer, topped with strawberry glaze and generous rainbow sprinkles. You can choose to build your own donut extravaganza too, picking from among glazes, drizzles, sprinkles, and more.
Proprietors Craig and Michelle McGregor came to Santa Fe some dozen years ago. They had briefly operated a mini-donut mall franchise in Albuquerque, which wasn’t a great business experience for them. The silver lining, however, was that they became super-proficient at making donuts. Michelle dreams up the many specials they run from month to month. I’m especially partial to the biscochito donut offered in December. Upcoming spring flavors will likely include key lime and strawberry shortcake, among other fun offerings. Red Rock Roasters from Albuquerque supplies the coffee for the truck. I’m always game for the latte. In warmer weather, the many choices of Italian sodas can cool me down. The combination’s a good snack, or a fine finish for any meal.
Story by Cheryl Alters Jamison / Styling by Keith Recker / Photography by Tira Howard