Pepper
Roasting at Sadie's - Albuquerque,
New Mexico Family Tradition
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Dining
Room View
In
late summer I have been told by New Mexico locals from Taos, Albuquerque
and Santa Fe that in summer the delicious aroma of roasting peppers
can be savored from one end of the state to other, and these beautiful
green peppers are the main ingredient of a bevy of hugely popular
dishes served in restaurants and family homes.
Jim at Pepper Roaster
Roasted Pepper
During
a recent visit to Albuquerque I was given the traditional method
used by the original family members of Sadie's Restaurant, where
they keep a pepper roaster by the front door to enable arriving
guests to smell the tempting aroma of the peppers that soon will
be savored in one of Sadie's fantastic menu items. Sadie's opened
their first of four locations in the 50s, and have won countless
awards for their authentic and delicious New Mexico cuisine.
Pepper Veins
Owner Bill with Jim Garcia in front of photo of founder Sadie
According
to Jim Garcia, marketing director for the family owned restaurant,
the extreme heat of the pepper roaster brings the pepper to the
perfect temperature, where the veins of the pepper expand and
produce the hot flavors and fill the air with their delicious
scent, considered an irresistible perfume to pepper lovers.
Sadie Combination Plate
Cheese dip and chile tastes
The
entire process takes less than fifteen minutes from start to finish,
including selection of the ideal green peppers for roasting. Varieties
of peppers range in size, color and intensity, and are used in
different recipes for an expected end result. Watching the faces
of people as they begin to smell the roasting peppers and smile
with enjoyment is one of the really entertaining aspects of roasting.
"People often think it is the seeds in the pepper that create
the heat, but it actually comes from the veins that swell during
the roasting process." "The onsite pepper roasting demonstrations
by Sadie's are a very enjoyable aspect of our marketing campaigns
for the restaurant," said Garcia. Although, he did mention
that he once attended to First Lady Hillary Clinton, and it was
a very memorable dinner experience that he would never forget.
Rib dish
Products Sadie Sells Online
Inside
the restaurant guests can be seen enjoying a variety of dishes
created from the family collection. This food is so loved by locals,
and includes their wonderful "Hatch" green roasted peppers,
that can be enjoyed with a delicious blue or traditional margarita
cocktail, cold cerveza or any tequila combination your heart may
desire. Their dinner menu specialties include award winning guacamole,
signature Chile Relleno, dishes featuring their home-made red
or green chile sauces (which can be purchased online), enchilada,
tamale, taco, and quesadilla combinations and more. Tables in
the huge restaurant are set up primarily in a family stile and
seat from eight to eighteen per table; from grandparents to grandbabies
it's all good at Sadie's. They also have booths and small tables
for more intimate diners. This is a festive atmosphere, where
people enjoy friends, family and authentic dishes served with
love. Ole'!
Blue Margarita
Basket of Pepper Varities
Sadie's
of New Mexico
6230 Fourth Street NW
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107
505-345-5339
www.sadiesofnewmexico.com
By
Bonnie Carroll
