New Mexico Restaurant Named American Classic
CHIMAYO, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico restaurant built on tradition is getting national attention from a very prestigious source.
Rancho de Chimayo has been named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation.
The restaurant is known for its friendly staff, rich history and tasty menu.
“You can order anything here and it’s good,” said customer Frank McGuire. “I like huevos rancheros.”
This week the James Beard Foundation, a top-notch New York culinary arts organization, announced five recipients of its 2016 America’s Classics Award.
Only restaurants with a timeless appeal and quality food that reflects their community can receive the award.
“I didn’t believe it. I honest to God didn’t believe it,” Rancho de Chimayo Owner Florence Jaramillo said.
Florence Jaramillo and her husband Arturo opened the restaurant in 1965.
“We were in the middle of nowhere, we had never worked in the restaurant, we had never had a restaurant, so we were starting it from scratch,” Jaramillo said.
Rancho de Chimayo is located in the same home Arturuo’s grandparents lived in decades ago.
“We wanted people to feel like they were coming into our house to eat and that we wanted to serve good food,” Jaramillo said.
They wanted to serve food that reflects the heritage of New Mexico and so much more.
“When I heard about this award I said this is for Chimayo. It’s for the Chimayo chile. It’s for the families that have lived here so many years. This is for them.
Four other restaurants around the country were also named American Classics. They will all be honored in May.
Click the link below for the Channel 13 story.
New Mexico restaurant named American Classic
