New Mexico - "The Land of Enchantment"

 

New Mexico is a state located in the southwestern and western regions of the United States, admitted to the union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912. It is usually considered one of the Mountain States.

Inhabited by indigenous peoples of the Americas for many centuries before European exploration, New Mexico was subsequently part of the Imperial Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain. Later, it was part of Mexico before becoming a U.S. territory and eventually a U.S. state. Among U.S. states, New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics, including descendants of Spanish colonists who have lived in the area for over 400 years. It also has the second-highest percentage of Native Americans after Alaska, and the fourth-highest total number of Native Americans after California, Oklahoma, and Arizona. The nations in the state consist of mostly Navajo, Puebloan, and the Apache peoples. As a result, the demographics and culture of the state are unique for their strong Hispanic and Native American influences, both of which are reflected in the state flag. The scarlet and gold colors of the New Mexico flag are taken from the royal standards of Spain, along with the ancient sun symbol of the Zia, a Pueblo-related tribe.

New Mexico, or Nuevo México in Spanish, is often incorrectly believed to have taken its name from the nation of Mexico. However, New Mexico was given its name in 1563, and again in 1581, by Spanish explorers who believed the area contained wealthy Indian cultures similar to those of the Mexica (Aztec) Empire. Mexico, formerly a part of New Spain, adopted its name centuries later in 1821, after winning independence from Spanish rule. Consequently, New Mexico was only a part of the independent federal republic of Mexico for 12 years, 1836 through 1848. The two developed as neighboring Spanish-speaking communities, with relatively independent histories The capital of New Mexico is Santa Fe.

Every September, a cloud crosses the border into Arizona from the east and slowly rolls across the desert, engulfing Phoenix with the scent of millions of roasted Hatch chilies. Arizona has always had a desire on green chilies, but the state you'll it is New Mexico, as the Green Chilies Stew is the main and signature dish in this state. This dish is spicy made with pork and green chili. This dish is also made with red chili.

New Mexican Grill is your neighborhood family restaurant  in Gilbert, AZ serving authentic New Mexican cuisine. From their Red and Green Hatch Chile to the Carne Adovada and Chile Stews, you will not be disappointed with their food, however the service and hospitality of this restaurant is unfortunately very disappointing.

 

 

Rhode Island - "The Ocean State"

 

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations covers an area of 1,214 square miles (3,140 km2) and is bordered on the north and east by Massachusetts, on the west by Connecticut, and on the south by Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. It shares a narrow maritime border with New York State between Block Island and Long Island. The mean elevation of the state is 200 feet (61 m). It is only 37 miles (60 km) wide and 48 miles (77 km) long, yet the state has a tidal shoreline on Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean of 384 miles (618 km). Nicknamed the Ocean State, Rhode Island has a number of oceanfront beaches. It is mostly flat with no real mountains, and the state's highest natural point is Jerimoth Hill, 812 feet (247 m) above sea level.[20] Located within the New England Region, Rhode Island has two distinct natural regions. Eastern Rhode Island contains the lowlands of the Narragansett Bay, while Western Rhode Island forms part of the New England Upland. Rhode Island was the first of the original Thirteen Colonies to declare independence from British rule, declaring itself independent on May 4, 1776, two months before any other colony. The state was also the last of the thirteen original colonies to ratify the United States Constitution Providence is the largest city and Rhode Island's capital. What do Rhode Islander main cuisine? Living in Ocean State, the answer will be naturally seafood. A better question will be what kind of seafood? Seafood is specialty and a point of pride in New England cuisine. Since Rhode Island is a state in New England Region, the mighty quahog is the unofficial seafood of distinction. The quahog (pronounced "KWAW-hog" or sometimes "KOH-hog") is a hard-shell clam native to the northeast's Atlantic shores. Quahogs can be served raw, steamed, fried, or in chowder, and most famously, in the form of a stuffie, in which the meat of the clam is mixed with bread or cornmeal stuffing and spices and then baked in its shell. Add hot sauce and lemon juice and you've got yourself an authentic Rhode Island stuffie, a dish you won't easily find anywhere else. Our group of diners experience this type of clam in a local restaurant in Phoenix, AZ called Taylor's Chowder House on Wednesday, July 15th. At Taylor's Chowder House, a jaunty little nautical establishment in Phoenix, fried Belly clams are usually on the special menu. In Taylor's Chowder House, one can find other delicious seafood dish such Nantucket sea scallops, lemon pepper tilapia, shrimp trawler, fresh ''Ipswich'' clam, fresh oysters and other seafood combination.

Special thank to Tiscar Valas, Javier Fernandez and Saman Mahmoudi for joining me on this, and last but not least Manasa Danda who started this journey with me from the beginning.