D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
February 2010
Media Matters
The writers of "Bones," the charming TV show about a crime-solving forensic anthropologist that airs Thursdays on Fox, may need to, er, flesh out their anatomy lessons with a little geography. In an episode that aired last month, our heroes investigated the death of a UFO-hunter in — where else? — Roswell, NM. But instead of aliens, the bad guys turned out to be illicit pesticide users across the border in Mexico — "only two kilometers away." Oops. Perhaps the real aliens created a black hole that bent space-time and shrank the 110 miles between Roswell and the Mexican border.
Our favorite New Mexico chiles got a tasty PR boost in the latest issue of Saveur, the foodie mag that celebrates "authentic" flavors around the globe. The magazine's annual "Saveur 100" list turned to readers for nominations this year, and New Mexico expatriate Rebecca Orchant of Brooklyn, NY, wrote in to praise Hatch green chiles. "These flame-roasted chiles are a New Mexican obsession," the magazine noted. "The peppers, which can be anywhere from finger size to a foot long, are actually regular New Mexico chiles that are harvested early, before they turn red, and they're named for a town in southern New Mexico that's famous for peppers. The roasting gives them a smoky flavor and a hint of sweetness that tempers their heat." Pepper purists might point out that the roasting also is important to remove the tough outer skin. But as long as they spell "chile" right, hey, we're happy!
Desert Exposure columnist Richard Mahler penned the cover story in the January/February New Mexico Journey, the magazine for AAA members, about Silver City and its Mainstreet program. Pictured with the story, "Polished to Perfection," are Javalina coffeehouse, Diane's Restaurant, the Palace Hotel and the Silver City Museum, along with Bullard Street and the Yankie-Texas arts district.