We shipped two cases of Hatch green chile here to London. Hatch, New Mexico is known for their green chile. We used to go to their Chile festival held each Labor Day weekend and stock up. This is the time of the year in New Mexico when the chile roasters are out on the street corners and supermarkets. You buy your fresh chile and have it roasted right there. Nothing means Fall to me as much as the smell of chiles being roasted. Once you smell it you can't forget it.
I loved when we used to drive from Arizona to New Mexico. You could get fresh green chile on your hamburger for 25 cents extra even at Burger King.
I think I'll have some on a hamburger tonight here in London!!!
What she said.
Except that I used up my last can in quesadillas tonight. Now I'm a bit homesick...
Hatch chile isn't hotter than jalapenos necessarily, but in New Mexican cooking it's used in large quantities, almost more like a vegetable than a seasoning. Thus it can be quite hot indeed, depending on the growing conditions. It's a different flavour from jalapenos, too, and is highly addictive.
The same chiles, when ripe, are dried and ground into red chile powder that's used for sauces. No tomato in NM-style enchilada sauce--just pure chile! Again, it can be pretty hot!
The lack of green chile here almost makes me want to go back to New Mexico (almost 
)... but I did bring a couple of cans back with me when I left last week . By the way, Elynor, I've been meaning to PM you... I managed to get 2 cans of the enchilada sauce you were after (at least, I hope I got the right ones). If you can PM me your address, I'll send them up to you .
You just made my day, no, my week!
