People of LP

Chef Chris Bethoney recognized as James Beard Awards semifinalist

We are incredibly proud of our Head Chef Chris Bethoney for his recognition as a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for the 2024 Best Chef in the Southwest award.  

Chris has played an integral role in shaping Campo’s Rio Grande Valley Cuisine alongside a dynamic team of chefs, farmers and gardeners. He is a skilled collaborator, working with our butchery, bakery and craft distillery, artisan product development team, farmers and gardeners, and building relationships with growers and herders across New Mexico – all while leading and mentoring his team on a daily basis to deliver an incredible dining experience.

Chris was the opening Sous Chef of Los Poblanos’ onside restaurant, Campo, in 2017 and has been the Head Chef since 2022.  He and his team do things the hard way, the slow way – from cutting handmade pasta with guitar strings to mentoring anyone who wants to grind and nixtamalize corn – sous chefs, line cooks and dishwashers – to committing to an entire harvest of blackberries from a small local farm.

The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards recognize talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

We are honored to have our culinary team included on this list of exceptional individuals (including six in New Mexico!) from across the country. Learn more about our culinary team.

Celebrating the Legacy of John Gaw Meem

Each November we pause and reflect on the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in the storied history of Los Poblanos: John Gaw Meem, the renowned architect behind Los Poblanos Ranch and the La Quinta Cultural Center. Meem, born on November 17, 1894, is widely considered New Mexico's greatest architect of the 20th century. Throughout his long, successful career, Meem worked on countless projects and collaborated with many leading figures in the Southwest including Ruth and Albert Simms, the owners of Los Poblanos in the 1930s.

Q&A with Violet Jones, Pastry Sous Chef

We asked our pastry sous chef, Violet Jones, to share some helpful tips for home bakers using heirloom grains.

Q&A with Graham Unverzagt, Head Sommelier

Congratulations to Graham, for recently achieving Level 3 Award from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. This advanced level qualification from one of the most highly regarded certifying organizations recognizes his exceptional skill level and deep understanding of grape growing, winemaking, theory and tasting. If you have dined at Campo, you probably know his upbeat, approachable style and perfect pairings. 

Recognizing Creative Women of Los Poblanos

Over the past 100 years, a series of remarkable women have left a lasting mark on our historic property. From the bakery to the finance office to the fields, women continue to play an integral part of the story of Los Poblanos. We're pleased to introduce three women who's creativity drives our distillation and cocktail program. 

Meet Liz Gallery, Culinary Director

Liz Gallery was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She started her career in the front of the house, and after realizing her passion for restaurants and cooking, she took to the kitchen. Chef Gallery pursued classical training in the culinary arts through apprenticeships with admired chefs including Chef Champe Speidel, Gracie’s, in Providence Rhode Island and Chef Pauly Santee, Rococo, in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Welcoming New Leadership for a Longstanding Team

Meet Liz Gallery and Chris Bethoney

We are thrilled to announce that Liz Gallery has been appointed Culinary Director and Chris Bethoney has been promoted to Head Chef. Together with the rest of our Culinary Leadership Team, whose members have been at Los Poblanos for between 4 and 14 years, we are grateful to have such a talented and dedicated group of individuals who continue to shape Rio Grande Valley Cuisine at Los Poblanos.   

Product Highlight: Metal and Woodwork from local maker Damian Velasquez

Damian Velasquez is one of our favorite local artisan fabricators, supplying us with beautifully made wood and metal objects including the chimineas that guests enjoy across Los Poblanos. His son Alex also started a company that makes the wooden paddle boards and titanium spatulas we carry in the Farm Shop. Next time you’re here enjoying s’mores under the stars, thank Damian and his family!

Celebrating San Ysidro Day

Today marks the feast day of San Ysidro, the patron saint of farmers, gardeners and laborers. An important figure around the farm, his remarkable story has been told for centuries. Ysidro and his wife, Maria, were poor farm laborers who went to mass every morning before going to work. Yet despite the hours of lost labor, the fields and plants were as well cared for as those of other laborers. When other farm workers became envious and told the landowner, it was discovered that while Ysidro and Maria were praying at mass, an angel was plowing their fields for them. 

The story of Penny and her best selling Lavender Salve

Women's History Month is an exciting time for Los Poblanos as our property has been deeply impacted and shaped by amazing women. One of the most influential women throughout the property's history is our current owner and Los Poblanos matriarch, Penny Rembe. Penny and her late husband Armin have lived on the property since the 1970s, and Penny's creativity and business savvy have influenced the preservation and growth of Los Poblanos in countless ways. From opening the original bed and breakfast in 1999 to developing the recipe for our signature Lavender Salve, Los Poblanos simply would not be the place it is today without Penny's leadership and inspired vision.