90 years of Los Poblanos: the historic hacienda

Nestled in an original, historic home designed by the father of Santa Fe style,  the Hacienda Spa is an intimate space that encourages a sensory spa experience. With over 90 years of history, this important structure has been home to three families and opened its doors to countless guests.  

A Visit to (and from) Martin Woods Winery

Our team of chefs and sommeliers have been long-time fans of Martin Woods Winery, and Evan Martin, winemaker/vigneron of Martin Woods has strong ties to New Mexico. Campo regulars will be familiar with some of these special Willamette Valley wines on our menu, and we have enjoyed building a relationship with Evan over the years. His approach to wine-making is built on the same respect for the land and sustainable practices that drive our mission at Los Poblanos. 

In anticipation of our upcoming long-table dinner and wine seminar featuring Martin Woods wines, a team of our chefs and sommeliers traveled to Oregon in January to explore Evan's cellar, visit the vineyards and collaborate on ideas for a one-of-a-kind menu. Head Chef, Chris Bethoney, Director of Wine and Spirits, Dylan Storment, Head Sommelier, Graham Unverzagt and Lead Event Cook, Tom Hudgens have created an inspired menu blending Rio Grande Valley Cuisine with the distinct flavors of Oregon for a uniquely place-based dining experience.

90 Years of Los Poblanos: The Lord & Burnham Greenhouse

Ninety years ago, Los Poblanos was a model experimental farm and the original headquarters of the 800-acre ranch owned by congress members Albert Simms and Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms. Home to the original Creamland Dairies, it boasted one of the finest purebred herds of Guernsey and Holstein cows in the Southwest. Sugar beets, alfalfa, oats, corn and barley were all grown on the property and purebred rams were raised with the intention of helping sheep herders of the state improve their flocks. In 1934, a Lord & Burnham greenhouse was constructed and utilized by Ruth, an active garden club member who experimented with growing new varieties of roses and chrysanthemums to sell commercially. 

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.

Holiday Cocktail Recipes

Our talented team of mixologists and cocktail connoisseurs have created a series of festive drinks highlighting our botanical spirits.

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.

Heritage grains for fall baking

The transition to fall has us gearing up for full-on baking season – warming the kitchen with fresh bread and making plans to share festive holiday treats. Our culinary and bakery teams turn to hearty, nutritious heritage grains to bring the flavor of the Rio Grande Valley to our seasonal menus.

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.

A season to harvest, plan, and keep on planting

September is an exciting time of year on the farm as the variety and yields of the fields increase and summer vegetables and herbs reach their peak. Our team is busy clearing out fields, tilling and seeding with cover crops and a few overwintering vegetables. Each year we develop field rotation plans to determine what should be planted where, and which fields need a season off or with cover crops. 

An evening of chamber music, rooted in history

On Wednesday, June 14th Los Poblanos will host a performance in the La Quinta Ballroom in collaboration with Chamber Music Albuquerque as part of the 2023 Dr. Armin Rembe Lecture Series. Chamber Music Albuquerque was founded in 1942 as the June Music Festival by Ruth and Albert Simms, and re-named in 1997 by the Board of Directors to better describe the scope of the organization’s programs. The series was the first of its kind in New Mexico and attracted guests from around the state as well as visitors from far as New York and Detroit and was broadcasted live on radio station KOB. We are excited to revive this connection between CMA and the La Quinta Cultural Center.

 Program excerpts (top and above) from the first June music festival held at La Quinta Cultural Center in 1942