The Changing Tastes of Las Cruces
The Changing Tastes of Las Cruces
By: Paul Dahlgren
Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau
As you wander through the streets of Las Cruces, you may just catch a whiff of some bold Thai spices, or the wholesome smell of Sheppard’s pie, and maybe, even the aromatic scent of roasting Hawaiian pork, as more and more exotic food restaurants have begun to spring up in Las Cruces and started serving tasty treats from around the globe.
With the opening of a traditional Irish pub, a Teppanyaki grill, a traditional Italian pizzeria, a Hawaiian restaurant, an Indian food restaurant and a Thai restaurant, in the past four years alone, Las Cruces’ Mexican food may have to share the “culinary spotlight”, in a city that is rapidly becoming a “culinary adventure” for locals and tourists alike.
“It’s a very distinct taste…I get most of my ingredients from Hawaii,” said Rachel Faulkner, chef and owner of the Hawaiian restaurant Ono Grindz, who said she cooks for, “the local people from Hawaii,” because, “they really miss the food.”
Las Cruces currently has the only Hawaiian food restaurant in the state, which has been open for approximately two years now, and Faulkner explained she gets many customers from the east coast, as well as many neighboring communities, looking for some bold exotic flavors, instead of just that “south of the border” flavor Las Cruces is renowned for.
“I think it’s a sign of culture, and that, the people of Las Cruces are willing to try new things and support new enterprises,” said Rebecca Correa-Elliott, a longtime resident of Las Cruces, while explaining that the restaurant scene in Las Cruces has changed over the years and the community has continued to embrace those changes.
Although the overwhelming majority of restaurants in Las Cruces still serve Mexican food, there are still over 20 restaurants that serve exotic cuisine in Las Cruces.
The diversity of restaurants has continued to attract many customers from neighboring communities such as El Paso, often bringing soldiers from Ft. Bliss that have developed a taste for food from other countries they have traveled too.
As the number of restaurants serving exotic foods continues to grow, Las Cruces is becoming more than just culinary hotspot for Mexican and New Mexican food, but a roller coaster ride of flavors, that takes your taste buds on a journey around the globe.
A list of restaurants and information about restaurants in Las Cruces can be found in the dining/nightlife section of lascrucescvb.org.
