Eleven Generations of Hospitality at Rancho de Chimayo
Written: Aug 10 '00 (Updated Aug 21 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Southwestern hospitality at its finest
Cons: Somewhat remote
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| DAnneC's Full Review: New Mexico |
It takes determination, not to mention a fair measure of chutzpah, to live up to a standard of excellence that has persisted in one small community for eleven generations. Members of the current generation of Jaramillos in Chimayo, New Mexico, exemplify that kind of dedication. Their family-run business, Rancho de Chimayo, continues a tradition of commercial hospitality that includes proprietorship of what may be New Mexico's oldest restaurant.
Chimayo is a small Spanish town located about 25 miles north of Santa Fe and 80 miles north of Albuquerque. The Jaramillos trace their line back to the first wave of Spanish colonists in the Southwest, settling in Chimayo in 1680 during the Pueblo Revolt. Chimayo itself boasts the only fortified Spanish plaza in the Southwest to survive. Its original settlers were independent farmers and artisans looking to plant their roots deep into the fertile soil of the Chimayo Valley in what is now northern New Mexico.
The town is also the site of the Sanctuario de Chimayo, renowned for the healing powers of the sacred sand on which the church is built. Each year at Easter, thousands of pilgrims make their way on foot to this small, remote Spanish town in search of miracles. Starting from Santa Fe or points further removed, the pilgrims often walk part of the distance barefoot and some cross the last few yards on their knees. Some pilgrims carry tiny milagros to identify the body part in need of healing. Others carry photographs of family members in whose behave the pilgrimage has been undertaken. Still others make the journey burdened under weight of heavy wooden crosses.
Of the 300,000 visitors drawn each year to the Sanctuario, many become guests served by the Jaramillo family. Housed in two 19-century residences built by the Hermenegildo and Epifanio Jaramillo, Rancho de Chimayo offers services in three significant areas:
~ The Restaurante is currently located in a traditional adobe house with interiors that feature exposed and time-weathered ceiling beams, simple white-washed walls, and bright splashes of color from table clothes and wall accents. When weather permits, guests may choose to sit inside in one of the pleasant dining rooms or enjoy an afternoon breeze on the terraced patio. The menu features traditional New Mexican cuisine prepared according to time-honored family recipes and using local produce. This patron recommends the chili rellenos and stuffed sopapillas. The margaritas and sangria are also excellent.
~ The adobe Hacienda (or ranch house) wraps around an enclosed courtyard and boasts seven guest rooms, each with an entrance onto the courtyard. All guest rooms include a private sitting area and ensuite bath, as well as a fireplace to provide warmth on cool northern New Mexico evenings. An overnight stay at the Hacienda Rancho de Chimayo also includes a generous continental breakfast with fresh pastries.
~ The Galeria provides a showcase for outstanding examples of Spanish and Native American art--including pottery, jewelry, traditional religious art, and a smattering of other forms. The original gallery is located in a small outbuilding on the grounds of the restaurant. As a small-scale collector of pueblo pottery and jewelry, I love the moments spent drooling over the Rancho de Chimayo Collection. The vast majority of the pieces on display are well above my price range, but a girl can dream. . . . More to the point, the Jaramillos are as courteous and friendly to interested admirers as they are to bona fide buyers. During my last visit to the restaurant, I was given a private tour of the gallery. I earned this treat merely by mentioning that I now live in the East and rarely have a chance to see fine examples of pueblo pottery. A second location is now open on the Plaza in Santa Fe.
The Jaramillos' tradition of hospitality par excellent reinforced by quality in all their endeavors make the Rancho a joy to visit. Their forebears would undoubtedly be proud.
For more information on the Rancho de Chimayo, contact one of the following numbers:
Restaurante Rancho de Chimayo - 505-351-4444
Hacienda Rancho de Chimayo - 505-351-2222
The Rancho de Chimayo Collection - 505-351-4455 (Chimayo), 505-988-4526 (Santa Fe)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
DAnneC
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Location: Small Town America
Reviews written: 213
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Loves history, travel, gardens, and words in general
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