Chef Kattia Rojas grew up with the flavors of Costa Rica, learning from the food cooked by her mother and grandmother. After starting Buen Provecho as a catering and farmers market business, she found a permanent home at El Vado in 2018, where she built a menu around the Costa Rican flavors and ingredients she knows and loves. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we talk with her about the food of her childhood and the dishes she now serves at her restaurant, from casados with ropa vieja and sweet plantains to traditional Costa Rican tamales.

Eldora Chocolate represents a newer era of small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate—chocolate made from scratch with a focus on quality, transparency, and education. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we chat with Steve Prickett about the importance of building relationships with farmers, R&D, and the challenges of fine chocolate making.

Rancho de Santa Fe is a sixteenth-generation farm; the Velardes have been growing fruit at Velarde Orchards for over four hundred years, since 1598. They sell their produce and dozens of value-added products at the Fruit Basket. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, Eddie Velarde and his son Caleb share their family’s history and reflect on what farming will look like for the next generation.

This episode is brought to you by  Quivira Coalition.

Through his dedication and hard work, Jonathan Ashworth, of Arroyo Vino, has become known as one of Santa Fe’s best servers, consistently going above and beyond for his guests. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we talk about the diplomacy and delicate balance of details needed to be an exceptional server, and along the way, Jonathan shares some anecdotes on unusually big tips.

Tractor Brewing has been around for more than two decades, not only making award-winning beer but also contributing to their community through donations and by cultivating inclusive, neighborhood-driven spaces where live music, local art, and community-led events regularly bring people together. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we talk with Jeremy Kinter about the challenges of operating a brewery when the industry as a whole is on a downward trend.  

This episode is brought to you by Quivira Coalition.

Market Steer Steakhouse delivers a modern take on the classic steak house and is dedicated to the fine art of front-of-house hospitality. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we visit with general manager Kristina Goode and executive chef Kathleen Crook and chat about all things beef, regional sourcing, and the service that has made them one of Santa Fe’s premier dining spots. 

Located in the Railyard in Santa Fe, As Above, So Below is creating spirits and cocktails with a sense of place. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we talk with Chris Hobdy and Caitlyn Fitzgerald of the bar team, discussing everything from seasonal drinks to their gin and vodka collaborations with Elvira, mistress of the dark.

Elizabeth Bibiano may have stumbled into cooking and veganism, but she has become a wizard at plant-based cuisine. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we talk with the co-owner and executive chef of Vegos about her and her husband’s passion to show New Mexicans that the dishes they grew up eating can still be enjoyed on a fully plant-based diet.

Nizhoni Farms is a Native-owned vegetable and animal farm founded to promote food sovereignty in tribal communities and underserved groups and areas. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we visit Los Lunas to chat with owners Julianna and John Reece about the diversity of their agricultural operation and the role of cultural reclamation and education on their farm. 

Lilia Avila is a graduate of Three Sisters Kitchen’s Food Business Training Program and now helps other entrepreneurs launch small food businesses in Albuquerque. In this episode of 5-Minute Fridays, we talk about learning on the job, building her own Fiesta On the Go products, and how she’s using that experience to guide the next generation of food makers.