The most amazing thing happens at the grocery store at this time of year. Imagine walking into the produce section and seeing a maze of bags ... Thirty pound burlap sacks containing Hatch green chilies stacked six feet high. Thirty pounds! Of chile! It is really odd to see this type of packaging when we are so used to being able to see the product through plastic and so used to being able to select items based on the way they look and smell. The bags of chile make it like buying a thirty pound secret.
Outside the grocers have brought in two huge propane tanks and barrel rosters. The rosters are turned by a hand crank and manned by grocery store employees. And there is a line all the way down the building of people waiting to have their thirty pound bags of Hatch green chile roasted. And day after day -- in the sun and the rain -- people stand in line and wait. They talk and read and listen to ipods and such. The smell is rich -- wonderful -- earthy and burnt and green.
So what's the big deal on Hatch? I wondered that myself ... we made nachos last night and I roasted some Hatch to put in the toppings. Hatch green chili is definitely different from Anaheim. Hatch is almost like jalapeno in heat. It lingers and dances and has less flavor that spreads out evenly than an Anaheim. If you can get your hands on some -- do -- and enjoy!
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