tamales (cornmeal and cheese, meats or vegetables
steamed in corn husks), chili con carne (with meat),
burritos (corn or wheat tortillas enclosing a savory
filling), refried beans, vegetable stews, guacamole
(mashed avocado used for dip, sauce, side dish or
topping), tortilla soup and carne adovada (braised
pork and pureed red chiles).
Nationally popular Tex-Mex cuisine is a child
of the Southwest. It focuses on fresh, seasonal
products highlighted with intricate seasonings such
as cumin and chili powder, rich flavorings and
generous proportions.
Beef is still king, livened up with fiery spices,
slow cooked over an open fire with a ketchup-based
sauce, pounded into chicken-fried steak (served with
gravy) or converted into one-pot “out on the range”
dishes such as chili.
The Costco warehouses of the Southwest
offer members national favorites such as Kirkland
Signature private-label boneless, skinless chicken
breasts, extra-fancy mixed nuts, canned chicken and
salmon fillets. (See www.costco.com’s warehouse
locator for information and location of all Southwest
Costco warehouses.) However, regional flavor
preferences are given high priority. So these warehouses
are a must if you have a hankerin’ for smokehouse
brisket, jalapeño sausage, chicken fajita kits, chicken
or cheese enchiladas, pecans, brittle (breakable
candy), pralines (confections made of almonds and
caramelized sugar), divinity (fluffy candy made with
egg whites), barbecue sauce or chili. In fact, the
raspberry chipotle (dried, smoked jalapeño) sauce
has become so sought after that other Costco
regions now have it in stock.
On the fresh side, expect to find a very upscale
food selection—cluster tomatoes, continental salad,
avocados, strawberries, Fuji apples, limes, hot chiles
(Anaheim, habanero, Serrano, jalapeño, wax and
dried), Spanish onions, Rio Red grapefruit, Rocky
Ford cantaloupes, Kirkland Signature beef such
as extra-lean ground, ribeye, flap, brisket and filet
mignon, plus Atlantic salmon and fryer breasts.
