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Put your nose in the air and sniff! Authentic Hatch Chiles from New Mexico are in season right this minute, and are here in Southern California. No longer do you have to make a road trip to New Mexico to fulfill your longing.
If you’re a Hatch head, you already have it marked on your calendar. If you’re not yet a Hatch head, take note of the following dates (Aug. 6-Sept. 20), times and cities where you can buy a big, honkin’ box of Hatch and have the chiles roasted for you on site. Roasting is free with a case order.
The chiles are here now, but will be gone in late September, so get ‘em while the gettin’s good. Of course you can buy them and roast them yourself (it’s not difficult with my directions on how to roast Hatch), but really, the fun is in hanging around the grocery store parking lot while the huge bingo cage-like roaster spins over an open flame, chatting up others in your chile tribe, swapping recipes and tips.
The smell is intoxicating! (Especially in your car as you drive home. 😎 )
Let the roasting begin!
Bristol Farms
In partnership with Melissa’s Produce, Bristol Farms will feature Hatch roastings on the following Saturdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost is $35 for 25 pounds. For maximum time efficiency, a pre-order form is now available at Bristol Farms roasting locations; your chiles will be roasted and ready to pick up on the morning of the event. Locations:
Aug. 16
Rolling Hills: 837 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274.
Aug. 23
Westchester: 8448 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester, CA.
South Pasadena: 606 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030.
Aug. 30
Newport: 810 Avocado Ave. Newport, CA 92660.
Santa Monica: 1165 Franklin Street, Santa Monica, CA. Chef Jet Tila will be there doing a live cooking demonstration using Hatch.
Sept. 6
Palm Desert: 73101 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260.
Sept. 13
La Jolla: 8510 Genesee Ave. La Jolla, CA 92122.
Sept. 20
South Pasadena: 606 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena CA 91030.
Gelson’s
In partnership with Melissa’s Produce, Gelson’s will feature Hatch roastings on the following weekend days and times. Locations:
Aug. 16
Silver Lake: 2725 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027. 3-9 p.m.
Aug. 23
La Canada Flintridge: 635 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011. 1-6 p.m.
Aug. 30
Long Beach: 6255 E. 2nd. St., Long Beach, CA 90803. 1-6 p.m.
Sept. 7
Pacific Palisades: 15424 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. 1-6 p.m.
Sept. 13
Santa Barbara: 3305 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93105 1-6 p.m.
Sprouts
In partnership with Melissa’s Produce, Sprouts will feature Hatch roastings on the following weekend days and times. Locations:
Aug. 23
Chula Vista: 690 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, CA. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Aug. 24
Chula Vista: 878 Eastlake Pkwy., Chula Vista, CA 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Lazy Acres
In partnership with Melissa’s Produce, Lazy Acres (just bought by Bristol Farms) will feature a Hatch roasting. Location:
Aug. 16
Long Beach: 2080 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90815. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Restaurant
In partnership with Melissa’s Produce, this restaurant will feature a Hatch roasting. Location:
Aug. 6
Rosemead: Marco’s Salsa Grill Restaurant, 6704 Rosemead Blvd., Pico Rivera, CA. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Ralphs
In partnership with Frieda’s Produce, Ralphs will feature Hatch roastings on the following weekend dates from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (or while supplies last). There will be four heat levels — mild, medium, hot and extra hot. Cost is $16.99 for 10 pounds or $24.99 for 25 pounds (same price as last year). For maximum time efficiency, a pre-order form is available online or you can call Frieda’s at (800) 241-1771. Pick-up is between 8 a.m.-noon at the location of your choice.
Aug. 9
Costa Mesa: 380 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Huntington Beach: 5241 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Aug. 10
Villa Park: 17801 Santiago Blvd., Villa Park, CA 92861
Los Angeles: 11727 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Carlsbad: 7140 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92011
San Juan Capistrano: 31874 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Aug. 16
Tustin: 13321 Jamboree Rd., Tustin, CA 92782
Pasadena: 3601 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
Aug. 23
San Clemente: 903 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672
Huntington Beach: 19081 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA 92648
La Canada Flintridge: 521 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
Aug. 24
Huntington Beach: 19081 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Tustin: 13321 Jamboree Road, Tustin, CA 92782
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Let the spicy fun proceed! Glad to see there are several very accessible Hatch Chile events =)
Kim,
You should swing by one of the roastings. Big fun!
We’ve got stores here in Seattle doing hatch chile roastings too. It’s one of my favorite times of year!
Des,
Isn’t it surprisingly fun? You wouldn’t think standing around a store parking lot would be a hoot, but it totally is!
I really need to get some Hatch Chiles!
Diane,
You do. I adore the flavor. And they’re not too hot, unless you get the hot or extra hot varieties.
I wish I was local to participate in this.
Michelle,
Not sure where you live, but if you go to the Frieda’s website, they have an interactive map on it where you can see Hatch roastings all over the country.
Great post!
Thank you, Food Hunter! Have you hunted down some Hatch chiles in your city?
mmmmm, I can almost smell them right now!
Nicole,
Oh yeah, you really CAN!
I’ve got to check if there are any in northern california. A few years ago I wandered through a farmer’s market in Santa Fe with a friend, shopping for what we’d make for dinner for a party that night, and watched farmers roasting peppers in these cages. LOVE your description of them 🙂 And you’re right – the smell is intoxicating!
Susan,
check the Google roasting map on the Frieda’s site for any more Frieda’s roastings. Once you click on it, it will reveal the many that are going on across the country. If not, roast ’em yourself! It’s easy on the grill.
LatinoFoodie,
Been waiting a whole year for it!