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Sonoran Food Guide: A Love Letter to Chiltepin

For Chef René Andrade, 2024 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southwest and chef-owner of Bacanora, the chiltepin is the red gold of Sonora — a tiny chile with generations of history. 

René grew up foraging chiltepin in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, inspired by his grandmother’s cooking and the bold, elemental flavors of home. Today, that same spirit shapes his dishes at Bacanora, where every plate tells a story of family, land, and legacy. 

In this episode, René shares how chiltepin connects him to his Sonoran roots — and how the Sonoran Desert continues to inspire the flavors of Phoenix.