What Does “Southwest” Mean, Anyway? A Love Letter to the Land Behind Our Menu

Guten Tag, Leipzig!
If you’ve walked through our door, smelled a hint of roasted chile, or seen “Southwest-style” dishes on our menu, you might be wondering—what exactly is the “Southwest”?

As someone who grew up in New Mexico and now calls Germany home, I’d love to explain. This isn’t just geography—It’s the heartbeat of our kitchen and the landscape that raised me.

So, Where Is the Southwest?

In the U.S., “The Southwest” refers to the region where the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet—called the Four Corners. It’s a place of dramatic beauty, ancient history, and powerful contrasts. The region spans deserts and mountains, red rock canyons and high mesas, river valleys and vast skies that seem to go on forever. If you’ve ever seen a cowboy movie, chances are it was filmed in the Southwest.

Now, I know many Germans grew up loving Karl May and his tales of the Wild West. I did too—sort of backwards. I grew up in the “Wild West” and was surprised to find that many Germans imagine it through novels and Fasching costumes! So, let’s take a closer look at the real Southwest—the one full of living cultures, jaw-dropping landscapes, and unforgettable flavors.

Red Rocks, Plateaus, and “Big Sky Country”

The Southwest is a landscape carved by time. Think towering red sandstone cliffs, ancient plateaus, and canyons that seem painted by hand. There’s a certain visual language to the land—ochres, deep rust reds, faded oranges, dusty pinks, sage greens, and the endless blue of sky that stretches out like an ocean overhead. People call it “big sky country” for a reason. Sunsets aren’t casual—they’re full-blown events.

Imagine the golden hour sun setting behind the Sandia Mountains, turning the rocks watermelon pink (which is where they get their name—sandía means watermelon in Spanish). That’s the view from Albuquerque, the city where I’m from.

Altitude and Mountains: Sandias vs. the Alps

Speaking of the Sandias: they top out at about 3,255 meters—comparable in height to some of the lower peaks in the Alps. And here’s a fun fact: Albuquerque itself sits at over 1,600 meters, making it higher than Denver, which many call the “Mile-High City”.

The Continental Divide & Rocky Mountains

Running like a spine down the middle of North America is the Continental Divide, and much of the Southwest lies along it. This means rivers on one side flow to the Pacific Ocean, and on the other, to the Gulf of Mexico. The Rocky Mountains cut through parts of Colorado and northern New Mexico, offering cool forests and snowy peaks just a short drive from arid desert basins. This proximity creates not just dramatic landscapes, but also unique ingredients and growing conditions.

The Peoples of the Southwest: More Than a Costume

Now let’s talk about something really important: the people.

Yes, Karl May’s novels and the romanticized images of “the Wild West” inspired generations of Germans to dress up as “Indians” at Fasching. While that might have come from admiration, today it’s time to take that admiration further—into real respect.

The Ancestral Puebloans, often called the Anasazi, were an ancient civilization that built vast cliff dwellings and sacred sites throughout the Southwest, especially in places like Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. But Indigenous cultures of the Southwest are not relics of the past—they are living, thriving nations.

In New Mexico alone, there are 19 Pueblo communities, as well as Navajo (Diné) and Apache peoples, each with their own languages, traditions, art, and cuisines. Their influence is everywhere: in architecture, in pottery, in textiles, and absolutely in the food.

It’s my hope that our restaurant honors these living cultures—not as costumes or clichés, but as the heart of the Southwest. We can appreciate the beauty and support recognition, sovereignty, and respect.

What Southwest Tastes Like

So what does this landscape and cultural blend taste like?

• Roasted green chile - grown in the volcanic soil of Hatch, NM, kissed by hot sun and cool desert nights.
• Red chile sauce - made from sun-dried peppers, rich and smoky, slow-simmered like a story.
• Mutton and pork - slow-roasted, grill and fried.
• Piñons, pecans and pistachios - from the high desert and southern orchards.
• Beans, squash, and corn - the "Three Sisters" of Indigenous agriculture, present in countless dishes.

And of course, tamales, posole, carne adovada, and so many more dishes cooked with care, meant to be shared.

Bringing the Southwest to Leipzig

We’re here to bring you the warm spice, bold flavors, and open-hearted hospitality of the Southwest. If something seems unfamiliar - good! Ask us. Let us share. Because the Southwest isn’t just a direction. It’s a state of mind. It’s a taste of red earth, blue sky, and cultures that endure with resilience and beauty.

So no cowboy hat required - just curiosity and a good appetite.