Arriving at the puebloan home of the Naranjo family, the first thing you’ll notice is the yeasty aroma of rising Horno bread and the welcoming smiles of Norma, Hutch, and daughter Nina. A hot drink allows for a moment to take in your surroundings: traditional and contemporary art, family photos, woven baskets, and a turquoise cast iron stove.

Norma will then guide you on a unique culinary adventure – beginning with hand kneaded dough for seasonal treats which you will stuff with locally harvested prune and cherry filling. In this intimate setting, Norma, with grace and warmth, will share the rich history of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, “the place of strong people,” and their efforts to preserve their culture.

Later, you will join Hutch as he tends to the wood burning ‘Horno’, a beehive shaped adobe oven invented by the Moors, and introduced by the Spanish settlers to the Pueblo communities in the 1600s. The ovens are heated by hot river stones encased in the floor which warms the adobe to an even temperature. Hutch will show you how to load up the ovens with bread, pastries, and gourmet surprises. You will be surprised how quickly they turn a golden crispy brown. Lunch will be a delicious confluence of laughs, stories, and locally sourced dishes made with seasonal ingredients.

In the afternoon, we will travel just a few miles north to the Los Luceros Historical Site which borders the Rio Grande River. This area hasarea, has been home to indigenous peoples and was later settled by the Luceros and Ortiz families in the 1700s. Then socialite turned farmer, Mary Cabot Wheelwright, took ownership of the ranch in the early 1900s where she hosted shamans, artists, and writers. A docent led introduction will illuminate and deepen these colorful stories. Afterwards, you will have a chance to explore on your own acres of fruit orchards, groves of Cottonwood trees, and the historic buildings, which include a restored Capilla (chapel 1886 AD), a 5,700 square foot Territorial Style hacienda (1860-1870 AD), a Victorian Guest House, and River House. You will travel back in time as you take in rare views of the Jemez mountains and decompress on the pristine banks of the Rio Grande.