Meet Mrs. J, a 90-Year-Old Guardian of Traditional New Mexican Cuisine

At Rancho de Chimayó, Florence Jaramillo has proudly and tirelessly championed the region's culinary heritage for 57 years

Florence Jaramillo—or Mrs. J, as locals know her—opened Rancho de Chimayó with her ex-husband, Arturo Jaramillo, in 1965. Now, at age 90, she's still going strong. Chris Corrie Photography

Florence Jaramillo pays $64 per pound for real honey.

She’s been known to drive through the night to pick up a truckload of red chile, her restaurant’s most crucial ingredient. She and her staff have pulled all-night sessions in the past to make 300 dozen tamales—by hand.