About Us
For Tina Archuleta, and those she feeds, this lifeway of reclaiming control of our diet is a form of justice and healing, which she hopes to share through the food she creates for the public at Itality. Her hope is that her patrons and employees will take what they learn and experience at Itality back into their own kitchens and communities. - Edible New Mexico
Supporting More than a Restaurant
When people support Itality, they are supporting more than a local business and restaurant. They are supporting a movement that prioritizes caring for the Earth. The Ital movement which is a Rasta way of being, places emphasis on creating a healthy lifestyle through natural and unprocessed food that minimizes waste.
Responsibly Sourced Ingredients and Products
All ingredients used at Itality are responsibly sourced and made into reimagined Pueblo dishes from scratch. Additionally, all of the products used in the store are eco-friendly. Composting is part of Itality’s process as well, saving 80 lbs of food waste a week from landfills. These practices are important to Itality’s entire circle of food production and conscious waste management.
History of Plant-Based Foods in Pueblo Culture
Culinary traditions in Jemez are very strong. Children grow up learning how to make bread, for example. Agriculture is also a key component of Pueblo culture. The Three Sisters, for example, (corn, beans, and squash) are a historic traditional food source for Pueblo communities but, when grown together, create a self-sustaining ecosystem that nourishes the soil and produces abundant yields. The connection between growing food, food processing, cooking, and everything from seed to plant to plate has strong roots in Indigenous plant-based food culture here in the Americas.
