HOUSE MEMORIAL 15

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Ambrose Castellano

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE MAY 16, 2021 AS "FABIOLA CABEZA DE BACA GILBERT DAY" IN NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert led a storied life as an educator, nutritionist, activist and writer; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert was born on May 16, 1894 in Las Vegas, New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert attended a public school run by New Mexico normal university, in 1906 spent a year studying in Spain and in 1912 earned an elementary school teaching certificate from New Mexico normal university; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert earned a bachelor of arts degree from New Mexico normal university and a degree in home economics from the New Mexico college of agricultural and mechanic arts in 1927; and

     WHEREAS, May 16, 2021 is her one hundredth anniversary as a graduate of New Mexico normal university, later known as New Mexico highlands university; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert married Carlos Gilbert in 1931; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert is the author of Historic Cookery: Authentic New Mexican Food, published in 1931, the earliest cookbook of New Mexico foods popularizing cooking with chile; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert revised her cookbook to include menus in 1951; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert is noted in several publications and online sites that include New Mexico history, wikipedia and New Mexico women; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert is credited as the inventor of the u-shaped fried taco shell; and

     WHEREAS, Lois Rudnick published La Fabulosa Fabiola: First Lady of New Mexico Cuisine in 2012 and cited Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert's u-shaped fried taco shell invention in the book; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert was also featured in a 2012 El Palacio magazine article by Lois Rudnick; and

     WHEREAS, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert was also featured in Jeffrey Pilcher's book Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food; and

     WHEREAS, Jeffrey Pilcher noted that Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert "suggested a novel twist, soon taken up by home cooks and fast-food restaurants, of prefrying the tortillas into the characteristic 'u' shape of a taco shell before adding the filling."; and

     WHEREAS, in Iconic Mexico: An Encyclopedia from Acapulco to Zocalo, author Eric Zolov also references Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert's culinary skills;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to declare May 16, 2021 "Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert Day" in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert be remembered for her service and dedication to the residents of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the family of Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert and the president of New Mexico highlands university.

- 3 -