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Although I had been dining at "family owned and operated" Mexican restaurants since 1965, (beginning with El Coyotte, Beverly Blvd, down the street from CBS Television City), I had somehow missed Mole and Chorizo. With all the discussion of these two items lately, I thought I'd better get up to date.

While on an overnight today, to Sacramento, to cat sit and feed daughter's cats while she is in Greece, I remembered a "real" Mexican restaurant - Carmelita's - my daughter had taken us to some 8-10 years ago. Only a 1-2 mile quick drive, we went off at 4:30 pm for dinner.

I saw an app:

Queso Fundido

Melted cheese topped with onions and
peppers with your choice of jalapeños
or chorizo.

I ordered the "with chorizo" version. It was made with the very white farmers cheese I've had in Mexico, with other ingredients, topped with a hot-dog sized row of chorizo down the top of the oval presentation. It was in a sizzling long oval dish, and the quantity would have easily served a party of six (we were 2). It was delicious, and with their chips this could have easily been my whole meal. The chorizo was excellent. I followed this with:

Mole Poblano

Boneless Chicken breast covered in
our tasty Carmelita’s mole sauce with
a sprinkle of sesame seeds and onions.


Another winner. Their mole was like tasting a wine. A background of chocolate with peanut butter and a host of other flavors. Our waiter indicated that this mole recipe was the original owner's, brought from Mexico in 1962, and that there were many distinctive mole varieties from different parts of the country.

Now I am initiated for these two items which I will certainly try again. Their website is a "hoot". Give it a try.

http://www.carmelitasrestaurant.com/

Great report and website (so early this morning makes me want to knock back a Bohemia). I've been eating mole everyday this week. Chorizo is equally addictive, but good lard, be still my arteries. Welcome to the Club!

I leave for Tulum for a couple of weeks this Friday. I've been going there for a decade or so, and have had the opportunity to have several different moles. My favorite is made by the local CO-OP of Mayan women. It is very interesting to observe. Sort of a pecking order by age I suppose. The younger you are, the more basic the task. Passed down the line until it gets to the really old ladies who take their secret stuff out of little bags. Like you said above, similar to tasting wine, so complex and amazing. Every taste reviels a new nuance...........The food there is definately different from the rest of Mexico, I can't wait to get there.......

willifred wrote:I leave for Tulum for a couple of weeks this Friday. I've been going there for a decade or so, and have had the opportunity to have several different moles. My favorite is made by the local CO-OP of Mayan women. It is very interesting to observe. Sort of a pecking order by age I suppose. The younger you are, the more basic the task. Passed down the line until it gets to the really old ladies who take their secret stuff out of little bags. Like you said above, similar to tasting wine, so complex and amazing. Every taste reviels a new nuance...........The food there is definately different from the rest of Mexico, I can't wait to get there.......

Luv it! Yes, those secret little stash bags are the best!

I just recently got a little bit of a secret stash bag from a Mid East Grandma!
Secret family recipe with spices directly from Jordan.

I'd love to be going to Tulum.
Have a wonderful trip!

willifred wrote:I leave for Tulum for a couple of weeks this Friday. I've been going there for a decade or so, and have had the opportunity to have several different moles. My favorite is made by the local CO-OP of Mayan women. It is very interesting to observe. Sort of a pecking order by age I suppose. The younger you are, the more basic the task. Passed down the line until it gets to the really old ladies who take their secret stuff out of little bags. Like you said above, similar to tasting wine, so complex and amazing. Every taste reviels a new nuance...........The food there is definately different from the rest of Mexico, I can't wait to get there.......

started traveling the Yucatan in 1979. my, how it has grown over the years.

love the food there, especially the road side places (with the bags of water hanging to ward off the flies) for a bucket of beer, fresh ceviche and grilled fish. even better to catch your own and have them cook it for you. my favorite bar is La Buena Vida, swinging from the swing having a drink watching the skeletons do their naughty deeds or having a drink and nosh while watching the sunset from up in the palapa.
no need to tell you to enjoy...signed, Jealous.

willifred wrote:I leave for Tulum for a couple of weeks this Friday.....

Would you care to tip us where you stay in Tulum?

Posada Luna del Sur ?

EC, my 1st trip to Yucatan was in 1974 (or maybe earlier than that) and yes, it has changed dramatically. Kinda like Destin (which I have been going to since childhood in the early 60's).

I have not been since 1999. I am way over due for a trip there.

I have been to Merida, Cozumel, Cancun, Tulum and Tulum City, Playa del Carmen (my favorite), Chichenitza (spelling?), etc.

My favorite restaurant is La Choza, in Cozumel (there is also one in Playa, but the Cozumel restaurant is better).

Turbodog wrote: I have not been since 1999. I am way over due for a trip there.

haven't been since Katrina...overdue as well. back in the Lacsa Luck days, we made it down there 4 x's a yr. I think customs and immigration thought I was up to something. I used to get searched every time coming back home. all I was packing was too much Kahlua, Tequila, and Bimbo's chocolate croissants. oh, and a bottle of Squirt for some La Cucarcha shots.

I usually stay in Casa Zamna (not zammas). It's fantastic. I used to stay next door and actually watched it being built back around 2000. The lady that owns it lives in Colorado and usually comes down to hang out with us the last few years. We take the downstairs studio apartment for less than 100 bucks a night, a helluva deal. I'm sure we get some consideration. We were staying next door during 9/11 (had just returned from Havana on Sunday) and were taken in by the people of the community, so our affinity for the area is cemented by that experience. The local healer lives on the other side of the house and is one of the coolest people I've ever met. She was taken from her family when she was 11 years old to be trained in all kinds of healing arts. I usually get about a 2 hour massage for around 25 bucks, and she thinks I give her way too much.......... Food in the pueblo is really good, much better than the food at the beach, and alot cheaper. Italian is particularly good, as is the Argintine steak place. I've gotten in the habit of scheleping down a case of wine to share with some of the restaurant owners, (makes gooood friends really fast). The one exception for the beach food is a place called Hechizo. The owner was head chef in Dubai at the Ritz, among many other Ritz gigs around the world. Unfortunately I'm always there when they holiday in Europe. I've had several friends eat there and say it's one of the best meals of their life. One day........