Mole

This past Saturday I went to El Rancho Grande, a small family owned restaurant in Providence, RI. I have been there several times, each time trying something new. This time I shared mole and enchiladas rancheras with my friend JC, who first told me about the restaurant.

Mole

It was my first time trying mole. JC had told me about it and suggested that El Rancho Grande would be a good place to try it since the owner is from Puebla, where mole originated.

The dish looked very appetizing from the get go. We got tender chicken breasts covered with the spicy chocolate sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds served in a white dish. The strong color contrast was enhanced by the great sunshine bathing our table.

I was not sure what to expect, as chocolate is not something that I would normally associate with chicken, but was immediately impressed by the flavor of the spices and the chocolate, which was rich and bitter. I commented that I could almost taste Indian in the sauce, which was probably from the cinnamon and cloves.

From what I have read, the mole sauce takes many ingredients, besides the chocolate. The end product is unique and quite a pleasant experience, although I am not sure that I could eat the whole portion served, so I was glad to have shared it.

I will try it again. I think mole is one of those dishes that will reveal new nuances each time you try it.