Mas Mole Por Favor!! Pilsen Celebrates First Mole De Mayo Cook-Off
Over 1,000 people came to enjoy the Mole De Mayo Festivities
Kate Gardiner
Last Saturday, May 2nd 2009, over 1,000 people convened at El Zócalo de Pilsen, the plaza at the cul-de-sac south of the intersection of 18th Street and Paulina, for a taste of the best Mole in Chicago. Eighteen Street Development Corporation, in partnership with The Resurrection Project, LISC/Chicago and the Pilsen Planning Committee hosted Mole De Mayo - the first Mole cook-off to ever happen in Chicago. Well-known local Mexican restaurants such as Nuevo León, Cocina Mundial, La Fogata Village, and Fig Catering, among others, set up on El Zócalo to display their culinary skills in making mole, a succulent chocolate-based sauce that is most often on chicken dishes.
The competition was strong, but not everyone could share the first prize. The celebrity judges – including well-seasoned Mexican chefs, local food critics and Check Please! host Alpana Singh - selected the winning recipe mole. Fogata Village had the winning recipe as the judges identified this mole as the best tasting, while the People’s Choice Award went to Restaurante Nuevo León.
Luchadores Wrestling at El Zocalo
Kate Gardiner
The afternoon was packed with entertaining surprises such as an appearance of the Mariachi Bridge Program students showcasing their talents; Fandanguero who got the crowd dance to their Son Jarocho; the Mexican Dance Ensemble delighting all with their moves, and — for the first time ever on El Zócalo — Lucha Libre, world-famous Mexican entertainment. Those present gathered around ringside to catch genuine Mexican wrestling, made famous globally by El Santo and other masked gladiators. Kids and adults alike were cheering for their favorites fighter exploits on the action packed mat, it was definitively a must see.
Since the 1950s, Pilsen has been the center of Mexican life in Chicago and with events like Mole De Mayo growing in popularity we can continue building that longevity needed to preserve our cultural roots (and delicious mole!) for future generations.