A molcajete is a mortar used for grinding spices and making sauces, and this was the vessel the dish I had today was served in, hence the name. Ranchero, I think, refers to the fact that all the ingredients in the dish were grilled, which is common on the ranch. I would never have discovered this noteworthy Mexican restaurant had it not been for a freeway on-ramp closure that sent me in the opposite direction I was planning to go. As I was driving, I saw a restaurant patio with only one table occupied, and I decided to give it a try. When I entered the front door, I saw this amazing looking dish advertised as the special of the day, and I decided to order it. It consisted of eight shrimp, nicely cooked, a halved chorizo sausage grilled crispy, two pieces of fish with phenomenal seasoning, two grilled cactus paddles, and strips of tasty chicken breast and beef steak, all draped over the sides of the molcajete. Inside the bowl of the mortar was a grilled halved jalapeňo pepper, two plump grilled Mexican onions, warm salsa flavored with oregano that had an almost floral taste, and a wedge of lime for squeezing. The molcajete was the real deal: lava rock. The dish came with a side of rice and beans and corn tortillas. This was definitely a meal for two, at least, so I could only eat half of it at most. But what a find!
Location: Casa Cruz, 2579 Ramsey Street, Banning, California. Date: February 6, 2021.
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AuthorChef Roland has been a legal resident of seven countries and has travelled in over thirty, documenting food along the way. He currently resides in the desert in Southern California. Categories
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