Sonoma County’s El Molino Central, is an outpost of some of the most authentic and delicious Mexican “street food” in Northern California. Owner Karen Waikiki (who also runs Primavera, a longstanding tamale purveyor producing six different terrific tamale varieties available at Bay Area markets, is a native Californian. Waikiki fell in love with Mexican cuisine early in life and studied with the maven of Mexican cuisine herself Diane Kennedy in Michoacán. Today, she works with a group of women raised in rural areas of Mexico whose mothers taught them the dishes of their ancestry.
Located in an area abounding with fresh organic produce, Waikiki buys her vegetables from Green String Farm, Paul’s Produce, and the farmers at Riverdog in Guinda. AEl Molino’s Chile Rellenos here are outstanding: fire-roasted poblano chiles filled with sweet corn and melted white cheese with a side of pureed black beans and fresh tomato salsa. With fresh guacamole and a cold glass of cantaloupe agua fresca, what more can one desire? Stone ground corn tortillas to take home? Affirmative.