From Guerrero to the United States

Mole Esperanza is an Ocampo family recipe brought to the United States from Guerrero, Mexico, in the 1980s, when Jocelyn’s grandparents, Esperanza and Juan, immigrated with their 11 children, the clothes on their back, and generations of passion for delicious, homemade food.

Food has always been there for the Ocampo family. Juan and Esperanza provided for their family selling the same ingredients used in their mole to Las Vegas, and their children have followed in their footsteps.

Throughout the years, one recipe has remained the family’s most treasured: Esperanza’s mole rojo. Never written down, the recipe was recreated first by Jocelyn’s mother, Hortencia, after two decades of trial and error.

Jocelyn and Anthony worked with Hortencia to write down the recipe, which Hortencia made as the centerpiece of Jocelyn and Anthony’s wedding meal. Now, we’re excited to share this mole with Portland!