With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Beloved Oaxacan Restaurant Loses Kitchen To Arson, 'Doesn't Know' If It Can Reopen
A photo of Chef Rocio Camacho shows fire damage after Rocio's Mole de los Dioses is hit with arson (via Facebook)
A beloved Oaxacan restaurant lost its kitchen overnight to arson and its owners are unsure if they'll be able to recover.The modestly named Rocio's Mole de los Dioses ("mole of the gods") in Sun Valley suffered a break-in sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, and the burglars torched the kitchen. "We don't know when or if we can manage to open again," read Rocio's Facebook page on Sunday morning. "We are dumbfounded."
The acclaimed restaurant was named by the L.A. Times as one of the three best mole restaurants in Los Angeles and also placed on Jonathan Gold's 101 Best Restaurants. "When the subject of mole comes up in Los Angeles... [Chef] Rocio Camacho is always part of the discussion," says Gold.
Sponsor
Damage to Rocio's Mole de los Dioses' kitchen after it was hit with arson (via Facebook)
Damage to Rocio's Mole de los Dioses' kitchen after it was hit with arson (via Facebook)
Damage to Rocio's Mole de los Dioses' kitchen after it was hit with arson (via Facebook)
Damage to Rocio's Mole de los Dioses' after it was hit with arson (via Facebook)
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
