Cielito Mexican Kitchen to Open in Downtown Providence
A spread of the Cielito menu (photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)
We’re so excited to help share the news that Cielito Mexican Kitchen is opening on the ground floor of the historic Alice Building in Downtown Providence in the spring of 2024!
Cielito is located at 186 Union Street (psssst this is where Oberlin used to be) and is owned by chef Diego Alcantar. Alcantar is also the owner and chef behind Central Fall’s popular Tuxpan Taqueria; Tuxpan was recently nominated as a semifinalist for “Best New Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation. When open, Cielito will serve lunch and dinner with a menu including corundas, carnitas, enchiladas, mole de olla, and so many more delicious dishes. We also hear there will be a colorful cocktail program, too!
As a special insider view, we’re happy to share something with you all. Read on for Diego’s story, from Tuxpan to Providence, in his own words:
“My name is Diego Alcantar and I grew up in Tuxpan, Michoacán, Mexico. Tuxpan is a small town in Michoacán, Mexico which is well known for its cultural traditions and delicious gastronomy. Tuxpan is also known for producing gladiola flowers and other produce which is what I helped my grandfather harvest back in Mexico. Harvesting with my family allowed me to eat fresh, which is where I learned that is an important part of cooking.
“My love for food started back in Mexico. While growing up in Mexico, I began to be curious about everything my mom did in her little kitchen. I began to fall in love with her unique flavors and creative ideas when cooking. No matter what was going through my mom's life, she would always have a smile on her face and cook with so much love and joy. Ever since I was little, I was always by her side and I felt so special being the first one to try her dishes. Those moments made me feel like the luckiest boy on the planet, and from there I was inspired to learn more about cooking.
”When my parents moved to the United States, my brother Eddi and I stayed in Mexico with our grandparents. We both continued to help our grandparents with harvesting and selling flowers. Then, three years later, we came to the United States where our lives changed forever. We had to adapt to a whole new environment, away from our roots. As we grew up in a totally new community, we had to support our family financially.
Horchata at Tuxpan (photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)
“While in high school Eddi and I were both working at a local restaurant as servers. I remember that for my senior project, I created a cookbook and a class to teach my classmates about Mexican gastronomy. After receiving all the positive feedback from my classmates and teachers, I was thrilled and motivated to continue to explore Mexican gastronomy. I began working at a local restaurant in Providence and worked my way up from dishwasher to executive chef. Due to my passion, leadership, commitment, and love for food, I also learned more about managing a restaurant.
“After seven years of hard work, I decided it was time for me to open my own restaurant in order to support my family. After organizing my ideas in 2023, I was finally able to open Tuxpan Taqueria in Central Falls, Rhode Island. I was able to achieve my dream of opening a restaurant that includes fresh ingredients and traditional Mexican dishes from the streets of Tuxpan.
“Tuxpan Taqueria is a family operated restaurant which includes five members of our family. My mother Maria is the chef and backbone of the kitchen. She is always full of energy and continues to cook with so much passion. Isidro, my dad, helps with washing dishes and miscellaneous tasks that may arise. My brother Eddi assists in the kitchen and also helps to manage the restaurant along my side. My younger sisters, Michelle and Cynthia, help with the front of house service after they get back from school.
“Because of the enormous support that we received from our community, we are now able to continue delivering traditional dishes from Tuxpan Michoacán, Mexico at Cielito.
”Cielito comes from a well-known Mexican song by Vicente Fernández who is known for his music in Mexico. Cielito was also the name of my parent's grocery store back in Mexico. Cielito provided for those in need in our community. I always remember my mom would say, ‘God will multiply it for you,’ and even today, our family continues to live by her saying.
“Cielito restaurant is going to include corundas, enchiladas, carnitas, mole de Olla, and other unique dishes. By using fresh ingredients, our menu will also include tostadas de pulpo, mojaras fritas, and pork chops with calabacitas a la mexicana. These dishes will represent our hometown and state, and it will provide a different experience for our customers. We want our customers to try dishes that are not only made with love but that also come from our Mexican roots. Our drinks will include house-made aguas frescas like horchata, jamaica, and tamarido. We will also have a variety of Mexican sodas and house-made cocktails including margaritas, cantaritos, and palomas.”
Renovations at Cielito are underway, including interior design by local firm Libby Slader Design. We cannot wait for Cielito to join our downtown neighborhood! Stay tuned by following @cielitomexicankitchen and @indowncitypvd on Instagram.
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