Good question.
WHAT’S A WHITE GIRL DOING MAKING TAMALES?
Have you ever eaten something and had an epiphany? Unsuspecting, you take your
first bite, and the realization slowly washes over you: This is the best [fill in the blank]
I’ve ever had in my life! That’s exactly what happened to La Guera when she was
traveling along the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz. Oh, she’d tasted and enjoyed plenty of
tamales in her time―from savory to sweet―many of which she’d found to be perfectly
delicious. But on that balmy day in a sleepy little tropical village about 30 minutes
inland from the touristy Veracruz Malecón (boardwalk), she’d found herself a little taste
of heaven in a roadside shack with a makeshift outdoor kitchen.
first bite, and the realization slowly washes over you: This is the best [fill in the blank]
I’ve ever had in my life! That’s exactly what happened to La Guera when she was
traveling along the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz. Oh, she’d tasted and enjoyed plenty of
tamales in her time―from savory to sweet―many of which she’d found to be perfectly
delicious. But on that balmy day in a sleepy little tropical village about 30 minutes
inland from the touristy Veracruz Malecón (boardwalk), she’d found herself a little taste
of heaven in a roadside shack with a makeshift outdoor kitchen.
A year later, while again traveling in Mexico, she met a family of tamaleros who
specialize in making and selling these Veracruz-style tamales, and the family offered
to teach her some of the traditional recipes and techniques that had been perfected
over generations. With each day she spent at their home, she fell more in love not only
with the intricate and methodical process of making tamales, but with the spiritual
specialize in making and selling these Veracruz-style tamales, and the family offered
to teach her some of the traditional recipes and techniques that had been perfected
over generations. With each day she spent at their home, she fell more in love not only
with the intricate and methodical process of making tamales, but with the spiritual
Back in her own kitchen, La Guera set out to recreate that
melt-in-your-mouth texture, that euphoric flavor, and that
singularly satisfying aftertaste, but she was determined to
reinvent these tamales using organic and non-processed
melt-in-your-mouth texture, that euphoric flavor, and that
singularly satisfying aftertaste, but she was determined to
reinvent these tamales using organic and non-processed
feeling of unity, comaraderie and belonging that was shared
among this close-knit family who had so generously taken her
in. Each tamale, she discovered was like its own little art
project and science experiment, neatly rolled and tied into
one! And thus, an obsession was born.
among this close-knit family who had so generously taken her
in. Each tamale, she discovered was like its own little art
project and science experiment, neatly rolled and tied into
one! And thus, an obsession was born.
ingredients. Through a laborious process of trial and error (a labor of love!), La Guera finally
achieved a healthful version of the traditional Veracruz tamale, and after an overwhelming
reception from friends and family, she decided to share her tamales with everyone.
achieved a healthful version of the traditional Veracruz tamale, and after an overwhelming
reception from friends and family, she decided to share her tamales with everyone.