Oh Lord, it's hard to humble....you know the song. Gotta love the attitude in it. While I am not always braggadocius, I' m not against doing a shameless bit of self promotion when it's called for!
2007 - what a year! Not saying it was a lucky number 7 kind of a year in all aspects, but when it came to the World Tamale Eating Championship, it was a great year for us.
You know what they say ~ Third time's a charm.
We were changing the location of event again, but this time it was going to be held on the steps of City Hall. I was working more closely with the City Staff who were now heading up the Western Days Festival and we were definitely on the same page with the layout and scope of the event. We worked through the small details that needed to ironed out before the contest with no problems. I had several of the Hot Tamale girls returning and had even talked another long time customer into letting her daughter join us. We really are a family here at Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory!
The event was still going to be held in conjunction with the Labor Day Rodeo that had been happening at the rodeo grounds for over 40 some odd years. Western Days had been the brainchild between the Lewisville Saddle Club and our business association, the OTBA. Although I loved the rodeo and and had sponsored many a junior rodeo queen over the years, I was suggesting that we consider another date, since the heat and last minute summer travel plans seemed to work against us in the attendance of our event.
But that year it was still Labor Day Weekend and I was excited to be sponsoring the event as well as holding a customer appreciation party for my customers at the shop. Plus the added bonus of having City Staff do a lot of the ground work for the overall event was awesome. As I was no longer serving on the Board of Directors of the OTBA, and frankly just plumb wore out, I was glad to have them taking over much of the grunt work. I could finally just focus on our business and the Tamales!
Things were looking up for us. Eater X wanted to return to the event and other ranked eaters began to take interest in our little event. The City was going to even give us a tent to use in exchange for our donations of the tamales and of all the work that I was doing. This was going to be our year, I thought. My husband was even going to help again, and I had developed a well woven team of family, friends and customers to help me execute the event. Everyone was excited with how the event was growing and wanted to be a part of it. My father and uncles were proud of me.
Driving up to the event site that morning on Mill St., I drove along with several tractors carrying bales of hay and young people riding on their floats getting ready for the parade. I heard a few excited YEEHAW's floating down the streets in Old Town. It was a beautiful September morning and the world was right. Yessir, things were looking up for Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory....
Closing time...time for me to fly...stay tuned for more about the actual event known as the World Tamale Eating Championship.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Football, Fear and Flying Donkeys
September is back and that means football here in Texas! The high schoolers started last week playing in over 100 degree temperatures. NFL Pre Season and Saturday College Games on the tube. And every year I say the same thing. Give pizza a rest and eat some hot tamales from Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory with your coca-cola or your cold beer. Change it up a bit. Skip the BBQ too. Live a little...Latin Style.
Football is good for our economy here in Texas. Say what you will, but it is Big Business and frankly I look forward to having footbal back in my life for the next four months. And yes, every year, I start up with the mantra...maybe this is the year, maybe this is our year. All you true blue Cowboy fans know exactly what I am saying.
Maybe Football will save us from the pervasive fear that is floating in the air, like foul bad breath. Watching a game, eating some good food, hanging out with friends and family, we can relax a bit and take a break from fires, floods, falling stock markets and fear of the future.
Can't hurt.
Several years ago, my husband and I were doing our Christmas Eve ritual, waking up at 3:45 am, dressing in the dark, grabbing our coats and driving to the Tamale factory in the pitch darkness. We are usually one of a few cars or maybe the only car on the road at that time on Christmas Eve. We made it to Dallas with no problem, loaded up the truck with piping hot tamales. We had gotten there before my father even, so we did not get to see him.
Heading back to the shop, I was fiddling with the radio, like I usually do, trying to find some loud rock n roll to get my blood pumping when all of my sudden, my hubby screams "Oh Shit"! and in a voice I had never heard him use before.
You have to understand this first. Because it is important. My husband very rarely curses. The only time I have seen him lose his temper and swear like a sailor is on the golf course! I think it was the sound of his voice that made my blood run cold and I looked up just in time to see a small white import on my side of the car, but that wasn't what made my husband scream. He had seen it before I had. There was a large donkey, wide eyed, transfixed staring down from at least 6-7 foot high in our lane. The import who had come up from behind us blazing had changed lanes at the same time my husband was changing lanes to avoid hitting the donkey. I screamed in horror as right before my very eyes, I saw the import hit the donkey head on. The small car flipped in the most amazing cloud of sparks and fireworks I had ever witnessed. My husband and I were both screaming at this point as he continued to swerve over into the far left lane to avoid running over the now fallen donkey and the rolling tumbling white car.
I started crying hysterically, crying, and shaking. I could still see the donkey's eyes looking at me in confusion. I realized that he was lost.
My husband did what he needed to do to get me to stop. Reminding me that it could have been us in that accident and that we were still alive. "We're still alive, Rebecca, you;ve got to stop crying, now." he repeated. quietly. I got myself under control enough to call the police. They had a real hard time believing me. I think they thought I was a late night party animal and was seeing things. I kept repeating, "the car hit a donkey and flipped over." I think the donkey is dying, please get help here. Please send an ambulance for the driver."
Neither my husband or I could not see how either the donkey or the driver of the car could have survived. We continued the drive back to our shop in stunned silence. I knew I had to greet my customers who would be waiting for us at the shop, so I busied myself with my compact and lipstick. I noticed my hand was shaking as I tried to apply some mascara to my swollen red eyes,so I gave that up and just started to pray.
Grateful to God for sparing us, a whispered Hail Mary for the donkey and the driver. Confused about why the donkey was there in the first place, sad for the poor animal and the driver. I was in a daze the rest of the day, and even though my husband brought me a large coffee and chocolate donuts, my head was fuzzy. I saw myself in the mirror I keep in the back for touch- ups; I looked scared.
December 2008 ~ I saw a flying donkey amidst a cloud of fireworks. I could'nt help but wonder...was this a sign of things to come?
Football is good for our economy here in Texas. Say what you will, but it is Big Business and frankly I look forward to having footbal back in my life for the next four months. And yes, every year, I start up with the mantra...maybe this is the year, maybe this is our year. All you true blue Cowboy fans know exactly what I am saying.
Maybe Football will save us from the pervasive fear that is floating in the air, like foul bad breath. Watching a game, eating some good food, hanging out with friends and family, we can relax a bit and take a break from fires, floods, falling stock markets and fear of the future.
Can't hurt.
Several years ago, my husband and I were doing our Christmas Eve ritual, waking up at 3:45 am, dressing in the dark, grabbing our coats and driving to the Tamale factory in the pitch darkness. We are usually one of a few cars or maybe the only car on the road at that time on Christmas Eve. We made it to Dallas with no problem, loaded up the truck with piping hot tamales. We had gotten there before my father even, so we did not get to see him.
Heading back to the shop, I was fiddling with the radio, like I usually do, trying to find some loud rock n roll to get my blood pumping when all of my sudden, my hubby screams "Oh Shit"! and in a voice I had never heard him use before.
You have to understand this first. Because it is important. My husband very rarely curses. The only time I have seen him lose his temper and swear like a sailor is on the golf course! I think it was the sound of his voice that made my blood run cold and I looked up just in time to see a small white import on my side of the car, but that wasn't what made my husband scream. He had seen it before I had. There was a large donkey, wide eyed, transfixed staring down from at least 6-7 foot high in our lane. The import who had come up from behind us blazing had changed lanes at the same time my husband was changing lanes to avoid hitting the donkey. I screamed in horror as right before my very eyes, I saw the import hit the donkey head on. The small car flipped in the most amazing cloud of sparks and fireworks I had ever witnessed. My husband and I were both screaming at this point as he continued to swerve over into the far left lane to avoid running over the now fallen donkey and the rolling tumbling white car.
I started crying hysterically, crying, and shaking. I could still see the donkey's eyes looking at me in confusion. I realized that he was lost.
My husband did what he needed to do to get me to stop. Reminding me that it could have been us in that accident and that we were still alive. "We're still alive, Rebecca, you;ve got to stop crying, now." he repeated. quietly. I got myself under control enough to call the police. They had a real hard time believing me. I think they thought I was a late night party animal and was seeing things. I kept repeating, "the car hit a donkey and flipped over." I think the donkey is dying, please get help here. Please send an ambulance for the driver."
Neither my husband or I could not see how either the donkey or the driver of the car could have survived. We continued the drive back to our shop in stunned silence. I knew I had to greet my customers who would be waiting for us at the shop, so I busied myself with my compact and lipstick. I noticed my hand was shaking as I tried to apply some mascara to my swollen red eyes,so I gave that up and just started to pray.
Grateful to God for sparing us, a whispered Hail Mary for the donkey and the driver. Confused about why the donkey was there in the first place, sad for the poor animal and the driver. I was in a daze the rest of the day, and even though my husband brought me a large coffee and chocolate donuts, my head was fuzzy. I saw myself in the mirror I keep in the back for touch- ups; I looked scared.
December 2008 ~ I saw a flying donkey amidst a cloud of fireworks. I could'nt help but wonder...was this a sign of things to come?
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
A Thin Line between Love and Hate.
My mother told me that once. She was a big believer in phrasing everything in a one liner. She loved using quotes. I think I might have inherited that trait from her, I like the ease and economy of it. So here I sit on a thin line between love and hate, and I go back and forth like a damn seesaw. But I am going to follow the yellow brick road down to my memory bank and share that story I promised you.
The Second Annual World Tamale Eating Championship was still organized by myself and working in conjunction with the OTBA on the scheduling and the fine details. But having worked with this fine group of individuals for several years now, they knew they could count on me showing up and doing what I promised I'd do. We were a good mix, a stellar group of small business people and the OTBA was finally getting some notice up at City Hall and in the community. We had a bit of star dust on our coat tails.
Looking back, I am still impressed that we put on Western Days all by our lonesome. Hell, the City has a staff of about 8-9 plus a hired outfit with a huge staff, plus contractors that costs the tax payers Hundreds of Thousands of dollars and we still ran circles around them. It's true, we did. And probably still could, if we could assemble that dream team.
The WTEC was held on the Community Stage that year. It sat caddy-corner at Main and Church St. Even though it was only our second year doing the championship, I got a call from the IFOCE that Eater X, a top ranked world class eater was interested in flying down. Then I got a call from Tim myself here at the shop. He told me that he was coming in and could he come to my shop to meet me. I called the husband and told him the great news!
WOW..the big time at last. I was so happy, just bursting with pride and called my dad. He was a bit skeptical, but as he said "If it helps your business in Lewisville, I am all for it." He liked the idea of it, but did not see how it helped us overall as a company, since the focus is on the eaters and how much they could eat.
The big day came and as promised, Tim comes to my shop at about 9:30 well before the contest. I could tell my husband had a touch of the green monster, as Tim turned out to be quite the looker. We were both impressed with how sweet and humble this world class eater was and how impossible thin he was! He sat and watched the parade with us and visited with us for a bit. Then when he took his leave, he told me something I won't soon forget. "When I looked at your website and read your family history, I just had to come. Then I saw all your photos. I came down mostly because of you." I was real glad my hubby had left the premises!
The Mayor wanted to be a part of the action, so we invited him to come up and announce the event this year. The IFOCE brought all their great music and awesome MC and the show began. This year I added jeans to our look and two new "Hot Tamale Girls" for a total of four of us. Raquel, Tyler, Jessica and myself. One of my customers had asked to be a part of the action, so we had him up there on the stage with us! The crowd was there and into it. Cameras were everywhere, masa was covering the stage. We were slipping and sliding in it! And then it was suddenly so clear that this was no longer a contest but a domination! Eater X was clobbering the tamales and the other competitors! Some of the lightweights were using their slop buckets but I kept my eyes on Tim and his plate.
Suddenly it was over! Drenched in sweat, and beaming from ear to ear, I talked to the press in English and Spanish. This time it was about us, Dad! We had a world class eater eating our tamales, but we stole the show. Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory made the local news that night, not City Hall.
And I think that's when the jealousy began. It is amazing how petty people can be, how they don't want to give credit where credit is due, but that's the way of the world. It seems clear to me now, that some in that Taj Mahal began to get a bad case of the big green monster.
I worked my butt off to make that event a success, and I accomplished it with my awesome family, loyal customers and the fab folks at the OTBA and the IFOCE. The glory was mine and I will wear my crown proudly!
The next year was still good, but bittersweet....stay tuned.
The Second Annual World Tamale Eating Championship was still organized by myself and working in conjunction with the OTBA on the scheduling and the fine details. But having worked with this fine group of individuals for several years now, they knew they could count on me showing up and doing what I promised I'd do. We were a good mix, a stellar group of small business people and the OTBA was finally getting some notice up at City Hall and in the community. We had a bit of star dust on our coat tails.
Looking back, I am still impressed that we put on Western Days all by our lonesome. Hell, the City has a staff of about 8-9 plus a hired outfit with a huge staff, plus contractors that costs the tax payers Hundreds of Thousands of dollars and we still ran circles around them. It's true, we did. And probably still could, if we could assemble that dream team.
The WTEC was held on the Community Stage that year. It sat caddy-corner at Main and Church St. Even though it was only our second year doing the championship, I got a call from the IFOCE that Eater X, a top ranked world class eater was interested in flying down. Then I got a call from Tim myself here at the shop. He told me that he was coming in and could he come to my shop to meet me. I called the husband and told him the great news!
WOW..the big time at last. I was so happy, just bursting with pride and called my dad. He was a bit skeptical, but as he said "If it helps your business in Lewisville, I am all for it." He liked the idea of it, but did not see how it helped us overall as a company, since the focus is on the eaters and how much they could eat.
The big day came and as promised, Tim comes to my shop at about 9:30 well before the contest. I could tell my husband had a touch of the green monster, as Tim turned out to be quite the looker. We were both impressed with how sweet and humble this world class eater was and how impossible thin he was! He sat and watched the parade with us and visited with us for a bit. Then when he took his leave, he told me something I won't soon forget. "When I looked at your website and read your family history, I just had to come. Then I saw all your photos. I came down mostly because of you." I was real glad my hubby had left the premises!
The Mayor wanted to be a part of the action, so we invited him to come up and announce the event this year. The IFOCE brought all their great music and awesome MC and the show began. This year I added jeans to our look and two new "Hot Tamale Girls" for a total of four of us. Raquel, Tyler, Jessica and myself. One of my customers had asked to be a part of the action, so we had him up there on the stage with us! The crowd was there and into it. Cameras were everywhere, masa was covering the stage. We were slipping and sliding in it! And then it was suddenly so clear that this was no longer a contest but a domination! Eater X was clobbering the tamales and the other competitors! Some of the lightweights were using their slop buckets but I kept my eyes on Tim and his plate.
Suddenly it was over! Drenched in sweat, and beaming from ear to ear, I talked to the press in English and Spanish. This time it was about us, Dad! We had a world class eater eating our tamales, but we stole the show. Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory made the local news that night, not City Hall.
And I think that's when the jealousy began. It is amazing how petty people can be, how they don't want to give credit where credit is due, but that's the way of the world. It seems clear to me now, that some in that Taj Mahal began to get a bad case of the big green monster.
I worked my butt off to make that event a success, and I accomplished it with my awesome family, loyal customers and the fab folks at the OTBA and the IFOCE. The glory was mine and I will wear my crown proudly!
The next year was still good, but bittersweet....stay tuned.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A conversation.
The World Tamale Eating Championship began as a conversataion at my shop between myself and Beth Ramsey. A longtime friend and business associate, we met at the Save the Old Town Business Association meeting back in 2002. Along with Beth and Debbie Peters of Lewisville State Bank, we made a pact to not let the OTBA die. We went through a lot together trying to keep the association alive and get other businesses involved. We forged a relationship through those challenging times.
Beth is a unique and quirky lady with a truly invidual sense of self. Not only is she an honest person and a true giver to her community, she has a very dry sense of humor that I really get a kick out of.
The truth is, the WTEC is her brainchild. She had an idea to have it and sell her famous chili at the event. She contacted the MLE, then known as the IFOCE first to see if they would bite on the idea. She came by the shop and laid out her vision to me. She said not to get too worked up about it, she was still waiting on a call back from the IFOCE, but if they liked the idea she would then call the City of Lewisville.
She and I served on the Board of Directors together of the OTBA and we were desparate to try and save our dying historic business district. Beth and I had worked on several other events together and we knew that special events were necessary to attract and retain foot traffic in Old Town. As the story turns out the IFOCE liked the idea and they really liked Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory being a part of it. Beth worked with the City of Lewisville to iron out the details and the plan took off!
The City wanted the event to be held in conjunction with the first ever BassMaster held at Lake Lewisville. The OTBA would put up the prize money, Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory would supply the tamales for the contestants and volunteers of the OTBA would help shuck the tamales. They were the very first Tamale Crew. Raquel, myself and a friend of mine, Miss Latina Dallas were the "Hot Tamale Girls".
It was a hot day, I drove to Dallas, picked up the Tamales in the factory's delivery van and hauled butt to Lake Lewisville. I literally blew down I-35 and rolled straight up through the grass at the event site to unload the tamales!
What a rush. The volunteers helped me unload the tamales and man, were they "Hot". The volunteers assembled at the tables and began the big task of de -shucking all the tamales! The heat was bearing down on the contestants, we were all hot and sweaty, but none more than those wonderful eaters! What champions, what professionals. Those eaters were hungry! It ended in a two way tie, so we had to have another eat off, aka tie breaker! In the end Levi Oliver won and I can still see his victorious stance. Our business association president, Kenny Roberts got to hand out the prize money and as he counted out the $100 dollar bills, he thanked me and Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory. We made the local news that night.
We at the OTBA were so pleased with our efforts, but we decided that if we did all that work then we needed to bring it back to Old Town. We resolved to do that the very next year.
That first year was exciting, but when we brought it back to Old Town, it was almost victorious.
Stay tuned for the next episode of Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory's World Tamale Eating Championship!
Beth is a unique and quirky lady with a truly invidual sense of self. Not only is she an honest person and a true giver to her community, she has a very dry sense of humor that I really get a kick out of.
The truth is, the WTEC is her brainchild. She had an idea to have it and sell her famous chili at the event. She contacted the MLE, then known as the IFOCE first to see if they would bite on the idea. She came by the shop and laid out her vision to me. She said not to get too worked up about it, she was still waiting on a call back from the IFOCE, but if they liked the idea she would then call the City of Lewisville.
She and I served on the Board of Directors together of the OTBA and we were desparate to try and save our dying historic business district. Beth and I had worked on several other events together and we knew that special events were necessary to attract and retain foot traffic in Old Town. As the story turns out the IFOCE liked the idea and they really liked Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory being a part of it. Beth worked with the City of Lewisville to iron out the details and the plan took off!
The City wanted the event to be held in conjunction with the first ever BassMaster held at Lake Lewisville. The OTBA would put up the prize money, Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory would supply the tamales for the contestants and volunteers of the OTBA would help shuck the tamales. They were the very first Tamale Crew. Raquel, myself and a friend of mine, Miss Latina Dallas were the "Hot Tamale Girls".
It was a hot day, I drove to Dallas, picked up the Tamales in the factory's delivery van and hauled butt to Lake Lewisville. I literally blew down I-35 and rolled straight up through the grass at the event site to unload the tamales!
What a rush. The volunteers helped me unload the tamales and man, were they "Hot". The volunteers assembled at the tables and began the big task of de -shucking all the tamales! The heat was bearing down on the contestants, we were all hot and sweaty, but none more than those wonderful eaters! What champions, what professionals. Those eaters were hungry! It ended in a two way tie, so we had to have another eat off, aka tie breaker! In the end Levi Oliver won and I can still see his victorious stance. Our business association president, Kenny Roberts got to hand out the prize money and as he counted out the $100 dollar bills, he thanked me and Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory. We made the local news that night.
We at the OTBA were so pleased with our efforts, but we decided that if we did all that work then we needed to bring it back to Old Town. We resolved to do that the very next year.
That first year was exciting, but when we brought it back to Old Town, it was almost victorious.
Stay tuned for the next episode of Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory's World Tamale Eating Championship!
Friday, August 19, 2011
15 minutes of Fame ....then comes the hall of SHAME...
Stay tuned yall....all things in good time. Even though I cam back from actual vacation last Saturday, I am taking a few more days...
Friday, July 22, 2011
Margarita's, Martini's and Bikinis
Watching "Night Line" after the 10:00 PM news is generally a given for me, but I was tickled to pieces when I heard a familiar voice and saw a familiar face this past Wednesday. The anchor teased us into the story with cool and beckoning words: Frozen Margarita!
If you know me, then you know I love Margarita's! Sure, I was interested in the story, but what made it better was the connection to my childhood. Mariano Martinez from Little Mexico is the inventor of the Frozen Margarita machine. There he was, on national prime time Television in the flesh and live from Carmel, California, talking about his humble roots back in the barrio of Downtown Dallas, known as Little Mexico.
For many of us born here in Dallas, Texas and those of us of Mexican descent, Little Mexico was our tierra, our land, our place. Now that it no longer exists, it has become almost mythic, a touch stone, a mecca. Hearing Mariano's voice, seeing him on national TV and not forgetting where he came from, made me so proud. My father and he were great friends and one special time, back in my blossoming youth, during a lunch at Mariano's restaurant, I was in the company of great men. Did I know it then? Yes, I think I did.
Being it is Friday and all, let's not forget another one of my other favorite adult beverages....the Mexican Martini. My husband is one of the best bartenders on the planet and I love it when he makes these for me! On Father's day this past year, I asked my husband to bring along his mobile martini machine - ie shaker to my father's home in Oak Cliff. With many of his children assembled, I raised my martini glass and began to toast my father, and before I could get one word out, he quickly took the reins (as he is apt to often do) and told us all. " I am 68 years old and I can honestly say I have never tasted a martini before!" "Drink it Dad!" was the chorus we cried! We all watched as my sister handed him his Mexican Martini and he took a sip. "Not bad, not too bad at all." We told him to eat the jalapeno stuffed olive next, which he really did like.
My dad is the most interesting man and does prefer his Dos Equis with lime. Not that he does'nt like his Corona either!
Enough about alcohol though, it is bikini season and one thing I know about is this; there is no such thing as a "skinny girl Margarita". All us Margarita drinkers have curves and I am damn proud of them. Now matter if I get them from eating too many tamales or drinking too many Margarita's, my curves remind me of how lucky I really am. From all the great home cooked meals, to my lifetime of knowing and having great cooks in my life, to the laughter, the fun, the shared life that I have been blessed to call mine, I salute you, Mariano for giving us one more way to celebrate our lives, our heritage and especially in 100 degree heat, a frozen beverage that is Mexican in origin and the number one cocktail in the universe!
Bravo, y Muchisimas Gracias. Salud!
If you know me, then you know I love Margarita's! Sure, I was interested in the story, but what made it better was the connection to my childhood. Mariano Martinez from Little Mexico is the inventor of the Frozen Margarita machine. There he was, on national prime time Television in the flesh and live from Carmel, California, talking about his humble roots back in the barrio of Downtown Dallas, known as Little Mexico.
For many of us born here in Dallas, Texas and those of us of Mexican descent, Little Mexico was our tierra, our land, our place. Now that it no longer exists, it has become almost mythic, a touch stone, a mecca. Hearing Mariano's voice, seeing him on national TV and not forgetting where he came from, made me so proud. My father and he were great friends and one special time, back in my blossoming youth, during a lunch at Mariano's restaurant, I was in the company of great men. Did I know it then? Yes, I think I did.
Being it is Friday and all, let's not forget another one of my other favorite adult beverages....the Mexican Martini. My husband is one of the best bartenders on the planet and I love it when he makes these for me! On Father's day this past year, I asked my husband to bring along his mobile martini machine - ie shaker to my father's home in Oak Cliff. With many of his children assembled, I raised my martini glass and began to toast my father, and before I could get one word out, he quickly took the reins (as he is apt to often do) and told us all. " I am 68 years old and I can honestly say I have never tasted a martini before!" "Drink it Dad!" was the chorus we cried! We all watched as my sister handed him his Mexican Martini and he took a sip. "Not bad, not too bad at all." We told him to eat the jalapeno stuffed olive next, which he really did like.
My dad is the most interesting man and does prefer his Dos Equis with lime. Not that he does'nt like his Corona either!
Enough about alcohol though, it is bikini season and one thing I know about is this; there is no such thing as a "skinny girl Margarita". All us Margarita drinkers have curves and I am damn proud of them. Now matter if I get them from eating too many tamales or drinking too many Margarita's, my curves remind me of how lucky I really am. From all the great home cooked meals, to my lifetime of knowing and having great cooks in my life, to the laughter, the fun, the shared life that I have been blessed to call mine, I salute you, Mariano for giving us one more way to celebrate our lives, our heritage and especially in 100 degree heat, a frozen beverage that is Mexican in origin and the number one cocktail in the universe!
Bravo, y Muchisimas Gracias. Salud!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Bloggapalooza, Feral Hogs and Havelina Tamales
TGIF, and Greetings, Yall!
Hope everyone had a Happy Fourth of July and is surviving the summer. This one seems to be going fast and furious. Come July, I am really not in the mood to do much of anything. I kind of like it that way. For some, moving at a constant pace, checking off the To-Do Lists and doing all the "What have Ya's" make many feel productive and relevant. Not me, although I can be an over acheiver and a bit of a stickler for detail, when summer comes around in Texas, I just want to chill. I want to be, well , lazy.
We talk a lot here in the shop about pigs, pork, hogs and havelina. It seems everyone has a story to tell about how so and so made the best tamales out of the hog head, the havelina head or how so and so would make tamales from a feral hog. My sister wants to somehow use the meat from the feral hogs she sees roaming around out at the ranch. Not me. I like my meat USDA, stamped by Uncle Sam. I am a slight, germaphobe and really don't like the idea of any kind of slaughtering procedure or any meat that is remotely "gamey". Yes I realize I am a bit of a contortionist. Of course, because I retain the right to be as picky as I want, and to demand certain standards in what I put in my mouth. I am a meat eater, yet I don't like venison, duck, rabbit, pidgeon, frogs, feral hogs or havelina....
I have eaten venison tamales, just to say I have....but I did not like them. I once ate a rattlesnake on a stick, I have eaten fried alligator and enjoyed both. When I was fifteen I was in Mexico with my family down in La Piedad and there were sows on the street who stood four foot high and weighed hundreds of pounds. They were like small cars!
Don't hate me because I am not a fan of the kill it, skin it and eat it club! Once, a friend of mine took me up in his buddy's helicoptor in Wichita Falls. His buddy was a rancher and used his copter to coral his herd of cows. It was so fun and quite shocking to be flying above the animals as they ran to the gates of their pens. So yes, I am a mental case, I meant contortionst. People are always saying you have to like this, if you like that, that you can't pick, you can't choose.
I like a lot of things, feral Hogs, Havelina or sweet tamales, not so much. Just give me the beef, baby!
And I just wanted to write the word bloggapalooza.....does'nt it just sound funny?
Hope everyone had a Happy Fourth of July and is surviving the summer. This one seems to be going fast and furious. Come July, I am really not in the mood to do much of anything. I kind of like it that way. For some, moving at a constant pace, checking off the To-Do Lists and doing all the "What have Ya's" make many feel productive and relevant. Not me, although I can be an over acheiver and a bit of a stickler for detail, when summer comes around in Texas, I just want to chill. I want to be, well , lazy.
We talk a lot here in the shop about pigs, pork, hogs and havelina. It seems everyone has a story to tell about how so and so made the best tamales out of the hog head, the havelina head or how so and so would make tamales from a feral hog. My sister wants to somehow use the meat from the feral hogs she sees roaming around out at the ranch. Not me. I like my meat USDA, stamped by Uncle Sam. I am a slight, germaphobe and really don't like the idea of any kind of slaughtering procedure or any meat that is remotely "gamey". Yes I realize I am a bit of a contortionist. Of course, because I retain the right to be as picky as I want, and to demand certain standards in what I put in my mouth. I am a meat eater, yet I don't like venison, duck, rabbit, pidgeon, frogs, feral hogs or havelina....
I have eaten venison tamales, just to say I have....but I did not like them. I once ate a rattlesnake on a stick, I have eaten fried alligator and enjoyed both. When I was fifteen I was in Mexico with my family down in La Piedad and there were sows on the street who stood four foot high and weighed hundreds of pounds. They were like small cars!
Don't hate me because I am not a fan of the kill it, skin it and eat it club! Once, a friend of mine took me up in his buddy's helicoptor in Wichita Falls. His buddy was a rancher and used his copter to coral his herd of cows. It was so fun and quite shocking to be flying above the animals as they ran to the gates of their pens. So yes, I am a mental case, I meant contortionst. People are always saying you have to like this, if you like that, that you can't pick, you can't choose.
I like a lot of things, feral Hogs, Havelina or sweet tamales, not so much. Just give me the beef, baby!
And I just wanted to write the word bloggapalooza.....does'nt it just sound funny?
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