EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The inaugural Tamale Throwdown, hosted by Border Grove and the Playa Drain Association, brought together local vendors and community members in El Paso for a flavorful celebration of culture and cuisine.
Aziri Irisay Hernandez, co-founder of Border Grove, explained, “We’re having a Tamale Taste Fest, so we have a couple competitors that have either a vegetarian or meat tamale option.”
Attendees sampled a variety of tamales and voted for their favorite, with the winner receiving a $300 grand prize.
The event featured four vendors, each offering unique tamale creations. Alex Ortega, owner of Almasen Vida, presented a red pork tamale with blue corn masa and a vegan tamale with mushrooms, poblano chili, and cashew crema.
Ortega shared, “All my tamales are prepared with fresh ingredients all made from scratch, homemade broths and heirloom corn.”
Ruby Quintanaud, another participant, offered vegan and vegetarian options, including a jackfruit tamale. “I’ve been vegetarian for over 20 years,” Quintanaud said, emphasizing the importance of providing diverse options for the community.
Despite the chilly November weather, the event provided warmers, fire pits, and hot chocolate to keep attendees cozy. Hernandez noted, “We’d love to see the community come out, support our local vendors, and of course just continue on with the Borderland traditions.”
The Tamale Throwdown aims to become an annual event, fostering community spirit and celebrating local culinary talents.
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