SAN ANTONIO \u2013 La Gran Tamalada, a two-day festival, brought together tourists and locals in San Antonio this year to celebrate the love behind cooking and eating Tamales.<\/p>\n
The holiday tradition took a new twist this year, with seven high school teams competing in a cook-off.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandpa had this business with his mom since the \u201990s,\u201d said Xavier Chavez. \u201cSo this has been a family business for many years, and we still continue to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chavez helps his family run their tamale business and said crowds always ramp up during the holiday season. He said he\u2019s happy to see the tradition and skill get so much attention during festivals such as the festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve always done this since I\u2019ve known of,\u201d he said. \u201cSomeday, I want to do it too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The festival featured local vendors, musicians, dancers, tamale-making workshops and a competition between the seven local high schools.<\/p>\n
Students from East Central, Somerset, South San, Nixon-Smiley, Brackenridge, Lanier and McCollum high schools cooked and had their work judged in traditional and chef\u2019s choice categories.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne day, [my family] wants me to take care of the business too,\u201d Chavez said. \u201cSo I\u2019ve been working for a couple of years too already, so I\u2019m quite experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n
La Familia Cortez Restaurants, the organizer behind the festival, said it plans to host La Gran Tamalada again next year.<\/p>\n
Read also: <\/p>\n
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