Be part of native road distributors and small companies for a day of scrumptious meals on the market, custom, and the very best tamale on the town this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For the third yr in a row, Cantina La Martina hosts La Tamalada, a celebration of tamales from ten totally different native road distributors, small companies, and cooks, every providing their very own interpretation of the Mexican specialty on the market and competing in a contest on a really special occasion for Mexican tradition.
Chef Dionicio Jiménez and Mariangeli Alicea Saez opened Cantina La Martina in February 2022. From the beginning, they envisioned their restaurant as an area to share Mexican tradition and custom in Kensington.
“We needed to open a restaurant right here, and we would like it to be a necessary a part of what Kensington Avenue has to supply, and be a enterprise that serves the neighborhood,” mentioned Alicea Saez, “but in addition brings folks from the skin and creates consciousness of what’s occurring on this space, whereas additionally bringing genuine Mexican meals.”
In its brief time open, Cantina La Martina has been thought of the most effective eating places within the metropolis and has been nominated twice for the James Beard Award, all whereas persevering with to serve its personal neighborhood.“It’s a secure place for them, and it’s additionally a spot that’s serving them high quality meals at a worth that’s accessible to them,” mentioned Alicea Saez.
On a latest night, Alicea Saez was serving tables, greeting prospects with hugs. One desk was celebrating a birthday, one other was a gaggle of coworkers, and at one other sat a household with a child. “She has been coming right here since she was pregnant with that child. And the child’s about two years previous now, and I used to be consuming her rice and beans,” Alicea Saez mentioned.
La Tamalada is a practice that Jiménez and Alicea Saez created, nevertheless it originates in Mexico from Día de la Candelaria. This celebration is related to the Rosca de Reyes or Three Kings Cake, eaten in January. Those that discover a child Jesus figurine of their slice of rosca are accountable for making tamales for family and friends on February 2, Día de la Candelaria.
And whereas the concept for La Tamalada started with the purpose of training these unfamiliar with the custom and strengthening neighborhood bonds with those that already knew it, Alicea Saez mentioned it additionally got here from observing tamaleras promoting tamales in South Philadelphia.
“Chef and I’d go to South Philly, and I’d all the time be in search of the distributors on the street… shopping for all of the tamales we may, having fun with them with my youngsters and our household, and bringing them to the restaurant. So I used to be like, why don’t we invite these distributors to the restaurant, have them vend tamales, and host a tamalada?” she mentioned.
She needed to indicate her appreciation and spotlight these ladies, whose work may be difficult. “Tamales are so onerous to make, you already know, and there’s a lot of a way after which there’s a lot that would go improper,” Alicea added.
Working the masa or dough for tamales requires apply, approach, and even an excellent temper. That’s why, as yearly, along with discounted tamales and specialty drinks out there at Cantina La Martina, at 2 p.m., the ten distributors and cooks will compete in a tamale contest, the place judges will choose the highest tamale of the day.
One of many judges is final yr’s Tamalada winner and co-owner of La Ingrata, Karla Torres, who is aware of nicely the problem of constructing tamales.
“It’s an artwork as a result of in the event you don’t deal with your masa correctly, it received’t end up proper. Similar to bread has a course of, so does masa. It’s not simply throwing components right into a mixer… It’s important to maintain it, be sure your dough doesn’t break, hold tasting it for salt,” Torres mentioned. “A tamale must be delicate, juicy, and flavorful. It shouldn’t style like dough. It ought to style just like the filling contained in the tamale,” she added.
For this yr’s successful tamale, Torres is in search of originality but in addition a particular connection to the dish. Simply as she was impressed by her grandparents, who ran a tamale enterprise in Iztapalapa, Mexico Metropolis, and taught her learn how to make them. “To make a tamale, I consider it has to have that means,” she mentioned.
In the meantime, one other choose, Roland Biu from Go to Philly, who will solid his vote alongside his Mexican-American spouse, Sandy Biu, is in search of one thing new. “I’m in search of one thing a bit out of the unusual to be good. However so long as it retains the essence of what a tamale is and the way it makes you are feeling.”
One other choose, Jay The Gentleman from Wooder Ice, can be in search of one thing a bit totally different and attractive. “Simply the consistency of the tamale. It looks like a easy factor to make, however once more, I really feel like—particularly with Mexican meals—it appears easy, however one factor can actually mess it up,” he mentioned.
This yr’s Tamalada guarantees to embody what makes Cantina La Martina particular: an inclusive and various neighborhood. There shall be tamales from totally different Latin American nations—together with some made with plantains as an alternative of corn—and totally different ranges of spice.
There may also be distributors at totally different phases of their journey within the business. From ladies promoting tamales on the road to cooks from famend eating places, all taking part on the identical stage. In whole, there shall be 5 judges, one in all which would be the viewers. Anybody who attends La Tamalada will obtain a ticket to solid their vote for the Folks’s Selection Award.
Everyone seems to be invited to La Tamalada and to be a part of Cantina La Martina’s neighborhood.
“It may be actually overwhelming while you consider altering the world, like within the huge scheme of issues and constructing neighborhood helps you see these adjustments in a smaller scale and offers you extra hope in regards to the future,” mentioned Alicea Saez. “Occasions like La Tamalada or what our enterprise means the place we’re positioned in Kensington, it’s a beacon of that. It’s a beacon of change, hope, and constructing that neighborhood.”
Third Annual Tamalada
Sunday, February 2nd
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cantina La Martina at 2800 D Street
This occasion takes place outdoors in Cantina La Martina’s heated tent.
Tamales are $5 every
Pay-as-you-go. Some distributors shall be cash-only (an ATM shall be out there on-site).