Tamale Festival 2008.


Story Road Tamale Festival Celebrates Michoacán

By Kiara Parodi
Photos by Mary J. Andrade

The Story Road Business Association, producers of the Story Road Tamale Festival invites everyone to a day of food, fun and entertainment for the whole family as they celebrate the culture and gastronomy of Michoacán, Mexico.

The protagonist of this year’s festival is the Uchepo, the traditional tamales of Michoacán.

This cultural and gastronomic exchange is a partnership between the chefs of the Instituto Gastronomico Hidalguense, the Story Road Tamale Festival and the students of the School of Culinary Arts at the Center for Employment Training (CET). 

Cesar Torres and Pedro Padilla are the invited chefs from the institute this year. Chef Padilla who is originally from Michoacán brings his culinary knowledge and techniques to assist the students as they learn to make the authentic tamales of Michoacán. This is the second year in which all three entities collaborate.

“It’s been a real pleasure working with the students and especially fun working with Ricardo Cortes the executive Chef and professor at CET.

It’s great to see their enthusiasm,” said Mr. Padilla. Last year’s collaboration resulted in the making of the Zacahuil, the traditional tamale of the Huasteca region of Mexico.

The Zacahuil turned out to be so big that over 300 people at the festival were able to take a bite and savor its unique texture and taste.

Tamale Festival 2007.


This year the students at CET are taking this project a step further by making the Uchepos, entering them in the “Best Tamale Contest” and selling them at the festival to generate funds for scholarships.

The Uchepos are made from summer ground fresh corn when starch content is at its highest. As opposed to the more traditional tamales, the Uchepos are wrapped in their own fresh corn leaves.

They are commonly served with sour cream, red or green salsa and queso fresco. Over 5000 ears of corn had to be purchased to make the Uchepos this year.

Another integral component of this festival is the opening ceremony where the tamales are presented to the community, sponsors and dignitaries. At the ceremony Los Lupeños will be performing the dance of “Los Viejitos” among other dances representative of Michoacán.

There will be three stages of entertainment with mariachis, folkloric dance groups, Aztec dancers, tropical, regional Mexican, Banda and many other Latino rhythm musical groups.

The public will have the opportunity, also, to enjoy the ever popular Best Tamale Contest as well as tamale eating contests. As many as 13 tamale vendors will be participating in the contest.