85265 Sun Dec 28 23:38:24 -0800 2003 4 3 California 0 471796 A victim of my own poor planning once again, we were still tamale-less the day before Christmas. I’d left the Bay Area too late to pick up any en route in Gilroy from last year’s tamale derby winner. The sample of El Aguila’s at Thanksgiving didn’t do much for me, so I set off to drive the neighborhoods likely to have tamales for sale and take whatever I could find. My first top was El Charrito Market on W. Market St. across from Sacred Heart School, mostly because a banner outside promoted tamales. But, alas, inside there was but a single lonely chicken tamale and a few sweet tamales under the heat lamps. I grabbed them, and also a small burrito with costellitas de puerco en chile that was VERY spicy and very good with just the braised meat, refritos and salsa. However, tasting the tamales later that night, they seemed to be spoiled. The chicken one was dry and stringy and had a weird fishy taste – William and I both spit out the first bite and then washed out our mouths, plates and forks, and the sweet ones made with elote had a sour-ish fermented off-flavor so those went down the garbage disposal too. Anyway, after El Charrito, I headed toward the east side of town to the area where we’d found five taco trucks last month. Not a single taco truck in sight at 1pm and the markets in the neighborhood were starting to shut down. Things were looking bleak. But then I spotted a small push cart just beyond the shadows of the freeway on-ramp in front of a vacant store. A cart specializing in tamales, no less! A very nice one too, with multiple stainless steel shelves stacked with tamales kept hot and fresh with steam. The tamales are $1 each, and a big cup of steaming hot champurrado is $1.50. Mr. Valdez, the owner, said he’s there every day and will make special orders for parties and other events. The champurrado was terrific with a moderate amount of chocolate, but with the special taste of dark piloncillo to add the extra depth and near tropical note. The pork tamales were very good and meaty with good kick. The style of masa is smooth and fine-textured and holds together to eat out of hand, yet still pretty light and fluffy. The tamales de rajas were even better with a long single strip of hot chili and stringy cheese. William noted that the pepper was medium hot yet had real persistence, leaving a lasting heat on the tip of the tongue. The tamales de piña were already sold out. But I was more than happy with the tamales dulces with dark cinnamon-scented masa and plump raisins. The crumbly, moist texture reminded William of a muffin. Mr. Valdez’ tamales are highly recommended. Here’s his contact information. Julio Valdez “Rico Tamal” Licensed cart on the corner of Merced and E. Market just west of Hwy 101 831-235-6780 831-424-5614 Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/22609#84166 Sun Dec 28 23:38:24 -0800 2003 0 Melanie Wong 1 471799 Looks like this could be my first diversion off of RTE1 next Monday...any idea what time Mr. Valdez opens? If not I can call on the weekend. Mon Dec 29 09:39:43 -0800 2003 471796 0 DodinBouffant 2 471817 Sorry, don't know. I was there around 1pm. Best to call ahead - hope you speak some Spanish as Mr. Valdez speaks little English. It's easy to find the location from Rte. 1. As you're coming south from Santa Cruz, instead of bearing right toward Monterey, take the exit (left fork) that leads you into Castroville. You can stop at the Giant Artichoke. Continue on this road through Castroville, which will take you past farmlands to Salinas and it's a straight shot to the tamale truck. The same road becomes West Market Street in town. Stay on this road and soon you'll come to a big intersection where you'll see the Steinbeck center on the right side. Keep going straight and in a couple blocks you'll hit a fancy underpass (my cousin helped design this when he was a civil engineering summer intern) where four streets intersect and follow the signs to East Market Street. It's just a little farther to the intersection with Merced, and the cart should be on the right side of the road. If you go under Hwy 101, you've gone a block too far, but you'll then be in taco truck territory for some happy hunting. (G) To get back to Rte. 1, i'd suggest taking the Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 instead which will loop you past Laguna Seca on your way to Monterey and is more scenic on that stretch. You can stop at Zeph's wine bar on the edge of town (South Main St. becomes Hwy 68) before you say good-bye to Salinas. Mon Dec 29 19:36:47 -0800 2003 471799 0 Melanie Wong 3 471828 Thank you very much for the added directions and the extra assistance, it is greatly appreciated. I've also printed the coupon for Duarte's. DB Tue Dec 30 12:04:24 -0800 2003 471817 0 DodinBouffant 4 471874 My mom gave Sr. Valdez a call on Saturday morning and he said he'd be there after noon time that day. My brother stopped by and bought some piña tamales that he really liked, in addition to more of the ones with pork and rajas. Fri Jan 02 05:24:06 -0800 2004 471828 0 Melanie Wong