Where to buy Tamales in NOVA?

Northern Va. that is. I'm looking to buy 1 - 2 dozen handmade tamales that I can take home and freeze.

Thanks,

MikeS.

A former colleague of mine publishes an excellent guide to ethnic food which will set you in the right direction:

http://hobnobblog.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?Template=ethic&IncludeBlogs=8&search=tamale

From my years in Arlington & McLean I found that one could find authentic tamales only at Salvadoran or Bolivian restaurants.

BTW: have you ever had a saltena?

http://dcist.com/2008/01/17/pike_pizza_some.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55539-2001Apr23?language=printer

I've also had great tamales at some of the places noted therein.

Thanks Jim, I'm going to try a Saltena.

As first referenced on this site[url='http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1532']here[/url] and in a thread about fish tacos, Herndon, Virginia's wonderful Teocali Tamale (336 Elden Street, 703 / 904-9336) is what you're looking for. Their tamales are great!

Execellent! Thanks i95

We made it there Friday. When we walked in we reckonized the place, we'd been there once before and had forgotten about it. The food was very good. I had a 2 tamale plate and bought 6 to go. PP had a chicken quesidillia and Ava had a chicken taco.

E-mail me and I think we can work something out!

David O.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeS.

Thanks Jim, I'm going to try a Saltena.

You'll be in for a treat!

Here's the way the natives eat them: wrap in a paper towel and bite off the top end of the pastry. Use a spoon to scoop out the goodies and liquid until the pastry and remaining goodies can be snarfed down without making a mess.

One of my favorite "eating memories" was sitting in the Plaza Aboroa in La Paz and washing down three saltenas with a liter of Centenario Beer. The beer, the saltenas, the view of the Andes, and the 12,000 foot altitude made it an etherial experience!

Let me know what you think.

Teocali Tamale es no mas.

PP and I stopped by there last Monday and they are gone. :(