Well-known chef and culinary writer Melissa Guerra will lead a class on tamale-making on Wednesday, May 14th from 1-3p.m. at the Museum of South Texas History. Due to their high demand and popularity, the Museum has added an extra class on Wednesday, May 28th from 1-3p.m. as well. Participants will make one dozen tamales to finish cooking at home. All ingredients are included in the class fee of $25.00. Those who wish to attend the class without preparing tamales themselves may pay an audit fee of $10.00. Remember, all FRIEND patrons of the Museum receive a 20% discount on their class fee! Becoming a FRIEND is quick and easy, please call the Museum for more information.
"This is the third time that Melissa Guerra has led our tamalada, or tamale-making event," remarks Melissa Tijerina, the museum's programming officer. "Through her extensive knowledge of techniques and culinary history, she is helping preserve the wonderful cooking traditions of this region, including the tamalada."
An eighth generation Texan, Melissa Guerra grew up on a working cattle ranch in South Texas. She has drawn on her family's heritage and her extensive research to write two cookbooks as well as develop a cooking show, The Texas Provincial Kitchen, which aired on PBS. Guerra also owns Melissa Guerra, a catalog and store based in McAllen, which sells kitchenware, tableware, and Mexican cooking tools and ingredients.
Copies of Guerra's second cookbook, Dishes from the Wild Horse Desert, will be available in the museum store for purchase. Amply-illustrated, the cookbook provides recipes and anecdotes for traditional dishes of norteño (northern Mexican) origin as well as cowboy classics such as chicken fried steak and biscuits.
"Our tamale-making classes sell out quickly every year, and reservations are required," notes Melissa Tijerina. Anyone interested should call the museum at 383-6911 to reserve a space and to receive a list of cooking tools they need to bring to the class. However, because spacing and materials are limited, refunds will not be granted for cancellations.
The Museum of South Texas History is located on the square, in downtown Edinburg.
