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    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    Fr. David Buersmeyer y Mrs. Judith Brooks de Strangers No Longer / hablan a los participantes de la procesión frente a la oficina de campo de ICE en Detroit / address procession participants in front of the field office of ICE in Detroit. Foto de/Photo by Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic

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    • Introducing the partnership with the Race and Justice reporting Initiative
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    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    MANA de Metro Detroit Celebrates 30 Years of Latina Leadership and Legacy

    Protecting Our Vote: Facts in the Face of Fear

    Protecting Our Vote: Facts in the Face of Fear

    The Comanche People

    The Comanche People

    Apaches Jicarilla

    Apaches Jicarilla

    Rarámuris / Tarahumaras 

    Rarámuris / Tarahumaras 

    Linzie and Jesse Venegas of Ideal Group Recognized as Entrepreneurs Of The Year 2025

    Linzie and Jesse Venegas of Ideal Group Recognized as Entrepreneurs Of The Year 2025

    George Carrillo speaks to attendees at the Real Talk series about his immigration policy recommendations for the construction industry, titled "Building America Stronger." Photo: Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez, Featherstone.

    “This Is Our Moment”: National Latino Construction Leader Visits Detroit to Highlight Labor Crisis and Policy Solutions

    CitizenDetroit Launches Free Online Platform that Enables Detroit Voters to Hear Directly from Detroit Candidates

    CitizenDetroit Launches Free Online Platform that Enables Detroit Voters to Hear Directly from Detroit Candidates

  • Community
    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    MANA de Metro Detroit Celebrates 30 Years of Latina Leadership and Legacy

    A jubilee pilgrimage of hope through the Basilica of Ste. Anne

    A jubilee pilgrimage of hope through the Basilica of Ste. Anne

    Stellantis Hosts “Thrilling” MHCC Networking Event

    Stellantis Hosts “Thrilling” MHCC Networking Event

    El Zocalo Lounge Brings Back Nightlife to Mexicantown

    El Zocalo Lounge Brings Back Nightlife to Mexicantown

    Senate Theater Says ‘No Problem’ to No AC with ‘Hot, Sweaty & Weird’ Film Series

    Senate Theater Says ‘No Problem’ to No AC with ‘Hot, Sweaty & Weird’ Film Series

    Candidatos del Distrito 6 hablan sobre inmigración y contaminación

    Candidatos del Distrito 6 hablan sobre inmigración y contaminación

    Connecting with the Heart of Detroit

    Connecting with the Heart of Detroit

    Fr. David Buersmeyer y Mrs. Judith Brooks de Strangers No Longer / hablan a los participantes de la procesión frente a la oficina de campo de ICE en Detroit / address procession participants in front of the field office of ICE in Detroit. Foto de/Photo by Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic

    Detroit Catholics Walk in Solidarity with Immigrants, Demand Humane Treatment

  • Featured
    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    Candidates Face the People: Southwest Detroit Hosts Powerful Mayoral Forum on Community Priorities

    Fr. David Buersmeyer y Mrs. Judith Brooks de Strangers No Longer / hablan a los participantes de la procesión frente a la oficina de campo de ICE en Detroit / address procession participants in front of the field office of ICE in Detroit. Foto de/Photo by Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic

    Detroit Catholics Walk in Solidarity with Immigrants, Demand Humane Treatment

    Linzie and Jesse Venegas of Ideal Group Recognized as Entrepreneurs Of The Year 2025

    Linzie and Jesse Venegas of Ideal Group Recognized as Entrepreneurs Of The Year 2025

    George Carrillo speaks to attendees at the Real Talk series about his immigration policy recommendations for the construction industry, titled "Building America Stronger." Photo: Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez, Featherstone.

    “This Is Our Moment”: National Latino Construction Leader Visits Detroit to Highlight Labor Crisis and Policy Solutions

    Downtown Detroit’s Hart Plaza Comes Back to Life with ARRiBA! Latinos Festival

    Downtown Detroit’s Hart Plaza Comes Back to Life with ARRiBA! Latinos Festival

    Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, waves from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican after his election as pope May 8, 2025. The new pope was born in Chicago. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

    Pope Leo XIV a ‘man of many gifts’ who will lead Church with grace

    Southwest Detroit’s Cinco de Mayo Parade Prevails Over “Rain and Rumors” to the Enjoyment of Thousands

    Southwest Detroit’s Cinco de Mayo Parade Prevails Over “Rain and Rumors” to the Enjoyment of Thousands

    Caesar Chavez Academy’s Robotics Team Represents Southwest Detroit at World Robotics Championship

    Caesar Chavez Academy’s Robotics Team Represents Southwest Detroit at World Robotics Championship

    El Arzobispo Edward J. Weisenburger dirige las oraciones durante una Misa en memoria del papa Francisco el 21 de abril en la Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament en Detroit. El papa Francisco, quien ha liderado la Iglesia católica desde 2013, murió la madrugada del lunes, el día después del Domingo de Pascua. (Foto de Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic)

    Archbishop Weisenburger leads Detroit faithful in mourning Pope Francis’ death

  • Opinion
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    • All
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    The Comanche People

    The Comanche People

    Senate Theater Says ‘No Problem’ to No AC with ‘Hot, Sweaty & Weird’ Film Series

    Senate Theater Says ‘No Problem’ to No AC with ‘Hot, Sweaty & Weird’ Film Series

    From Latin Boogaloo to Electric Vibes, Latino Music Moves the Crowd at Concert of Colors

    From Latin Boogaloo to Electric Vibes, Latino Music Moves the Crowd at Concert of Colors

    Apaches Jicarilla

    Apaches Jicarilla

    Brushstrokes & Brainpower: Teachers Gather to Boost Student Thinking Through Art

    Brushstrokes & Brainpower: Teachers Gather to Boost Student Thinking Through Art

    Rarámuris / Tarahumaras 

    Rarámuris / Tarahumaras 

    Blackfeet – Native Americans

    Blackfeet – Native Americans

    Finding Life’s Lessons in Lucha Libre

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It’s Tamale Season

In Southwest Detroit You Can Explore a Diverse Offering of Tamales From a Variety of Countries and Regions

Ofelia Saenz by Ofelia Saenz
December 9, 2022
in Community, Food, Local Small Business, Restaurants
Reading Time: 13 mins read
Home Community
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  • Ofelia Saenz
  • Alejandro Ugalde
  • December 8, 2022

While tamales can be found throughout Southwest Detroit year-round, the holidays are synonymous with tamale season. More than any other time of year, the month of December is when families make, eat, buy and share tamales.

Coahuila, Mexico - Prince Valley

Women at Prince Valley Market on Michigan Avenue in Southwest Detroit separate corn husks for tamales.
A worker at Prince Valley Market stocks the shelves with warm to-go bundles.

To keep up with demand, community grocers, restaurants and tamalerias ramp up production of ready- to-eat tamales. According to Prince Valley Market kitchen manager, Brenda Ramirez, her team of women makes more than a thousand tamales each weekday morning.

Mexican tamales are hugely popular in Southwest Detroit. Because of the diverse makeup of the community, tamales can differ in ingredi- ents, style and technique from location to location. Ramirez is from Coahuila in the north of Mexico. The style of masa she uses at Prince Valley Market is moist and spongy with a distinct flavor profile.

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Oaxaca, Mexico – Caterer Jessica Gómez

Mexican tamales can vary greatly depending on the region. Caterer Jessica Gómez is from Oaxaca, Mexico, where indigenous dishes are typical. She makes tamales cooked in banana leaves.

The tamal in Latin American culture is as iconic as it is ancient. It predates Spanish Colonialism by thousands of years, tracing its origin back to Mesoamerica.

Because they’re so tradi- tional, many people might only be familiar with the recipes they grew up eating with their families. But tamales are as diverse as they are loved. In Mexico alone, there are at least

350 types, according to the “Diccionario Enciclopedico De Gastronomia Mexicana,”
an authoritative resource on Mexican cooking and cuisine. Many of the ingredients that

Gómez uses in her cooking are imported from a specific area in Chiapas.

Commonly, Mexican tamales are made with a meat filling and lard in the masa – but not all. Chipilin tamales are vegan. The leafy green is used in many south- ern Mexican and Central American dishes.

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Puertorican – Dominican –Rincon Tropical

Mexican tamales aren’t the only varieties Southwest has to offer. Rincon Tropical, located on Michigan Avenue just west of Livernois, is owned by Lisaida Moreno, who is of Puertorican descent, and her husband, Riquelmi Moreno, who is Dominican. Their restaurant serves a fusion
of both cultures, including
a type of tamal known as pasteles en hoja.

A holiday essential, paste- les en hoja are wrapped in banana leaves. The dough is made from green plantain.
It has a savory taste and a moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Pasteles en hoja are usually stuffed with olives and either pork or chicken . To hold their shape they’re wrapped in wax paper and tied with string. According
to Moreno, there is a debate over whether pasteles are best eaten with ketchup or hot sauce.

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Venezuela-Caracas – El rey de las arepas

In Venezuela, tamales are called hallacas. The ingre- dients vary from region to region. Popular Southwest Detroit Venezuelan restau- rant, El Rey de Las Arepas, makes a version from the capital region of Caracas.

The corn dough, pre-cooked corn flour—which is similar to the masa used in arepas— is brushed with achiote, which gives it a distinctive
color and slightly sweet, nutty flavor.

At El Rey de Las Arepas, hallacas are made with a combination of chicken, beef, pork, peppers, olives, raisins and chickpeas layered onto a thin layer of the masa.

The hallacas are then wrapped in banana leaf and tied. Because hallacas are
so time-intensive, El Rey de Las Arepas only makes them
for preorders, and they’re only available through the holidays. During that time, Gutierrez and co-owner Jacqueline Alejandre are joined by Gutierriz’s mother, Zoraida Gutierrez, to help make the hallacas and guide the process.

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Ofelia Saenz is a native of Southwest Detroit and a writer, marketer and food entrepreneur. She writes about entertainment, arts, culture and other human-interest stories for EL CENTRAL. 

Alejandro Ugalde (Kopalli Media) is a Mexico City immigrant and visual storyteller with a deep love for Detroit and its multiculturalism.

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