Tamales Festival at Portland Mercado February 25-27

I’m going to tell you something that’s a little embarrassing—last month was the very first time I ever visited the Portland Mercado. I’ve lived in Portland for a number of years now, and it took me all this time to make it there. So, please—don’t make my mistake. Go soon—and why not for the upcoming Tamales Festival?

From Friday, February 25 to Sunday, February 26, the businesses at the Portland Mercado will be offering tamales for sale—Mexican, Peruvian, Colombian, Cuban, and more. Tamales will be “to go” (“para llevar”), which means you can pick up a bunch of different ones while you’re there.

You’re probably familiar with the corn-husk-wrapped Mexican tamale made with masa and fillings of meats and/or vegetables. But they also come wrapped in banana leaves. I once had something called a “tamal” at La Pequeña Colombiana in Jackson Heights (Queens). It was huge, taking up the space of an entire dinner plate. It was one of those banana leaf-wrapped items, with a filling of extremely tender chicken and beef still on the bone, with carrots and potatoes, all surrounded by delicate, soft, golden masa. It expanded my idea of what a tamale is and can be.

So did the recent tamale I had at the Portland Mercado last month during their Winter Soup Festival. It was from the Cuban cart, Havana Station. I ordered it with pork, and it came out in a configuration I wasn’t prepared for, but over the weeks since the soup fest, I’ve found myself craving it.

The tamale itself, wrapped in a corn husk with a little Cuban flag inserted in it, is meatless. It’s texture is super moist but keeps its integrity, unlike any tamale I’ve had before. It came with a serving of savory shredded pork to put on top of the tamale (at least, that’s what I did). I absolutely loved it.

I can’t wait to eat you again, Cuban tamale.

So head on over to the Portland Mercado later in February. I bet you’ll find something you’ll love! As for me, I’ll be back for another Cuban tamale, at the very least, and I look forward to trying others.

Tamales Festival “To-Go”
Friday, February 25 to Saturday, February 27, 2022
Portland Mercado, 7238 SE Foster Road, Portland
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