Winners

BEST DARN TAMALE CONTEST FINALISTS 2011
Note: Category winners were chosen by our Celebrity Guest Judges and 
the Gente’s Choice was the overall favorite tamale determined by our audience member’s vote. 

 * Category Winners

* Gente’s Choice Winner 

Cheese/Vegetarian
Felipa’s Comida Casera, Oklahoma City, OK - Black Bean, Spinach & Corn
Wholly Tamales, Milpitas, CA - Cuban Black Beans w/Soy Chorizo & Cheese
Mama’s Hot Tamales, Los Angeles, CA - Spinach & Mushroom
Posa’s (El Merendero), Santa Fe, NM - Green Chile Cheese
Wally’s Tamales, Woodland Park, CO - Deep Fried Veggie Tamaco


Traditional Chicken
Lucy’s Tamale Factory, San Jose, CA - Chicken Chile Verde
Tamale House, Tigard, OR - Chicken w/Tomatillo
The Tamale Factory, San Jose, CA - Pollo Ranchero
Tucson Tamale Company, Tucson, AZ - Sonora Green Chili Chicken
Felipa’s Comida Casera, Oklahoma City, OK - Chicken


Traditional Pork/Beef
Lucy’s Tamale Factory, San Jose, CA - Pork Chile Colorado
Tamale House, Tigard, OR - Pork Tamale
Tamale Lovers, Brentwood, CA - Mild Pork in Green Sauce
The Tamale Factory, San Jose, CA - Pork w/Chipotle
Tucson Tamale Company, Tucson, AZ - Santa Fe Green Chile Pork & Cheese


Gourmet/Exotic
Felipa’s Comida Casera, Oklahoma City, OK  - Azteca w/Pork Roast orange & cinnamon
Wally’s Tamales, Woodland Park, CO - Deep Fried Tamale
Margarite’s Hot Tamales - Folsom, LA - New Orleans Style Beef w/Gravy
Corn Maiden Foods, Harbor City, CA - BBQ Chicken w/Gouda Cheese
Tamale Lovers, Brentwood, CA - Curry Chicken Tamal


Dulce/Sweet
Corn Maiden Foods, Harbor City, CA - Chocolate Raspberry
Lucy’s Tamale Factory, San Jose, CA - Apple Cinnamon

Taqueria Lorena’s, San Jose, CA - Pineapple Coconut & Raisin

Mama’s Hot Tamales, Los Angeles - Guava & Cream Cheese
Tamale Lovers, Brentwood, CA  - Spicy Pumpkin

The Gente's Choice

Taqueria Lorena’s, San Jose, CA - Pineapple Coconut & Raisin