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Tamale Festival puts Escondido “on the gastro map” says organizer


Karlos Paez on the Main Stage Saturday.

Alex MacLachlan, president  of the Escondido Downtown Business Association pronounced this Saturday’s Escondido Tamale Festival “the best yet!”

MacLachlan told The Times-Advocate, “We introduced live music and fun activities inside the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Garden this year and it was a huge success, with local belly dance group Sohaila and The Shining Stars, Flamenco guitarist Warren La Plante, and B Side Player’s front man Karlos Paez performing.” 

An impromptu ballet folklorico performance by two female dancers, who came from the main stage over to the garden to surprise our DJ , their childhood dance partner, also brought the house down.

MacLachlan added, “We were honored to have received the Escondido Shines Certificate of Appreciation from Escondido Rotary Club for the founding of this festival and in bringing our joint cultural heritage together in a celebration of community pride and friendship. The award was presented by Paul McNamara.”

Local restaurateur Erik Monforte, from Cocina del Charro joined the festival for the first time determined to win the 2018 “La Suegra” Best Tamale Award. He set his sights on last year’s winner Coop’s BBQ of Lemon Grove and came up with a Certified Black Angus beef tamale topped with a poached egg and salsa that surpassed Coop’s smoked chicken tamale by just one point to take the title. 

MacLachlan added, “I see a rivalry brewing where each year, contestants up their game in creating unique gourmet tamales that put Escondido on the must visit Gastro Map.”

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