By TREY PUGA
Special to the NEWS
June Aguilera
Tamale makers take note: nothing too spicy.
For San Benito CISD School Board Secretary June Aguilera, her only kryptonite is spiciness.
Aguilera’s taste buds for pork and chicken tamales date back to her young years of just 3 years old with her aunt in the kitchen. Staying away from spicy eats kept Aguilera from creating a tolerance, but Aguilar still has the experience needed to be one of five judges for the Third Annual San Benito News “The Best Tamales in Town” contest, slated Friday at noon.
“My aunt would fix the masa and pork or chicken, but I would be the one to put it all together and create the tamale,” Aguilar recalled fondly.
It shows from her experience that she has the knowledge to approve, or deny, tamales right from the start of unravel. Aguilera seems to also know the equation for an exact ratio amount of masa and any other mixture of ingredients for each specific combination to reach pure deliciousness – one would expect nothing less from a public servant in the education field.
But aside from the lighthearted inferences of her expertise, it is obvious that Aguilera does have the experience and knowledge to judge this year, and she states that, as mentioned above, texture, appearance, masa ratio, and, of course, taste will be her points of judgment.
Also, even though Aguilera’s tamale-making aunt may not be close enough to still produce the great tamales of yesteryear, she still enjoys tamales from local eateries.
Entries this year will be judged on taste, texture, originality and presentation. Those wishing to participate are asked to bring one dozen of their best tamales to the News office by 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 16. A winner will be announced shortly thereafter.
For more information, call (956) 399-2436.
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