By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Leading up to the 2013 Legislative Session, State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. has a busy schedule, such as meeting with local governing leaders in the areas in which he serves, helping research and author bills that may have a significant impact on Texas communities, and judging the San Benito News “Best Tamales In Town” contest.
The senator confirmed Thursday his intention to judge the fourth annual tamale contest, which is slated Friday, Dec. 21, at 12 noon. This star-studded wingding will also be judged by San Benito CISD Board of Trustees Vice President Anna Cruz, and San Benito Fire Department Operations Chief Raul Zuniga. Sen. Lucio, Cruz and Zuniga will be accompanied by at least two other judges to select winners at the event.
At the age of 66, Sen. Lucio joked Friday that he has plenty of experience enjoying the tasty Mexican dish.
“I’ve eaten a lot of tamales in my lifetime,” the senator said before praising the tamales made by his mother, Josefa Liendo Lucio. “Most of them have been made by my mom, by the way. She makes the best tamales in the world; she’s incredible.”
He wasn’t kidding. According to the senator, at one point Josefa made as many as 200 dozen tamales a year. “She slowed down the last couple of years, but she had done that a long time, and they’re incredibly tasty. She makes pork, chicken, bean, and this year she added venison. She made me 12 dozen venison tamales, and we’re all trying to learn from her so we can continue the tradition.”
So what’s the secret to mom’s tamales, Mr. Senator?
“She puts a lot of food in them,” he laughed. “They’re not commercial tamales. They’re okay, but my mom makes sure there’s a good portion of meat and beans, and some of the beans she puts jalapenos in them. They’re incredible tamales, and everyone who has eaten them say that they are the very best.”
Tamale making seems to run in his family as the senator’s aunt, Romana Liendo Clive, operated two Mexican restaurants in Houston where she and Josefa made up to 400 dozen tamales a month.
“She (Josefa) did it to help her sister (Romana),” Sen. Lucio said. “I met with them about two weeks ago when I was in Houston to take my mom to a hospital for a very delicate operation, and we talked about the good ol’ days. State Rep. Dan Shelly who I served with in the 1980s told me one time that my tia made the best tamales in the world. When I explained to him that they were actually my mom’s, he said, ‘Well, then it’s your mom’s that are wonderful.’”
The tamale contest is open to the public. Contestants are only required to bring one dozen of their best tamales to the News office, located at 356 N. Sam Houston Blvd. in San Benito, by 12 noon Friday, Dec. 21. Judging will begin shortly thereafter and a winner will be announced once judges tally up their score sheets. Entries will be judged based on taste, texture, originality and presentation.
Those who wish to attend for the spectacle are invited to the News office for a holiday gathering, equipped with music and refreshments.
For more information on the contest, call (956) 399-2436.
Read this story in the Dec. 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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