TAMALE TRAIL TOUR!

TOUR DATE: APRIL 22, 2006

The Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail offers cultural tourists a complete guide to a unique culinary experience, and we want you to join us. Head to the Mississippi Delta, which has been called "the most Southern place on earth" for its unique history, music, culture, and yes, its food. The Tamale Trail Tour will make stops in Clarksdale, Cleveland, and Rosedale. We'll visit with a handful of vendors in each locale. We will talk about the history of hot tamales in the area, get some lessons in making hot tamales, and, of course, eat some hot tamales.

Tour guide for this event will be Amy Evans, the oral historian for the Southern Foodways Alliance and chief architect of the Tamale Trail. Food & Wine named Amy one of the "top 35 under 35" to watch, and her interviews with Doe's Eat Place in Greenville recently won the Elbert R. Hilliard Oral History Award. The Hilliard award was established last year by the Mississippi Historical Society to recognize outstanding work in oral history, and is named for the retired head of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for his diligent support of the medium.

This Tamale Trek is sponsored by the Southern Foodways Alliance and the Office of Outreach at the University of Mississippi. Registration cost is $75 per person. The fee includes bus transportation, presentations and, of course, tamales.

To register, please visit http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/events/tamale_trail/ or email Mary Beth Lasseter, marybeth@olemiss.edu

ANNUAL TAMALE CONTEST CANCELLED

World Championship Hot Tamale Contest organizer, Frank Carlton, has announced the end of the annual competition. From his letter to former contestants:

For twelve years I have sponsored a Hot Tamale Contest because I figured that this unique delicacy deserved public recognition. During this time, by your participation, you have assisted in this endeavor.

Frankly, I had hoped that last year would be a breakout year and that the contest would generate enough support that it could, in the near future, be partially self-sustaining. Such was not the case. You're probably aware that the local paper didn't even bother to print the results.

Since that time I have struggled with the decision to try one more time or not. Or not wins out. It is with real regret that I take this means of informing you that I'm not going to sponsor another Hot Tamale Championship. I really should take the money and buy each of you a large trophy because you are all winners. I appreciate your participation and support and wish you well.

Best personal regards,

Frank

The competition was to happen in Greenville in late July. While we cannot revive this year's contest, the Southern Foodways Alliance hopes to find a similar way to celebrate the tradition of tamale making in the Mississippi Delta, bringing tamale makers and vendors together for an exciting event. We will post announcements about any future plans right here, so keep checking back.