Micro Mercantes

I really don’t have anything more to add to Cam T’s extremely detailed review. For $ 3, you can pick up a healthy sized tamale of the chicken, pork, jalapeño and cheese, spinach and cheese, or veggie persuasions. For $ 2.50, you can wash down your food with aquas frescas. For a little over a five spot, you get a hearty meal to fortify your morning at the Montavilla Farmers Market, as well as lend some assistance to an underprivileged class of women. It’s more than a simple stroke to your Western nation pity/​charity mindset. It’s a good meal that keeps on giving after you’ve stacked your empty plate in the plastic tub.
Now, I wish I’d been given the chicken tamale I asked for instead of the two veggie ones I was given. But that’s OK. Getting a different tamale than the one I asked for is a pretty petty non-​issue compared to the obstacles that an immigrant with limited monetary and communication capacities has to handle on a daily basis. Plus, those ladies can cook some mean tamales. Veggie me silly, por favor.

Sponsored by Hacienda Community Development Corporation, these little tamale stands at PDX-​area farmer’s markets are peopled by women from Mexico who are at or below the 60% median income level for their region. Hacienda CDC helps to train them as well as facilitate licensing procedures so that they can run their own businesses. Who thought snarfling scrumptious tamales & sweet drinks could rock your stomach & the world?
In fact, they were soooo good, Capt Hook was willing to forgo pie to make room for seconds. What? Who are you & what have you done with my husband?! Hey, we’re talking fluffy masa & tender pork wrapped around slivers of red peppers, zucchini, & carrots all snuggled up in a corn husk. Just $ 3 with the filling of your choice: chicken, pork, or green chile & cheese. Don’t forget the spicy salsa verde with a dab of sour cream for good measure. My personal fave tho is the watermelon juice filled with chunks of sweet juicy watermelon for $ 2.50. Not to worry, the word «water» is only associated with «watermelon» & in no way describes the luscious sweet melon-​y taste of this rosy thirst quencher.
Now the big question is, what am I going to do with my Sundays & where am I going to quench my tamale obsession once fall rears its clammy frigid overcast head? So get out there & make the world & your stummy a better place, one tamale at a time. [brap.]