Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales
As a frequenter of Long Beach farmer’s markets, I often found myself gravitating to the Bixby Park Local Harvest Farmers Market located in Bluff Park. The proximity to the beach’s bike path, the eccentric characters who visit the place, and the selection of food vendors—it keeps me coming back. As a regular here, I rarely skip an opportunity to swing by the Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales booth for a delicious dinner.
Based in Pacoima, Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales claims first place as tamal making champions with awards from the Los Angeles International Tamales Festival, Indio Festival, and People’s Choice. It was started by the Ortega Family in 1999 as a restaurant which eventually grew into a massive tamales facility. Using a closely guarded recipe originating from Puerto Vallarta, these tamales are stunning in both flavor and texture.
With a selection of tamal including beef, pork, chicken, corn, pineapple, vegetables, and chile cheese, Me Gusta manages to keep my interest with a different tamal experience every time I visit. The masa is fluffy, nutty, and aromatic, perfectly blanketing the filling. I’m a particular fan of the pork tamal which is savory and unctuous. The chicken tamal is no slouch either, which is stuffed with moist and tender chicken. And for dessert? They have a sweet pineapple tamal which marries sweet corn with a tropical zing. As for the accoutrements, they have a red and green salsa. The red is bold and carries a nice heat, while the green is bright and zesty.
They’re a regular at the Bixby Park Local Harvest Farmers Market. So, make it a point to head over there on Tuesday evenings and grab a tamal or two. Or three. Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales will be a vendor at the upcoming Long Beach International Tamales Festival on December 5th. Be sure to head over to the LB Home Living website and purchase a ticket today!
