TamalFest: Carlos Rosario culinary students will present Peruvian tamales
By hola | Published | No Comments
Miriam Perlacio says she heard about the TamalFest from one of her instructors at the Carlos Rosario School Culinary Arts Career Training Academy earlier this year and wanted to participate. So she got together with a couple of other students and formed a team. Perlacio and her schoolmates, Tahiti Monroe and Renee Moore, will represent the school at the festival this Sunday, April 19, 5-8 p.m., at St. Stephen’s Church in Columbia Heights.
They will make Peruvian-style tamales from a recipe of Perlacio’s. She’s originally from Peru, one of several countries from Mexico to Chile that have made and eaten tamales in different forms—and called by different names—for centuries. These will be tamales filled with pork, yellow chiles, Peruvian black olives, boiled eggs, yellow hot pepper paste and ali panca pepper paste, among other things, and wrapped in banana leaves.
While it’s a new tradition for Perlacio’s teammates, both say they are excited to give back to the Carlos Rosario community.
“When I started at the school last year, I was very excited to learn international culinary skills,” says Renee Moore, a student in the school’s Culinary Arts Fundamentals program. “So when I heard about the festival and contest, I thought I could give back what Carlos Rosario has given to me in learning these techniques. And now I’m working with members of the advanced class. I feel so important and proud.”
Chef Sebastien Lamerre, director of the Academy, who is on TamalFest’s organizing committee, says it makes sense for Carlos Rosario School to participate and he’s very proud of Moore, Monroe and Perlacio.
“Carlos Rosario has always been involved with the Hispanic community, so we are very happy to be participating in the TamalFest,” Lamerre says. “It’s always good to see students getting involved in the community. They have a chance to show off their skills and put what they’ve learned, so far, into action. It’s so nice to see them spread their wings.”
While they are excited to participate, the three students also have high hopes of taking home a prize at the TamalFest, where festival goers sample several different types of tamales and vote for their favorites.
“That’s why we’re competing—to win!” says Perlacio. “Yes we do!” (plan to win) chime in her teammates.
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