That is the exact question that Dawn and I pondered each time we took the small trip along Ranch Road 12 between San Marcos and Wimberley. Surely, THIS is just good marketing? What the heck makes a tamale ‘gourmet?’ Yes, this is Jean’s Antique Mall & Gourmet Tamales.

Well, after a few months of saying “hmmm… we should check that out sometime,” I stopped in on the way home from work today. At first blush – it looks like these are NOT just any old tamales.

When you take a look at normal tamales (which I love) you have a roll of masa with a portion of meat in the center. Rather than a thin line of meat surrounded by all that starch, THESE tamales are a huge wad of meat with a thin layer of masa spread around. That, in itself, seems to make these better tamales. I haven’t tasted them yet, but I picked up a half dozen chicken and another half dozen pork variety. Their menu lists more than a dozen varieties such as beef, chipotle, etc.

I will have to let you know how they taste after we get a chance to put them on the table – but my first impression is that they are going to be pretty good.