Food City brought together home cooks, cultural traditions and the community for its 23rd Annual Tamale Making Contest, celebrating the heritage of Sonoran cuisine and the role of food in family gatherings during the holiday season.
Held at Food City’s location in South Phoenix, Arizona, the annual event is inspired by tamaladas – traditional gatherings where families prepare tamales together – and showcases recipes passed down through generations.
The competition featured entries from home cooks representing a variety of regional and family traditions.
Judges from Food City, the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, the Greater Phoenix Chamber and Telemundo evaluated the tamales on flavor, texture, presentation and authenticity.
Winners included:
- First place: Oyuki Osuna;
- Second place: Dimas Toledo (with Hilda Larios); and
- Third place: Rita Mesa.
Osuna earned top honors for her Sonoran-style red chile and pork tamales. Judges praised the dish for its balance, depth of flavor and traditional preparation. Osuna received a $500 Food City gift card and a $1,000 credit from Mueblería Del Sol.
For Osuna, the competition represented more than a culinary win. She shared that tamale-making is a family tradition and a way to stay connected to loved ones and cultural heritage. The recognition, she said, strengthens her dream of opening her own food business.
Second-place winners Dimas Toledo and Hilda Larios impressed judges with their pork and red chile tamales wrapped in banana leaves, reflecting culinary traditions from Chiapas and Veracruz. Their entry marked the second consecutive year they placed in the competition.
Third-place finisher Rita Mesa showcased classic Sonoran flavors that honored Arizona’s regional food traditions.
“Tamale season is about more than food – it’s about coming together, sharing stories and preserving traditions that connect generations,” said Carrie Strait, Food City’s brand manager.
All participants were hailed for their craftsmanship, with support from the Arizona Pork Council and Food City, which provided ingredients and gift cards to encourage the tamale-making tradition.
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