Food City brought together community members, home cooks and cultural traditions at its 23rd Annual Tamale Making Contest, celebrating the heritage of Sonoran cuisine and the role of food in bringing families together during the holiday season.
Held at Food City’s South Phoenix, Arizona, location, the annual event welcomed participants and spectators for a festive competition inspired by tamaladas – traditional gatherings where families prepare tamales together. This year’s contest showcased recipes passed down through generations, highlighting the deep cultural roots and personal stories behind each dish.
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 of the 2025 Food City Tamale Contest 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, a family recipe passed down through generations. Judges praised the dish for its balance, depth of flavor and traditional preparation. In recognition of her win, 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 deeply rooted family tradition and a way to stay connected to loved ones and cultural heritage. The recognition, she said, strengthens her dream of one day 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 the pair placed in the competition. Third-place finisher Rita Mesa showcased classic Sonoran flavors that honored Arizona’s regional food traditions.
Food City Brand Manager Carrie Strait noted that the annual contest reflects the retailer’s commitment to celebrating culture and community. “Tamale season is about more than food – it’s about coming together, sharing stories and preserving traditions that connect generations,” she said.
All participants received recognition for their craftsmanship, with support from the Arizona Pork Council and Food City, which provided ingredients and gift cards to encourage continued celebration of the tamale-making tradition.
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