David Hammond wrote:Yellow cart advertising "Delta tamales" spotted on Central this evening. Regretfully, did not stop (I wasn't driving, of course).
Thanks very much for letting us know about your sighting. It's especially important because this cart may be the only current source for Yoland Cannon's tamales. I'll discuss the cart in a bit but first here's an update on the other places that sold Yoland's Delta-style tamales.
PIGMON and I toured the West Side today looking for tamales. J's Fresh Meats (5615 W Madison) is out of business, replaced by M & S Food Mart. They don't carry tamales.
Happy Dog Avenue (5614 W Chicago) was another source for Yoland's tamales. Comparing this current picture with the one earlier in this thread, you'll notice the "Mississippi Hot Tamales" sign has been removed from the window. They stated they no longer sell them.
Quench (5815 W Madison) was yet another source. In keeping with Quench's "no beef, no pork" policy they sold only the turkey version but they aren't available any longer.
Heading north on Central past Chicago, it's tough to miss the big yellow and red sign standing next to a color coordinated tamale cart. I think this is exactly the same sign I spotted a year and a half ago at the abandoned shack on Chicago near Laramie (see the very first picture in this thread). It's a beautiful little cart that would be very much at home in the Mississippi Delta.
We chatted with the nice young woman running the cart. She confirmed they were indeed Yoland's tamales and told us she'd been at the cart only a couple weeks.
Opening the package there was no doubt they were Yoland's. It's great having them back again and especially nice to know there's an authentic Delta tamale cart on the streets of Chicago.