XTRAS: Hot Tamales & The Blues

On August 26, 2011, a ceremony was held in front of Joe’s Hot Tamale Place in Rosedale, MS, to unveil marker #138 on the Mississippi Blues Trail: Hot Tamales and The Blues. This is the first culinary marker in the state of Mississippi.

Tamale Marker Joe's — The Hot Tamale & The Blues historical marker in front of Joe’s Hot Tamale Place in Rosedale, MS. Photo by Amy Evans.

We began documenting Delta tamales in 2005 and created the Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail to celebrate the history and tradition of this culinary icon of the region. We interviewed Barbara Pope of Joe’s Hot Tamale Place and dedicated the project to her late brother, Joe Pope, who passed away in 2004.

It was a great day for the Delta and the state of Mississippi. We couldn’t be more proud.

Tamale marker_group — Barbara Pope of Joe’s White Front (center, blue shirt), Amy Evans of the SFA (center, white shirt), Senator Willie Simmons (right of marker, white shirt), Alex Thomas of the MS Blues Commission (left of marker, black shirt), Luther Borwn of Delta State’s Center for Culture and Learning (left of Alex Thomas), and representatives of the MS Blues Commission and Bolivar County attended the marker ceremony. Photo courtesy of Amy Evans.

Go here for more information on the Mississippi Blues Trail.