Tamale Guy Explained
Tamale Guy |
Birth Name: | Claudio Velez |
Birth Place: | Acapulco |
Claudio Velez, often referred to as the Tamale Guy,[1] [2] Authentic Tamale Guy[3] or the Tamale Man,[4] is a cook and mobile caterer of tamales in Chicago.[5] Originally from Acapulco, Mexico,[6] Velez has a longstanding reputation in the city's North Side nightlife as a food provider outside and inside of clubs, bars, and other establishments open late at night.[7] [8] He has been called "Santa Claus for the drunk and hungry"[9] and sells up to 250 pork, chicken or cheese tamales a night.[10] A mobile app through a Twitter account was developed by a customer intended to help others track his location across the city.[11] [12]
2020 events
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with bars closed to the public, Velez began testing home delivery,[13] [14] and by April 2020, neighborhood groups were placing large orders for tamales.[15] By August 13[6] Velez had opened a restaurant, which due to popularity had customers waiting in a line 10 blocks long on opening day.[16] On August 29, media reported that Velez had contracted COVID-19 and was on a ventilator.[16] [17] On October 1, he had recovered and a GoFundMe fundraiser for his medical bills had raised tens of thousands of dollars.[18] While Velez was hospitalized a Naperville brewery named a limited edition beer after him.[19] [20] Velez later closed his restaurant and moved into shared spaces, first at Lone Wolf in the West Loop, and then in Bangers & Lace, and in 2022 again to a new Logan Square bar called Quality Time.[21]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Selvam . Ashok . Naomi . Waxman . 2021-07-29 . The Saga of Chicago 'Tamale Guy' Claudio Velez . 2021-11-23 . Eater Chicago . en . May 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528131933/https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/29/22600181/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-chicago-bar-food-vendor . live .
- Web site: 2012-03-15 . Meet Chicago's Tamale Guy . 2020-01-06 . Social Hospitality . en-US . May 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200524112103/https://socialhospitality.com/2012/03/chicago-tamale-guy/ . live .
- News: Syska . Justyna . 2021-09-30 . Chicago 'Tamale Guy' feeds city's bar scene . 2021-11-23 . ABC7 Chicago . en . September 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210930181132/https://abc7chicago.com/11057380/ . live .
- Web site: Helm . Eliza . 2016-11-08 . An Interview With Chicago's Dive Bar Hero, the Tamale Man . 2020-01-06 . Thrillist . May 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200522211757/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/chicago/tamale-man-chicago-dive-bars-claudio-velez-interview . live .
- 2014-09-17 . Welcome to Chicago: Now Officially the Greatest Drinking City in America . 2021-11-23 . . en-US . May 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230517132902/https://www.gq.com/gallery/chicago-officially-the-greatest-place-in-america-to-drink . live .
- Web site: Garcia . Evan . October 17, 2020 . Chicago Portrait: Tamale Guy . 2021-01-19 . WTTW News . en . January 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125205519/https://news.wttw.com/2020/08/18/chicago-portrait-tamale-guy . live .
- News: Dadayan . Doris . 26 January 2012 . Hot on the trail of Tamale Guy . 2 February 2016 . . October 6, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161006060352/http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2012-01-26/entertainment/30667913_1_tamales-tweets-facebook-page . live .
- News: Casillas . Ofelia . 1 April 2009 . 'Tamale Guy' an icon at bars where kitchens close early . 2 February 2016 . . November 19, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171119173513/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-04-01/news/0903300251_1_kitchens-bars-icon . dead .
- News: Morgridge . Dan . 2012-01-20 . Best Chicago Drunk Junk Food . 2020-01-06 . CBS Chicago . en-US . August 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200808010842/https://chicago.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-chicago-drunk-junk-food/ . live .
- News: Casillas . Ofelia . April 2009 . All a-Twitter over 'Tamale Guy' . 2020-02-01 . . en-US . February 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200201005049/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-04-01-0903300251-story.html . live .
- News: 28 February 2009 . Tracking the Tamale Guy . 2 February 2016 . WBEZ . Chicago Public Media.
- News: Gardner . Kyla . 14 April 2015 . Is Running Into The Tamale Guy a Religious Experience? Yes, Yelpers Say . 2 February 2016 . DNAInfo . November 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116024204/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150414/bucktown/is-running-into-tamale-guy-religious-experience-yes-yelpers-say . dead .
- Web site: Selvam . Ashok . 2020-03-27 . As Bars Stay Closed, Chicago's Legendary Tamale Guy Tests Home Delivery . 2020-03-28 . Eater Chicago . en . March 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200328122437/https://chicago.eater.com/2020/3/27/21197096/tamale-guy-chicago-delivery-covid-19-bars . live .
- News: Parrella-Aureli . Ariel . 2020-03-28 . Chicago's Iconic Tamale Guy Doing Deliveries — If You Can Track Him Down . 2020-03-29 . WBBM-AM . en . March 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200329171916/https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/chicagos-tamale-guy-doing-deliveries . live .
- News: Peña . Mauricio . 9 April 2020 . Neighborhood Groups Are Placing Big Orders To Help 'Tamale Guy' Get Through The Coronavirus Crisis . 2020-04-09 . Block Club Chicago . en-US . April 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200410003547/https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/04/09/neighborhood-groups-are-placing-big-orders-to-help-tamale-guy-through-the-coronavirus-crisis/ . live .
- News: Chu . Louisa . 29 August 2020 . Chicago's Tamale Guy, Claudio Velez, hospitalized with COVID-19 and placed on ventilator . 2020-09-01 . Chicago Tribune . August 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200830021628/https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-tamale-guy-claudio-velez-hospitalized-covid-19-20200829-pj3rkfnfczc3hjcmm7gfiwh6nu-story.html . live .
- Web site: Selvam . Ashok . 2020-08-31 . 'Tamale Guy' Claudio Velez Remains on Ventilator in Critical Condition . 2020-09-01 . Eater Chicago . en . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200903054611/https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/31/21408995/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-family-hospital-critical-chicago . live .
- News: Chu . Louisa . October 2020 . Chicago 'Tamale Guy' Claudio Velez discharged from hospital after more than a month due to COVID-19 . 2020-10-03 . Chicago Tribune . October 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201002200554/https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-tamale-guy-claudio-velez-rush-hospital-clap-out-20201001-nxotu36e75b4rbq3aywz47kc2i-story.html . live .
- News: 24 October 2020 . Naperville Brewery Names Limited-Edition Beer in Honor of Chicago 'Tamale Guy' . 2021-01-19 . NBC Chicago . en-US . January 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210119025802/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/naperville-brewery-names-limited-edition-beer-in-honor-of-chicago-tamale-guy/2358778/ . live .
- News: Guerrero . Rafael . 23 October 2020 . Solemn Oath releases limited-edition beer in honor of 'Tamale Guy' Claudio Velez . 2021-01-19 . Chicago Tribune . January 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210119065150/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-solemn-oath-tamale-guy-beer-st-1025-20201023-elv5yqx47nfkdf5a7cehlmtq3m-story.html . live .
- Web site: Bloom . Mina . June 29, 2022 . Quality Time Opens In Logan Square With Craft Cocktails, Tamales From The Tamale Guy . 6 December 2022 . Block Club Chicago . May 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529211319/https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/06/29/quality-time-opens-in-logan-square-with-craft-cocktails-tamales-from-the-tamale-guy/ . live .