John Harth named second tamale judge

By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Special to the NEWS

It’s tamale season here in the Rio Grande Valley, and John Harth, a long-time winter visitor originally from Chicago IL, says he’s eager to judge the best of the best among local tamale makers at the forthcoming, sixth annual San Benito News “Best Tamales in Town” contest!

Harth, who is 85 years young, said he spent his professional career working in the foundry business. Although he didn’t make his way to Texas until later in life, Harth was no stranger to the delicacy for which South Texas is infamous. He said, “In our foundry business, we had inspectors. One inspector, a lady from Mexico,” helped teach him and his coworkers how tamales were made (and enjoyed).

Ten to 15 of us would get in a line,” said Harth, “starting at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon…we’d be in a small area—a basement with a kitchen, wet bar, etc.—and we would cook the pork and masa. By midnight or 1 o’clock, we would have the tamales. It’s a labor of love to make those things.”

Of all varieties of tamales, Harth said his favorite are pork because “they tend to be not so dry.” Comparatively, he mentioned that he also enjoys the desert variety. He recollected, when making tamales with coworkers, “We’d always make a few of the sweet ones too.”

Harth knows a thing or two about South Texas cuisine. He said, “I have been a judge/taster before, at the San Benito fair grounds, (judging) beans and ribs and brisket.” Regarding this year’s competition, he said, “I can’t wait to judge the contest!”

He and his wife, Jean, have been happily married for 61 years. The Harths have two sons, both of whom are attorneys, like their mother. For over 20 years, the Harth’s have spent part of their year living at Fun-N-Sun RV Resort in San Benito. While traveling, “We met some people on the beach in Corpus Christi who were from Michigan. They introduced us to Fun N Sun … and we have been here (about) 22 years now. We do go to Northern Wisconsin in the summertime.”

He added, “We’re what you call Winter Texans.”

For John Harth, the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without baking treats for his loved ones. He said he recently “just made four fruitcakes and shipped them to my daughter-in-law, who is from Costa Rica.” Harth said she’ll take them with her when she visits Costa Rica this Christmas. He also wanted to share that he feels the Valley produces “the best oranges in the country.”

As always, everyone from the community is invited to bring one dozen of their best tamales to the office, located on 356 N. Sam Houston Blvd. in San Benito by or before noon on Friday, December 16 for their chance to win bragging rights and the coveted title of “Best Tamales in Town.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/12/12/tamale-judge/

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