A grandmother has delivered 800 tamales to frontliners after she had recovered from COVID-19. She promised the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center medical staff that she would bring them the delicacy if she survives the deadly disease.
In April, Margarita Montañez contracted coronavirus. She was hospitalized in Los Angeles and stayed there for 20 days while attached to a ventilator in the ICU. The healthcare workers treated her and fed her homemade tamales.
Delivers the promise she made
Because of that, the grandmother of 12 promised them that she would bring them the delicacy when she survives the disease. She delivered on her promise on Thursday. Within five days, she made 800 tamales to give them to the medical staff as a thank you gift.
Cindy, Montañez's daughter, told KTLA that while people might not remember her mom, the grandma remembers every single one of the staff. She noted that her mom appreciates every single one of them because of what they did to save her life.
Appreciating today's heroes
Apart from that, Montañez knows that the staff saves thousands of lives. For the grandma, the medical staff are heroes and they deserve the best tamales in the world. Cindy explained that her mom makes tamales every year.
She said that her mom's secret ingredient is that she makes them "with lots of love." Montañez told the outlet that she had stayed in the ICU for four days and appreciates the doctors and nurses, and their efforts.
Margarita Montañez, le prometió al personal médico de un hospital en California que si sobrevivía al coronavirus les llevaría tamales para Navidad. Hoy, tras superar el mal, cumple su promesa con 800 tamales. ❤️ https://t.co/Oaazsxmn6Y
— Cedars-Sinai (@CedarsSinai) December 19, 2020
Increasing number of cases
According to the L.A. Public Health on December 19, the county had surpassed 600,000 cases as many people continue to be hospitalized. The county reported additional 60 new deaths and 13,756 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Based on a New York Times database, there are more than 17,701,500 people in the U.S. who have contracted the deadly virus as of December 20. Based on the same data, at least 316,300 people who caught the virus have died.
What are tamales?
Tamales originate as a Mesoamerican dish that dates back to 8,000 to 5,000 BCE. Its name came from the root word "tamalli" which means wrapped. The delicacy is usually made from a starchy, corn-based "masa" or dough.
More often, people wrap tamales in corn husks then steam them. Served hot, tamales is best with spicy salsas drizzled on top. Across Mexico, street vendors sell it morning, noon, and night, even though they are usually served for breakfast.
Besides Mexico, tamales are also famous across Latin America, the Caribbean, the Philippines, and the U.S. Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama also noted that it is her favorite food.
In the Oaxaca region of Mexico, tamales have a different variant called "tamales oaxaquenos." Natives wrap their tamales in banana leaves instead of using corn husk. They prepare a sweeter and wetter dough than the others, with hundreds of different filling options.
