Travis High School culinary students, culinary instructor at Travis High School Chef John Michael Osborne, and Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz invite media to join them at a tamalada at Travis High School on Thursday.

The last school day before the holiday break, culinary students will be completing the final assembly of hundreds of pork and chicken tamales. Community members interested in sampling the tamales can give a small contribution, which will go toward the culinary program.  Families are invited to this community-building event.

Tamalada, community gathering

When: 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec.18

Where: Travis High School, culinary dining room, 1211 East Oltorf Street

Background:Tamaladas, or tamale-making parties have been a tradition in many Latino families for generations. Multiple families and generations gather at Christmastime to cook, assemble, and eat the dish (tamales date back to pre-Columbian times). In a tamalada, everyone, from children to grandparents, have specific jobs. From cooking fillings to kneading masa and preparing wrappers, all members of the community play a part.