It’s almost Christmas, which means it’s time for tamales

Try not to get distracted by the piñatas. Or the exotic spice rack. Or the banner of paper flags and pop art style Dia De Los Muertos paintings. Focus: Christmas is only two weeks away and you have come here today to place your order for tamales, not shop.

Tamales, a Mexican dish of wrapped cornmeal dough filled with meat or vegetables, are a traditional favorite for holidays, especially Christmas. At La Borinquena Mexi-catessen and Specialty Shop, a family-owned business that has been open since 1944, tamales are a regular feature on the menu—made with six different fillings, including vegan and vegetarian options—but it is during the holidays that they sell out the most. “You can eat them year-round,” said Tina “Tamale” Ramos, but “Christmas week especially we probably sell one-thousand dozens of prepared tamales.”  So, if you’re planning on serving some tamales at your Christmas dinner, Ramos recommends you place an order beforehand (in fact, she starts taking Christmas orders the day after Thanksgiving) because yes, they taste just that good.