Yahritza y Su Esencia, Yakima and Mexican culture

Sitting at Los Hernandez Tamales feels familiar. When asked about their stay in Mexico City, Yahritza said she didn’t love the commotion of the city, and the kicker was older brother Armando mentioning that he preferred the Mexican food of Washington state, “where they really give it a seasoning that is spicy and tastes good,” he said. As a first generation child of Mexican parents, I related to their feeling of pride for where they grew up, and the backlash reminded me of the life-long feeling of being “ni de aquí, ni de allá.” But growing up in El Paso, a 10-minute drive from an international bridge, as opposed to 1,200 miles away in Yakima, felt a bit different. In 2018, Los Hernandez Tamales was awarded a prestigious James Beard America’s Classics award for being a staple in the community and for not only serving a traditional Mexican tamal but also for incorporating the nontraditional local ingredient. As you drive into town, you’re greeted with a sign that reads, “Yakima, the Palm Springs of Washington.” This valley desert is surrounded by rolling hills very similar to those in the California getaway-retirement town.