Tamale Guy | |
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Born | Claudio Velez c. 1964 [1] [2] |
Website |
www |
Claudio Velez, often referred to as the Tamale Guy, [2] [3] Authentic Tamale Guy [4] or the Tamale Man, [5] is a cook and mobile caterer of tamales in Chicago. [6] Originally from Acapulco, Mexico, [1] Velez has a longstanding reputation in the city's North Side nightlife as a food provider outside and inside of clubs, bars, and other establishments open late at night. [7] [8] He has been called "Santa Claus for the drunk and hungry" [9] and sells up to 250 pork, chicken or cheese tamales a night. [10] A mobile app through a Twitter account was developed by a customer intended to help others track his location across the city. [11] [12]
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with bars closed to the public, Velez began testing home delivery, [13] [14] and by April 2020, neighborhood groups were placing large orders for tamales. [15] By August 13 [1] Velez had opened a restaurant, which due to popularity had customers waiting in a line 10 blocks long on opening day. [16] On August 29, media reported that Velez had contracted COVID-19 and was on a ventilator. [16] [17] On October 1, he had recovered and a GoFundMe fundraiser for his medical bills had raised tens of thousands of dollars. [18] While Velez was hospitalized a Naperville brewery named a limited edition beer after him. [19] [20] Velez later closed his restaurant and moved into shared spaces, first at Lone Wolf in the West Loop, and then in Bangers & Lace, and in 2022 again to a new Logan Square bar called Quality Time. [21]
Tamale Guy | |
---|---|
Born | Claudio Velez c. 1964 [1] [2] |
Website |
www |
Claudio Velez, often referred to as the Tamale Guy, [2] [3] Authentic Tamale Guy [4] or the Tamale Man, [5] is a cook and mobile caterer of tamales in Chicago. [6] Originally from Acapulco, Mexico, [1] Velez has a longstanding reputation in the city's North Side nightlife as a food provider outside and inside of clubs, bars, and other establishments open late at night. [7] [8] He has been called "Santa Claus for the drunk and hungry" [9] and sells up to 250 pork, chicken or cheese tamales a night. [10] A mobile app through a Twitter account was developed by a customer intended to help others track his location across the city. [11] [12]
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with bars closed to the public, Velez began testing home delivery, [13] [14] and by April 2020, neighborhood groups were placing large orders for tamales. [15] By August 13 [1] Velez had opened a restaurant, which due to popularity had customers waiting in a line 10 blocks long on opening day. [16] On August 29, media reported that Velez had contracted COVID-19 and was on a ventilator. [16] [17] On October 1, he had recovered and a GoFundMe fundraiser for his medical bills had raised tens of thousands of dollars. [18] While Velez was hospitalized a Naperville brewery named a limited edition beer after him. [19] [20] Velez later closed his restaurant and moved into shared spaces, first at Lone Wolf in the West Loop, and then in Bangers & Lace, and in 2022 again to a new Logan Square bar called Quality Time. [21]