America’s fancification and appropriation of simple, traditional foods – especially “ethnic foods” – reached another milestone with the news that Dallas-based retailer Neiman Marcus is now selling gourmet tamales on its website at a pretty astounding price — six dozen for $92, plus $18 for shipping. That’s $110 for 72 tamales.

How have we made it this far without Neiman Marcus tamales? For years, we’ve been relying on handmade tamales from our tías and primas like peasants, unaware that luxury tamales were just a click and a payday away.

The luxury tamales made headlines in outlets ranging from the Dallas Morning News to GQ. My San Antonio called it “an outright food foul,” taking this “usually affordable, traditional dish” and tacking on “an outrageous price tag.”

But is it really at all surprising that a luxury retailer is trying to make a buck off our people’s food and culture?

Neiman Marcus is the type of place where you can expect to see a Mexican-inspired jacket, such as this one, retailing for more than $300.

Given the propensity for corporations from around the world to try and capitalize off other people’s cultures, it really isn’t too surprising that Neiman Marcus would launch a line of luxury tamales.

Now the Dallas-based luxury retailer is once again offering up ‘luxury yet tradition’ with their ‘handmade’ tamales.

The tamales come in beef, chicken and pork flavors.https://t.co/LgsERMqucH

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) January 1, 2021

Although news of the tamales has once again shocked many of us, it isn’t exactly new. It was in 2016 when Neiman Marcus first started offering these highbrow tamales and even then it made headlines. And it’s easy to see why.

An order of six dozen Neiman Marcus tamales will set you back $92, plus shipping. Neiman Marcus tamales might look like regular tamales, but they’re actually very expensive and fancy. They are “handmade from a traditional recipe of fresh stone-ground corn, top-quality meats, lard, spices, and natural flavorings.” Can the food truck by your office honestly claim that its meats are top-quality? Or is your mama using luxury masa?! 

At six dozen (72 total if you’re too lazy to do the math), the $92 price tag isn’t totally off the mark, especially if they’re truly handmade. Anyone who has helped make tamales during the holidays knows that it’s not only time-consuming, it also takes a bit of practice. (And if you screw up too often, you’ll be roasted for it by your mom and tías).

They’re only available in beef, chicken and pork. Sorry, folks, no rajas. Unfortunately for Neiman Marcus customers, they’ll never experience what it’s like to unwrap a tamal, bite into it and realize it’s a random tamal de dulce that got mixed in with a different batch. 

But wait, there’s more! You can also order an “Enchilada Dinner” for $72.

Neiman Marcus didn’t stop with the tamales. Shoppers can also order flautas and enchiladas. In fact, for $72, plus $18 shipping, you get 12 enchiladas: six with beef and six with chicken.

Yup, Neiman Marcus is asking people to pay $90 for 12 enchiladas.

Just curious as to how many people are actually paying these white people prices to get their hands on traditional Mexican foods?

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There are a few moments when our dreams are actualized. For Daniela Villegas, that time is now. The Mexican engineering student earned a spot in a NASA program with her brains. Then, the community came together and raised the money she needed to follow her dream.

Daniela Villegas is a Mexican engineering student chasing her dreams.

Hola, soy una de las 60 personas seleccionadas a nivel mundial para participar en el INTERNATIONAL AIR AND SPACE PROGRAM de la NASA 🚀 Necesito recaudar más de $3,500 dólares para cubrir el costo del programa. ¿Me ayudarías difundiendo?💙🚀#DanielaVillegasNASA pic.twitter.com/Y6yrNy5Jf6

— Daniela Villegas (@dvillegass) December 8, 2020

Villegas is one of 60 people in the world chosen to participate in the International Air and Space Program. The program is a major educational opportunity for students in engineering and aerospace studies. Now that she has been chosen, it is time for her to pay the money in order to attend.

An online community came together and raised the money she needed to get to the NASA program.

✨¡LLEGAMOS A LA META!✨

Gracias a cada persona que dono y que difundió la información e hizo que este sueño este más cerca de ser realidad.

🚨 Espero me ayuden difundiendo la noticia para que esta llegue a los oídos de todas aquellas personas que donaron y estaban por hacerlo. pic.twitter.com/fRHWLTkosK

— Daniela Villegas (@dvillegass) December 19, 2020

What a wonderful moment for the young woman, and Mexicans everywhere. After all, when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. We are all here rooting for you, Daniela. You can do it, mija!

Villegas is bringing so much pride to Mexico and Mexicans around the world.

¡Gracias!🚀✨ https://t.co/VBpsJgm3qk

— Daniela Villegas (@dvillegass) December 9, 2020

Daniela Villegas is studying mechatronics engineering, which is a specialized engineering field. Mechatronic engineering is where mechanical, electrical, computer and robotics engineering come together. Mechatronic engineers are the ones who help to create all of the smart technologies that we use almost every day to make our lives easier.

The TecNM – Instituto Tecnológico de Hermosillo student needs our help and we can make her dream happen.

Sin duda alguna en compartir mi contenido para llegar a más personas🥺 Mi cuenta bancaria es la siguiente por si gustas apoyar con una aportación, todo es bien recibido y es de gran ayuda❤️

También tengo cuenta de PayPal:
danielavillegas6307@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/Hnv4Dpqn6J

— Daniela Villegas (@dvillegass) December 16, 2020

TecNM – Instituto Tecnológico de Hermosillo is located in the middle of the state of Sonora. Villegas raised $3,500 to get to the program in Huntsville, Alabama, and any little bit helped. It also wouldn’t be bad if she raised more so she can fully enjoy her time in the program making the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

READ: A Mexican Teenager Was The First Minor In 100 Years To Be Accepted Into A Post-Graduate Program At Harvard

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