The following businesses are whipping up fresh tamales in small, handcrafted batches in Bend.

Read on to learn where to find this dish wrapped in corn husks and a whole lot of love.

The Saucy Senorita

Yolanda Fisher, a server and manager at Tumalo Feed Company, struggled when her employer repeatedly closed due to the pandemic.

So her daughter, Meagan Bakker, launched “The Saucy Senorita” Facebook page and Fisher also started making tamales.

“It just blew up. So many people wanted tamales. So I told my husband, ‘I think we should get a (food) truck because I think there’s a calling for it. People — especially in Bend — need some authentic Mexican food,” Fisher said.

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“My therapist at the time found that I got my best relief out of being in the kitchen cooking and that’s what I love to do. So I turned it into a business.”

Fisher established The Saucy Senorita food truck in 2021. She parked it outside a pub for several years, but business proved inconsistent, and the hours were needlessly long. She pivoted her business and is now focusing on tamale pickups and bringing the truck to events.

Fisher sells made-to-order pork, chicken, jalapeno cheese and chorizo jalapeno tamales by the dozen for $25, available for pick-up at her residence in northeast Bend. Customers may order a dozen with either one or two flavors by contacting Fisher at 541-678-1586 or on Facebook.

The Saucy Senorita; Contact for pick-up address; $25 per dozen; 541-678-1586, “The Saucy Senorita” on Facebook or @saucy_senorita_ on Instagram

Rawmona’s Kitchen

Karla Diaz Cano is the founder of Rawmona’s Kitchen, which offers traditional Mexican paletas (popsicles), cakes and other artisanal treats. Diaz Cano makes her products in small batches without the use of gluten, dairy, grain, soy, refined sugar, artificial colorings or flavorings.

She writes on her website, “We infuse our food with loads of love and a touch of magic, drawing inspiration from the deep connection to the Earth.”

On New Year’s Eve, Diaz Cano sold tamales in packs of six or a dozen with the following flavors: beef, chicken, plantain with cheese and beans, vegan plantain with beans, green peppers with cheese, vegan green peppers with corn and sweet berry.

In December, Diaz Cano unveiled a specialty flavor of tamale on her Instagram page: Mexican chocolate with pecans.

Diaz Cano offers a weekly tamale pickup. Those interested in placing an order may sign up for more information at rawmonaskitchen.com.

The price varies, but on average is $35 for a box of six, Diaz Cano said. Orders may be picked up at the Eagle Mountain Kitchen located by behind the Boot Barn on Third Street and NE Vail Avenue.

Rawmona’s Kitchen; Pickups on Thursdays; Eagle Mountain Kitchen behind Boot Barn, 2221 NE Third St., Bend; Prices vary; rawmonaskitchen.com, hello@rawmona.com, @rawmonaskitchen on Instagram

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Colima Market

Colima Market is a Mexican market owned by the Chávez Family at the intersection of Third Street and Greenwood in Bend. The market sells Mexican kitchen staples such as authentic cheeses, meats, spices and pastries.

Chicken, pork and jalapeno cheese tamales are available on Thursdays around noon until sold out, according to employee Eduardo Perez. Tamales are sold individually for the affordable price of $2.25 each. In Spanish, a single tamale is called a tamal, which comes from the Nahuatl word “tamalli.”

One customer who frequents the market said she enjoys all of the flavors and that sometimes sweet corn tamales are also available.

Colima Market: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; 228 NE Greenwood Ave. C, Bend; $2.25 per tamale; 541-617-9250

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Coming soon: Mama Fia’s Hottee Tamalee’s

Sophia Aquarius, a former assistant manager at Safeway, was working in the east Bend grocery store the evening of Aug. 28, 2022, when a gunman entered the store and killed two people.

Aquarius consequently struggled with survivor’s guilt and was unable to return to her position at Safeway.

She has since found relief in making tamales. Now an employee at UPS, Aquarius is nearing completion of a restaurant managerial certification ahead of opening Mama Fia’s Hottee Tamalee’s.

“My therapist at the time found that I got my best relief out of being in the kitchen cooking, and that’s what I love to do. So I turned it into a business,” Aquarius said.

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Aquarius is a second-generation Mexican-American who was not taught how to speak Spanish as a child. She makes tamales to feel closer to who she is and where she came from, she said.

Aquarius plans to complete her certification by Thursday and to have her business up and running within the next few months. Her website is live, complete with a menu of eight options, priced at $10-$12 for three tamales.

Mama Fia’s Hottee Tamalee’s; Opening soon; $10-$12 for three tamales; hotteetamalee.com, 541-420-3603 or “Hottee Tamalees” on Facebook