Meet Legendary Chef Claudio Vélez : The Legendary Tamalero From Chicago
Famous Chicago Tamale Guy to Open Restaurant in Ukrainian Village
““I am very excited, especially with everyone who helped make this dream possible,” Velez said in Spanish. “This has always been my dream.””
Chicago’s Tamalero seen here standing proud of his tamales. | Photo: Claudo Velez
After almost thirty years in the tamale hustle, Claudio Velez, respectfully known across Chicago as the “Tamale Guy,” is opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village. The establishment might open as early as August at 2018 W Chicago Ave according to Pierre Vega, Velez’s business partner.
Pierre Vega and Claudio Velez in their new kitchen. | Photo: Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago
In an interview with Block Club Chicago, Vega said “He’s been super, super excited… He’s just ready to get back to work, to start making tamales again. We’ll be able to feed all the hungry, hungry people some tamales.”
Pierre Vega had been a longtime customer of Velez’s tamales and said that the choice of going into business with Velez was to help him achieve his lifelong dream of having his own restaurant. The storefront was leased in July of this year and will replace Whisk, a brunch joint that was shut down earlier this year.
The line was about 40 deep as customers waited for an hour. | Photo: Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago
Originally from the Acapulco region of Mexico, Velez launched his tamale enterprise as a salesman for an older tamale maker in the city. Velez’s skill was hands down no match for his competition. Other tamale vendors could only sell a couple dozen tamales in the time it would take Velez to sell about a hundred dozen. Seeing his unique skill, the older gentleman passed on his tamale recipe to Velez and, after three years, let Velez take over the business.
Claudio Velez, aka the Tamale Guy, became popular for selling his tamales at bars during the late night hours. | Photo: Nolan Wells / Chicago Tribune / circa. 2009
There’s no doubt, Velez is a legend among Chicagoans and bar patrons around the city who know him by his iconic red cooler and always warm tamales. With the coronavirus halting bar service across the city, Velez took a big hit to his income. To try and workaround the economic difficulties, Velez attempted to adapt his business model to home delivery, but in May, the city hit him with a cease-and-desist letter. To aid him, Chicagoans united to raise more than $34,000 via a GoFundMe fundraiser, money that will allow him to open up and launch a physical location.
Claudio Velez, on a wheelchair after being treated for covid, is applauded as he’s released from Rush University Medical Center on Thursday October 1, 2020. | Photo: Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune
The opening of the physical location will hopefully help Velez take his tamale dream to the next level. Vega’s wife, Kristin Vega, will help manage the front of the house while Vega and Velez will focus on the back end. Pierre Vega is a pastry chef by trade and is experimenting trying out new tamale fillings to expand the choices for customers. According to a recent interview, Vega plans on using strawberries and honey-infused cream to create a sweet tamale. In a similar way, Velez plans to import Costa Rican banana leaves in hopes of creating Oaxacan style tamales, tamales traditionally wrapped in banana leaves while cooking. Currently, there are no tamales like this in Chicago, according to Velez.
Velez pictured here after securing his bags. | Photo: Claudio Velez
Velez has grown as a cook and expanded his business savviness. Beyond tamales, Velez wants to bring traditional Acapulco dishes to the city, such as the braised beef taco recipe his mother used to make. With the inception of a brick and mortar establishment, Velez is also looking forward to catering large parties such as weddings and quinceaneras.
The legendary story of the Chicago Tamalero continues.