Jordan Sollitto plays Santa for Tijuana’s City of Angels Children’s Project. The family’s annual Christmas fundraising party is a victim of the pandemic, but residents can still order the Sollittos’ famous tamales and posole.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still very much upon us, many are wondering how to make the holidays merry.
The Sollitto family of San Marino is pretty sure that Mexican tamales and posole are the perfect prescription to ward off pandemic-induced holiday blues.
Jordan and Yolanda Sollitto, whose son Jordan Jr. is a sophomore at Pasadena City College and daughter Bella is a senior at San Marino High School, have been opening their home for friends and neighbors to enjoy their homemade tamales and Mexican posole — a hearty hominy and chicken soup — for nearly three decades. The event has grown to standing-room-only proportions.
“The first year we made maybe 30 tamales for 10 or so friends,” recalled Jordan Sollitto. “Over time, we found that pretty much everyone we know loves tamales, so we invited more and more friends and neighbors. For the last several years we have made well over 1,000 beef, chicken, cheese, sweet corn and even pumpkin tamales. It’s really taken on a life of its own.”
Ten years ago, the family began using the popular event as a means of soliciting donations for an orphanage located near Yolanda Sollitto’s childhood home in Tijuana. Guests who attended the event were offered the opportunity to make a contribution if they wished.
“The response was really gratifying,” Yolanda said of the funds raised. “The generosity of our guests has enabled us to provide really significant help to an organization that literally saves children’s lives.”
For many years, the Sollitto family has traveled to spend Christmas Day with the children at the orphanage and deliver the much-needed contributions.
As with nearly everything in 2020, “Tamale-fest” will be different this holiday season. Instead of serving the food in party tents erected on their property for the occasion, the Solllittos will accept online orders for the tamales and posole and offer touchless curbside pickup at their home. A nominal charge will be assigned for each food item, with 100% of the money collected being turned over to the City of Angels Children’s Project in Tijuana.
Although pandemic-related restrictions will make their usual in-person visit impossible, Bella Sollitto said the need to help raise funds for the organization has never been greater. “Their revenues have taken a hit just like so many others because of COVID-19,” she explained. “They’ve probably never needed our help more than this year.”
Also missing this year will be the musical accompaniment typically provided at Tamale-fest by Sollitto, a folk singer of some renown, and fellow guitarist Jose Prieto.
Those who wish to order tamales or posole and thus provide crucial assistance to the City of Angels Children’s Project may send their email address to jsollitto@socal.rr.com to receive an online order form.
