Santa Barbara Tamales To Go

Specialties

We make and deliver fresh tamales to homes and businesses in the Santa Barbara area

seven days a week.

History

Established in 2012.

Santa Barbara Tamales-​To-​Go is a local business that makes and delivers fresh handmade tamales to Santa Barbara area residents. The tamales may be ordered by phone and can be selected from six meat and non-​meat varieties shown on the company’s website at sbta​malestogo​.com. According to the firm’s owner, Richard Lambert, the idea for the business came from his own family. «We all love tamales, and I remember those occasions from childhood where tamales were a fun part of the celebration. Our company goal is to deliver traditional handmade tamales that reflect those special events in everyone’s life.»

Lambert says the recipes come from his family. «I’m a fifth generation Santa Barbaran, so we have lots of tamale making experience. I also worked with Mexico City’s Tamale Queen, Beatriz Ramirez, who helped us refine our preparation techniques.»

Meet the Business Owner

Richard L.

Business Owner

Richard Lambert is the owner and founder of Santa Barbara Tamales-​To-​Go. He is the firm’s executive chef and is the author of the cookbook, «Preheat to 350 Degrees.» Mr. Lambert is a 5^th generation Santa Barbaran whose great, great grandfather raised green beans along Lambert Road in Carpinteria.

After his 25 year career as an educational film maker, Mr. Lambert decided it was time to turn to his other passion, tamales. He traveled to Mexico City and studied with Beatriz Ramirez, Mexico’s noted «Tamale Queen.» Returning to Santa Barbara, he opened Santa Barbara Tamales-​To-​Go in June, 2012. Today, the traditional spices and flavor combinations in his company’s tamales reflect the old world recipes he learned in Mexico.

Mr. Lambert says his goal is to establish tamales as a year-​round food. He and his staff prepare and deliver tamales seven days a week to homes and businesses throughout the south coast.