Pass-a-Dozen Tamales: 75 Years to Get to Central

Imagine the small North Louisiana delta town of Newellton in the 1940’s — before television, the Internet, and life as we know it.
Every evening, an elderly black man would walk the streets selling the hot tamales he and his wife Bessie made in their two-room shack.
Tamale Dan, as the people called him, was a welcome sight around dusk when Mama hadn’t made supper. The children would come running, “Mama, mama, Tamale Dan’s walking up the street! Can we have some? Can we?”
The secret recipe that made believers out of the townspeople was almost lost forever, because when Dan and Bessie Harris died, they left no children.
Fortunately, Verdie Robinson Pass’s sister was Miss Bessie’s godchild. One day the sister brought Miss Bessie a black hat she wanted, and Miss Bessie wrote down the tamale recipe for her!
That’s why Pass-a-Dozen Tamales has opened in Central — to help keep Tamale Dan’s secret recipe and bless people with something they will really love.
Wanda Pass is owner of Pass-a-Dozen, located in the Oak Point Shopping Center at the corner of Greenwell Springs and Sullivan roads. They are open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until the tamales are gone!
On Saturday, Wanda goes to Magnolia Methodist Church’s Farmers Market, where she sells tamales from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until the tamales are sold!
Miss Stephanie Alfred-Gant is marketing director for Wanda, and Wanda’s mother Verdie Robinson Pass helps out when she can. Miss Pass is a former teacher at Southern University.
In the 1940’s, Tamale Dan sold his tamales for 15 to 20 cents a dozen. Dan and Bessie were frugal and saved their money. Finally, they had made enough to build themselves country house — some called it a mansion — thanks to the wonderful recipe and hard work Dan and Bessie put into their business.
You might just love Dan’s tamales too! Go by Pass-a-Dozen at 14415 Greenwell Springs Road, Suite G, and try for yourself. If you’d like to call first, call 225-335-7804.
— Woody Jenkins