I learned that lesson many years ago. We love tamales with taco salad and I was unable to find any fresh so I though how bad can the canned version be, after all they ARE still tamales right?
WRONG!!!
Since then when I can't get fresh I have Chinese food and do the Mexican food later.....
I remember about 10 years back there was an old green panel truck that would park on the side of HWY 225 in front of the Shell Plant. It was an elderly Mexican couple that was selling the tamales they made at home. I was reluctant to get them for obvious reasons. One night I was on Graveyards and I was desperate for some fresh tamales so I decide to take a chance. They were FAAAAABULOUS!!! Best I ever had even in Mexico. They made chicken and beef and you could get either in regular or spicy.
I got up the next day I went by there and bought all they had of every kind and put 'em in the freezer. Buy the time I used 'em up (which wasn't very long) they weren't there any more. I never saw them again. Sigh............