Here’s a video from the Chow website that reminds me of the value of taking time and care — even with the simplest of foods. Now, you may find embedding flowers in a tortilla a little over the top, but I know from experience what a stunning difference finding the right corn variety and cooking and grinding it yourself can have on the flavor and texture of the humble tortilla (buying some fresh masa from a local tortilla factory and pressing it yourself makes a big difference too). There’s nothing like a tortilla made from freshly ground masa; it’s got a subtle pliability and earthy-sweet flavor you just can’t find in a stack of the store bought specimens.  It’s just a shame that even here in southern Idaho, with our substantial hispanic population, a homemade tortilla is as hard to find as rangeland without cheatgrass.
So, make your own. Â The only problem: once you do, it’s hard to go back.
And by the way, Evan Kleiman, who is featured in this video, hosts one of the most interesting food shows in radio. Â Simply called Good Food, it broadcasts weekly from KCRW in L.A. and is available via podcasts on iTunes.
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Guy Hand is a writer, public radio producer and photographer specializing in food and agriculture. |
