tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post714141772187984542..comments2022-10-03T14:50:01.187+05:30Comments on Mentioned In Dispatches: Eating "nachos" in BangaloreManoj Govindanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12734036974316245850noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post-83322367884670698652013-09-19T14:00:22.988+05:302013-09-19T14:00:22.988+05:30Since we are on the topic of Tortillas, I decided ...Since we are on the topic of Tortillas, I decided to investigate how corn tortillas were more predominant in the US. Turns out that in Mexico and Central America the Corn (aka maize) version is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_tortilla" rel="nofollow">predominant</a>: <br /><br />In Mexico and Central America, a tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flat bread, made from finely ground maize (usually called "corn" in the United States). In Guatemala and Mexico, there are three colors of maize dough for making tortillas: white maize, yellow maize and blue maize (or black maize).<br /><br />Manoj Govindanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734036974316245850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post-1850785233208354642013-09-19T13:58:36.820+05:302013-09-19T13:58:36.820+05:30@Anonymous: you'll note that I'm talking s...@Anonymous: you'll note that I'm talking specifically about Nachos, otherwise known as Tortilla chips. Manoj Govindanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734036974316245850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post-23416383846708426982013-09-19T13:54:49.839+05:302013-09-19T13:54:49.839+05:30@Anonymous: I can dig up definitions too: Tortiall...@Anonymous: I can dig up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortilla_chip" rel="nofollow">definitions</a> too: Tortialla Chips aka Nachos: <br /><br />A tortilla chip (/tɔrˈtiː.ə tʃɪp/, Spanish: [torˈtiʎa tʃip]) is a snack food made from <b>corn tortillas</b>, which are cut into wedges and then fried (alternatively they may be discs pressed out of corn masa then fried or baked). Corn tortillas are made of corn, vegetable oil, salt and water. Although first mass-produced in Los Angeles in the late 1940s,[1] tortilla chips are considered to be a Mexican food, known as tostados.[2] Though usually made of yellow corn (as pictured), they can also be made of white, blue, or red corn. <i>Some</i> manufacturers include many other ingredients including wheat and sugar and MSG.<br /><br />(Emphasis added)Manoj Govindanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734036974316245850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post-88519858730269410452013-09-19T13:37:57.442+05:302013-09-19T13:37:57.442+05:30A tortilla (or flour tortilla to differentiate it ...A tortilla (or flour tortilla to differentiate it from other uses of the word "tortilla") is a type of thin flatbread made from finely ground wheat flour. Originally derived from the corn tortilla (tortilla in Spanish means "small torta", or "small cake"), a bread of maize which predates the arrival of Europeans to the Americas, the wheat flour tortilla was an innovation after wheat was brought to the New World from Spain while this region was the colony of New Spain. It is made with an unleavened, water based dough, pressed and cooked like corn tortillas.<br /><br />Flatbread tortillas have been eaten for thousands of years in north, northwest and northeast Mexico, where they are a staple, as well as many southwestern US Native American tribes. More recently, other countries have begun producing them to serve the expatriate Mexican market and the growing demand for Mexican food, particularly in North America, Europe and Eastern Asia.<br /><br />Tortillas are commonly prepared with meat to make dishes such as tacos, burritos (a dish originating in northern Mexico), and enchiladas. Tortillas are also used to make baleadas, a typical dish from Honduras.<br /><br />In appearance and use tortillas are rather similar to the South Asian chapati. Tortillas are also very similar to the unleavened bread popular in Arab, eastern Mediterranean and southern Asian countries, though thinner and smaller in diameter. In China, there is the laobing (烙餅), a pizza-shaped thick "pancake" that is similar to the tortilla. The Indian Roti, which is made essentially from wheat flour is another example.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post-53126147863387038732013-09-19T01:24:11.351+05:302013-09-19T01:24:11.351+05:30@Anonymous: checked again, including some of my f...@Anonymous: checked again, including some of my friends and corn seems to be the ubiquitous flavour. I'm finding your claim of "always wheat" hard to believe.Manoj Govindanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734036974316245850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post-10777791992913668922013-09-19T01:06:49.660+05:302013-09-19T01:06:49.660+05:30@Anonymous: I based my observation on my experienc...@Anonymous: I based my observation on my experience and <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_nachos_made_of" rel="nofollow">several</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachos" rel="nofollow">publicly</a> available definitions. All of these point to corn rather than wheat. <br /><br />Second, whenever I had nachos in southern US (never been to Mexico, sorry) as well as elsewhere in India the default was always corn. I've been asked if I wanted something different, but it was never assumed. <br /><br />Given this I find that my expectation runs contrary to the "always wheat" that you mention. <br /><br /><br />Manoj Govindanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734036974316245850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16889165.post-46756016193558219962013-09-18T17:21:18.766+05:302013-09-18T17:21:18.766+05:30I am Mexican and burrito and taco shells are alway...I am Mexican and burrito and taco shells are always made of wheat so you should do a little research before you attack something, it makes you sound very ignorantAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com