Yeah… I know, it’s not a natural food. Not a product of nature.
But a few years ago I coined this phrase and it’s nonsensical aspect appeals to me.
The Tortilla!
The tortilla is such a perfect creation. Little flat bread circles of flour and corn. Ably serving as a tasty food delivery system in various capacities. The taco, the burrito, the wrap, the enchilada, the tortilla chip, the quesadilla, etc. I’m sure if I thought about it I could find many more uses.
I’ve always been fascinated with the Mexican culture’s use of the tortilla more as an edible utensil than a food delivery system like a taco, for example. I have spent a fair amount of time in the houses of Mexican families. I noticed that at the dinner table one does not build complete tacos or burritos for their delicious chili verde. No, one takes a stack of tortillas from a warming dish, then one folds them haphazardly, but deftly and tucks them into a section of their plate. Then, as the meal progresses, the tortilla is deftly torn into strips and perfectly utilized as an edible scoop/spoon to provide the diner with scrumptious morsels. I’ve never been very good at this evolution. I do receive tacit approval when dining with Mexicans for at least having an inkling of the proper use of the tortilla. A wry nod or smile as they take in my child-like attempts to conform to culinary culture. “At least this gringo isn’t a total barbarian.”, they seem to think.
Have you ever had a fresh tortilla? If you haven’t then do so forthwith. If you don’t think there is much of a difference, then just realize that what we are discussing here is bread. Isn’t fresh, warm bread heavenly? The same is true for the tortilla. A fresh tortilla truly elevates the dining experience. When I was in college in Arizona I led the poor student’s life of poor and ill advised dietary choices. Ramen, beer, fast food, packaged meals and cereal. Oh, my. With the lone exception of fresh tortillas. One of my roommates family had a tortilla factory. It was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak routine of seeking nourishment. Loads of fresh tortillas for the starving trio of students. These were not your store bought, uniform and perfectly rounded concoctions. Oh, no. They were like beautiful, consumable snowflakes. Different sizes and thicknesses. And oh, so versatile! Peanut butter and jelly burrito? Yup! Cream cheese and salsa? Yup!
This leads me to my next, and perhaps favorite, aspect of the tortilla: put all of your leftovers in them!
That’s right, all of them. Well… almost all. Soups not such a good choice. But try this. I encourage you. Oftentimes we have this fabulous meal out and we just couldn’t finish quite all of it. But it was so good. “Yes, I would like that boxed up, thank you.”, you respond to the waiter’s query. Then it languishes in your fridge until it becomes a odoriferous and lamented science experiment. “Aw, man… that was so good. I really did want to enjoy it again.” Put it in a tortilla! Obviously before it becomes something that the medical community pokes and prods for the cure for the common cold. Take all of your leftovers, throw them into a saute pan, and create yourself some leftover wraps. We’ve all had various wraps of various culinary musings. Teriyaki chicken. Salmon and avocado. Shrimp and carrot. Etc. and so forth. The leftovers are just a cousin to this food trend. Ever take home French fries and then toss them out because they are never quite the same after being refrigerated? They work in a wrap with your other boxed items. Little bits of fillet mignon and pomme frittes are fantastic when heated and surrounded by the ever versatile tortilla. Throw in some onion and garlic, and whatever vegetable made the journey home in a box as well and you will surprise yourself how easy and delicious your culinary reclamation project will be.
That’s why I state that the tortilla is nature’s perfect food. Great on their own. Obviously great in traditional Tex-Mex and Mexican fare. Completely serviceable as a vessel for just about anything you would throw between two slices of bread. And absolutely wonderful as the savior of leftover foods.
Muchas gracias, Mexicanos, por la tortilla!
p.
