Tortilla News

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Francisco Ramirez, owner of pioneering East L.A. tortilleria La Princesita, dies

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In the competitive world of East Los Angeles tortillerias, where entrepreneurs fight for customers block by block, Francisco Ramírez and his La Princesita towered above them all.

The native of Cuernavaca, Mexico, sold to restaurants years before his rivals. His earthy, dark-yellow corn and fluffy flour tortillas became the base for hundreds of tacos and burritos across the Southland. And Ramírez also encouraged his children to modernize the family business, ensuring it a place in Southern California’s recent tortilla renaissance.

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Dai Due Taqueria and El Alma Win Tortilla Awards

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Texas knows tacos, and Austin has a very intimate relationship with the popular food. So when the national Tortilla Awards came to Parlor & Yard on Tuesday, September 11, five local restaurants jumped at the chance to compete.

Austin was the last stop on the three-city tour of powerhouse culinary cities – Los Angeles and Chicago being the first two – and at the end of the night, two local tortilla makers were crowned champions.

Celebrity chef Aarón Sánchez was head judge and he sampled tacos from all of the competing chefs. From jackfruit tacos in soft corn tortillas from Cool Beans to wild boar al pastor al carbon from Dai Due, Sánchez watched chefs get creative with the batter to elevate the often humble tortilla.

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Mexico mob kills detective, injures 3 others in attack

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MEXICO CITY — Authorities said Friday that a mob of about 100 people in the central Mexican state of Hidalgo doused a detective with gasoline and burned him to death.

The Hidalgo state prosecutors’ office said the crowd attacked local police in the town of Metepec on Thursday and took the detective and three other men captive.

They severely beat the men and burned the detective after dousing him with fuel. It was unclear if he was on duty or if they knew he was a detective.

Video posted on social media sites showed a mob kicking one of the men in the town square and beating him with cudgels and fists. Police eventually arrived to rescue him and two others.

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Whole Foods issues recall of tortilla chips due to ‘undeclared milk,’ FDA says

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If you’ve recently purchased 365 Everyday Value White Corn Tortilla Chips and have a milk allergy, beware: Whole Foods this week announced a recall of the chips because the product may contain “undeclared milk,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

“People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product,” the FDA said when it announced the voluntary recall on Sept. 25.

The product was sold across the United States and in Canada. The 20-oz. bags have the UPC code 9948247145 and best-by dates ranging from January 24-25, 2019, according to the FDA.

The issue came to light after a “customer notified Whole Foods Market that the tortilla chip bag also contained other snack mix product,” the FDA said, noting the ”affected” products were removed from stores following the complaint.

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Corn Refiners rebrands with new logo, website.

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The Corn Refiners Association unveiled a new logo in the form of a kernel that is intended to emphasizes the broad role that refined corn plays in everyday American life.

Critics often denounce the spread of corn acreage in the United States and campaigns against high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) have led to declining consumer popularity and use by food companies.

CRA is still defending and promoting HFCS but is now pointing out that corn has many other uses.

In a news release, CRA said corn can be used in many products because the kernel is separated into its component parts — starch, protein, oil and fiber — which are then turned into products such as cornstarch, corn oil, sweeteners, advanced bioproducts, protein and animal feed.

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Professor breaks world record for tallest stack of tortillas

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INDIANA — An Indiana professor has set a new record. Not on academia but in the Guinness World Record books!

University of Evansville Professor Mark Valenzuela made history this week with, believe it or not, the tallest stack of tortillas in the world.

His stack of tortillas reaching 75 centimeters tall, breaking the previous record of 68.5 centimeters tall.

How long did it take to stack all the savory griddlecakes? Two hours, which Valenzuela says was worth it.

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Prosecutors: Men killed by mob in Mexican town not criminals

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — State prosecutors in the central Mexico state of Puebla say their preliminary investigation suggests two men burned to death by a mob had not committed any crime.

Some residents of Acatlan had beaten two men they believed were trying to kidnap children. Police initially detained the two men for their protection, but a crowd of about 150 people came to the jail, dragged them out and set them on fire.

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10 Questions With … Hector Tapia, owner of Ruben’s Tortilleria

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When Hector Tapia arrived in the Yakima Valley in the early 1990s, he realized that Yakima needed a tortilla maker with authentic Mexican flavor. It was then that he founded Ruben’s Tortillería, where he offers tortillas made from 100 percent nixtamal, that is, corn cooked with limewater, which is then ground to make the dough for the tortillas in the way 
traditionally done by the Aztecs.

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It’s a wrap: Why tortilla sales are on the rise

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Health-conscious consumers are helping to drive a steady rise in tortilla sales as manufacturers work to meet their diverse dietary demands.

According to research firm FMI, more than 40 percent of consumers buy tortilla products on a weekly basis. Global tortilla sales are forecast to exceed $12.3 billion by 2028 while growing at an annual rate of 3.7 percent, Baking Business reported.

Eight of the top 10 tortilla brands saw growth last year, Snack and Bakery reported.

Now tortilla manufacturers have expanded their product lines beyond simple flour and corn varieties to produce organic, low carb, non-GMO, gluten-free, wheat-free, whole grain and vegetable-based alternatives, continuing to drive revenues slowly upwards, per Snack and Bakery.

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Taco Bell brings the blue corn tortilla shell dubbed the Midnight Melt Taco

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It’s no wonder Taco Bell was the franchise that won in Demolition Man. This is a company consistently looking to bring something new, exciting, and innovative. The latest is a 100% blue corn tortilla shell taco, known as the Midnight Melt Taco.

You can get it on the dollar menu and it essentially is the Supreme Taco with a supreme twist. Not only is the 100% blue corn tortilla working as the base, but there’s also a melted layer of cheddar and then a melted layer of Monterey Jack cheese.

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