Itanoni: Meet The Queen of Corn Tortillas - Mexico's Essential Eats

Join Amy Shuster as she learns how to make tortillas from the queen of corn at Itanoni in Oaxaca, Mexico. Subscribe to FoodieHub for more great Foodie videos: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFl6qnxDKT-jz30aKsDXjRg?sub_confirmation=1 and visit http://www.FoodieHub.tv. Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE! Download the FoodieHub app for the Essential Eats wherever you are on the planet! http://www.foodiehub.tv/app For more fantastic foodie content, connect with FoodieHub across social media: http://www.facebook.com/foodiehubtv http://www.twitter.com/foodiehub http://www.instagram.com/foodiehubtv http://www.pinterest.com/foodiehub https://plus.google.com/+FoodieHub The thought of Mexico conjures up romantic images of the setting sun, desert sprawl dotted with cacti, sombreros and ponchos draped over tanned and moustachioed vagabonds, sipping tequila and serenading the universe over Spanish guitar chords. But Mexico means much more to the people that call the great country home. From the dry, dusty north, to the humid and green south, Mexico is home to an expansive biodiversity and many different people from all walks of life. Each city is a contrast to the last, with a unique feel and culture, and the city of Oaxaca is no different. On Amy Schuster’s visit to the cultural melting-pot of Oaxaca she stops at a number of foodie joints, food markets and well-established restaurants to get a taste of the beautiful community. Tucked away in the mountainous region in the south of Mexico, Oaxaca is a cultural-centre for many of the Southern Mexican indigenous cultures and tribes. Fiercely proud of the retention of their pre-Hispanic traditions, the locals have some of the best renditions of classic Mexican dishes, and no Mexican dish is more famous than the taco. And when it’s not a taco it’s at least a burrito or quesadilla. Tacos, burritos and quesadillas are all made using the Mexican staple; the tortilla. The tortilla has done its fair share of influencing Mexican food and culture, and for this reason Amy Schuster decided to visit Itanoni, where the ‘Queen of Corn’ teaches her how to make a classic tortilla. Itatoni is an Oaxaca restaurant that specializes in all corn based Mexican recipes and dishes, and their locally sourced produce is compiled in honour of the humble staple that grows in golden clusters all around Mexico. Corn is not simply a food, but a representation of the indigenous people’s very culture and survival. A crop on which their livelihoods depend, Mexican families shared conversations and traditions over plates and bowls of corn-based meals that are just as tasty as they are fulfilling. Corn has been domesticated and reared in South America for millennia, and the people have managed to cross-pollinate and rear different strains of the crop so that it comes in a myriad of different shapes and sizes. The colour and flavour variations are just as numerous, and one can even sample the popular and tasty black-corn variants in Mexico. A true tribute to corn, the tortilla is made all over Mexico with different cooking methods depending on local cultural recipes. After sampling some quality corn, the kernels are put in a mixture of water and crushed limestone to remove the skin. The softened innards are then dried and crushed, before kneaded into a dough or masa in a number of complicated techniques that subtly change depending on region and culture. The masa is then placed on a terracotta grill called a comal. The warm tortillas are then used to make a number of delicious meals like tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and tostadas filled with local ingredients of meats and beans. These meals are often topped with Oaxaca’s mole sauce, which can include a number of ingredients, most prominently chili powder and can even include chocolate. So the next time you wrap your mouth around a tasty tortilla, try for one moment ignore the glorious flavours of South America, and rather consider the cultural symbol of the humble corn and its tasty tortillas. Don’t forget to visit the beautiful Amy Schuster’s blog here: http://www.backyardbite.com/