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Chicago: Best Tortillas in the World

Chicago: Best Tortillas in the World
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  • Post #31 - April 24th, 2020, 6:51 am
    Post #31 - April 24th, 2020, 6:51 am Post #31 - April 24th, 2020, 6:51 am
    Rene G wrote:
    Rene G wrote:Dinner tonight is a layered casserole, making use of some stale El Milagro paper-wrapped corn tortillas.

    A couple weeks ago I was disappointed to find my (preservative-free) tortillas had grown mold. Since I'd already started preparing other ingredients, I decided to wash them under running water with light scrubbing. Worked great and the casserole was delicious! I've never washed tortillas before.

    Generally not a good idea. Surface mold indicates subsurface spread - what you see are the fruiting bodies supported by bigger fungal bodies. You can cut off a big chunk of cheese, eat the other end of a loaf of bread, maybe the far side of tortillas.
    Odds are it's not toxic, but it's not good eats.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #32 - April 24th, 2020, 9:29 am
    Post #32 - April 24th, 2020, 9:29 am Post #32 - April 24th, 2020, 9:29 am
    JoelF wrote:
    Rene G wrote:
    Rene G wrote:Dinner tonight is a layered casserole, making use of some stale El Milagro paper-wrapped corn tortillas.

    A couple weeks ago I was disappointed to find my (preservative-free) tortillas had grown mold. Since I'd already started preparing other ingredients, I decided to wash them under running water with light scrubbing. Worked great and the casserole was delicious! I've never washed tortillas before.

    Generally not a good idea. Surface mold indicates subsurface spread - what you see are the fruiting bodies supported by bigger fungal bodies. You can cut off a big chunk of cheese, eat the other end of a loaf of bread, maybe the far side of tortillas.
    Odds are it's not toxic, but it's not good eats.


    As soon as I purchase tortillas, I put them right in the fridge. Never tried freezing but I'm sure that would extend the life as well.
  • Post #33 - April 27th, 2020, 1:06 pm
    Post #33 - April 27th, 2020, 1:06 pm Post #33 - April 27th, 2020, 1:06 pm
    El Milagro, a Chicago-based tortilla maker, told employees over the weekend it will close its facility on Western Avenue for two weeks to sanitize the plant after one worker died and others tested positive for the new coronavirus.

    https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavi ... story.html
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #34 - April 27th, 2020, 2:55 pm
    Post #34 - April 27th, 2020, 2:55 pm Post #34 - April 27th, 2020, 2:55 pm
    Damn, sad that they lost a longtime employee to the pandemic. Hopefully the sanitation and two week closure reduces the spread in the facility beyond those who have tested positive.

    On a good note, I'm glad to see they are paying the employees for the duration of the shutdown.
  • Post #35 - May 12th, 2020, 10:09 am
    Post #35 - May 12th, 2020, 10:09 am Post #35 - May 12th, 2020, 10:09 am
    gnarchief wrote:Damn, sad that they lost a longtime employee to the pandemic. Hopefully the sanitation and two week closure reduces the spread in the facility beyond those who have tested positive.

    On a good note, I'm glad to see they are paying the employees for the duration of the shutdown.

    An El Milagro tortilla factory that closed for two weeks of deep cleaning after an employee died from COVID-19 will remain shuttered for an undetermined amount of time to complete a construction project.

    https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavi ... story.html
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #36 - May 12th, 2020, 8:54 pm
    Post #36 - May 12th, 2020, 8:54 pm Post #36 - May 12th, 2020, 8:54 pm
    I swear I saw El Milagro tortillas at Shop & Save today, but I wasn't buying that today so I could be wrong.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #37 - May 13th, 2020, 9:48 am
    Post #37 - May 13th, 2020, 9:48 am Post #37 - May 13th, 2020, 9:48 am
    Yesterday- while Grocery Shopping at Supermercado Jimenez in Logan Square,
    the Tortilla section was filled with empty cartons of Tortillas.
    Lots of Flour Tortillas.
    2 boxes of hardened, stiff as cardboard "Viejo's" (old as F#ck) Corn Tortillas....
    but anything warm and fresh?
    Nada.

    Guess there's always buying Masa-and flattening and fryin'-ur-own!
    :roll:
  • Post #38 - May 13th, 2020, 3:13 pm
    Post #38 - May 13th, 2020, 3:13 pm Post #38 - May 13th, 2020, 3:13 pm
    Will COVID-19 tortilla making replace bread baking as the newest do-it-yourself obsession? Only time will tell!
  • Post #39 - May 13th, 2020, 3:22 pm
    Post #39 - May 13th, 2020, 3:22 pm Post #39 - May 13th, 2020, 3:22 pm
    JoelF wrote:I swear I saw El Milagro tortillas at Shop & Save today, but I wasn't buying that today so I could be wrong.

    Linked Tribune article says El Milagro production is cut by 75%. There are still El Milagro tortillas out there.

    The company had said the temporary closure would cut its production of corn tortillas by 75%.
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #40 - February 16th, 2021, 2:59 pm
    Post #40 - February 16th, 2021, 2:59 pm Post #40 - February 16th, 2021, 2:59 pm
    Chicago is a corn tortilla town. But the Navarro family keeps the flour tortilla tradition alive

    https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... story.html
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #41 - February 16th, 2021, 3:48 pm
    Post #41 - February 16th, 2021, 3:48 pm Post #41 - February 16th, 2021, 3:48 pm
    For the hardcore few, you can buy heirloom corn and nixtamalization kits. Fun for the whole family:

    https://masienda.com/shop/
  • Post #42 - February 16th, 2021, 3:50 pm
    Post #42 - February 16th, 2021, 3:50 pm Post #42 - February 16th, 2021, 3:50 pm
    spinynorman99 wrote:For the hardcore few, you can get in on the ground floor and buy heirloom corn and nixtamalization kits. Fun for the whole family:

    https://masienda.com/shop/
  • Post #43 - September 9th, 2021, 6:10 pm
    Post #43 - September 9th, 2021, 6:10 pm Post #43 - September 9th, 2021, 6:10 pm
    With Empty Tortilla Shelves, Folks Line Up At El Milagro In Little Village

    https://flip.it/X9nD7b
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #44 - September 10th, 2021, 7:21 am
    Post #44 - September 10th, 2021, 7:21 am Post #44 - September 10th, 2021, 7:21 am
    Dave148 wrote:
    With Empty Tortilla Shelves, Folks Line Up At El Milagro In Little Village
    The tortilla section at La Ordeña on Lawrence has been strangely empty for the last couple of weeks. I guess the El Milagro shortage caused people to buy out all the other brands (including the one I would buy) too. The store remains flawless thanks to their Oaxacan cheese and salsas though.
  • Post #45 - September 10th, 2021, 7:50 am
    Post #45 - September 10th, 2021, 7:50 am Post #45 - September 10th, 2021, 7:50 am
    bweiny wrote:tortilla section at La Ordeña on Lawrence

    Love La Ordena, truly a gem.

    I've been to one of my go-to Mexican markets, Morelia Supermarket, twice in the last week. Good stock of tortillas, plus they make their own. Terrific hot bar, rotating cast of 10-12 items.

    Morelia Supermarket
    7300 N Western Ave
    Chicago, IL 60639
    7AM - 10PM
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #46 - September 10th, 2021, 9:02 am
    Post #46 - September 10th, 2021, 9:02 am Post #46 - September 10th, 2021, 9:02 am
    G Wiv wrote:I've been to one of my go-to Mexican markets, Morelia Supermarket, twice in the last week. Good stock of tortillas, plus they make their own.
    I like Morelia as a store, been there 3-4 times. I'm rarely in the area, but will keep the homemade tortilla part on my mind in case. The hot bar is their selling point, IMO. I go to Ordeña instead because of the Oaxacan cheese (moles and salsas just a bonus). The version/brand at Morelia is substandard.
  • Post #47 - September 13th, 2021, 12:45 am
    Post #47 - September 13th, 2021, 12:45 am Post #47 - September 13th, 2021, 12:45 am
    bweiny wrote:I go to Ordeña instead because of the Oaxacan cheese (moles and salsas just a bonus). The version/brand at Morelia is substandard.

    Love Ordena, and yes their cheeses are terrific.

    Re Morelia on Western, if you look at the cheese in the case there is a cheese clearly labeled queso Oaxaca, right next to this on the right, as you are looking in the case, is another cheese that is also queso Oaxaca though not marked with a name, just price. No idea why. This cheese is a dollar more and well worth the up-charge. Something to keep in mind for your next Morelia on Western visit.
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #48 - September 18th, 2021, 8:23 pm
    Post #48 - September 18th, 2021, 8:23 pm Post #48 - September 18th, 2021, 8:23 pm
    I was at the Jewel on Green Bay in Wilmette last night and I saw some El Milagro tortillas there. I think they only had one kind, but I did not see any sign limiting quantity.
  • Post #49 - September 18th, 2021, 9:04 pm
    Post #49 - September 18th, 2021, 9:04 pm Post #49 - September 18th, 2021, 9:04 pm
    NFriday wrote:I was at the Jewel on Green Bay in Wilmette last night and I saw some El Milagro tortillas there. I think they only had one kind, but I did not see any sign limiting quantity.

    Jewel Mount Prospect has them, but is often out of stock when I shop.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #50 - September 19th, 2021, 11:11 am
    Post #50 - September 19th, 2021, 11:11 am Post #50 - September 19th, 2021, 11:11 am
    Seems Morelia Supermarket on Western didn't get the out of tortillas memo.

    Image
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #51 - September 19th, 2021, 2:34 pm
    Post #51 - September 19th, 2021, 2:34 pm Post #51 - September 19th, 2021, 2:34 pm
    G Wiv wrote:Seems Morelia Supermarket on Western didn't get the out of tortillas memo.

    Image


    Or they did and they assigned that tortilla bouncer.
  • Post #52 - September 22nd, 2021, 3:57 am
    Post #52 - September 22nd, 2021, 3:57 am Post #52 - September 22nd, 2021, 3:57 am
    gastro gnome wrote:Or they did and they assigned that tortilla bouncer.

    Ha, I noticed that guy in the store, he definitely had the tough guy look. Though I think that's a cell phone on his belt, not a pistol.

    Morelia is a terrific all around Mexican grocery. Plus I love the hot foods bar. If they had an eat-in taqueria it might even eek out first place, as opposed to tie, from Carniceria Guanajuato on California.
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #53 - September 24th, 2021, 9:22 am
    Post #53 - September 24th, 2021, 9:22 am Post #53 - September 24th, 2021, 9:22 am
    El Milagro employees walked off of the line yesterday to protest unsafe working conditions, 7-day work weeks, and sexual harassment. They are not on strike yet, but demanding that management meet with them on 9/29.

    Source: https://twitter.com/jeffschuhrke/status ... 16801?s=21
  • Post #54 - September 24th, 2021, 7:09 pm
    Post #54 - September 24th, 2021, 7:09 pm Post #54 - September 24th, 2021, 7:09 pm
    El Milagro Employees Locked Out Of Factory During Walkout While Protesting Pay, Working Conditions. https://flip.it/ILAava
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #55 - July 21st, 2023, 11:38 am
    Post #55 - July 21st, 2023, 11:38 am Post #55 - July 21st, 2023, 11:38 am
    El Milagro Workers Reach Settlement Over NLRB Complaint

    https://chicago.eater.com/2023/7/21/238 ... -complaint
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard

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