Today we are on the quest to build the perfect taco!
This Episode is all about exploring the ancient indigenous mexican technique of Nixtamalization. Esteemed chef Israel Alvarez and owner of MaiiZ Tortillería in Victoria explains this process explains his passion for cooking authentic Mexican cuisine. We discuss in great detail about the Mexican culture surrounding corn as a staple food and how it must be respected.
The process of Nixtamalization has been used for years to allow for massively increased nutritional availability from corn. When the process was temporarily removed when governments wished to monopolize on corn production, there was widespread fallout of the disease pellagra - a niacin deficiency that causes extreme weakness and dementia.
We also discuss Victoria's food scene and its conscious and well informed consumers, the basis of a healthy diet, why food and culture are synonymous and what makes the perfect taco!
Thanks again Israel, you were a fantastic guest. If you want to learn more from Israel, want to try his incredible food or wish to take home some of his authentic Masa Harina tortillas & tortilla kits check him out at MaiiZ on Fisgard.
https://maiiz.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/maiiz.nixtamal/
Take Care!