Fresh tortillas

rogersma · March 2006

Is there a place hereabouts one can buy fresh corn tortillas (hand-made would be great but I'm probably dreaming)? What I generally seem to find are machine-made versions that have been living in plastic too long.

ratnerville4ever · March 2006

Subject: Re: Fresh tortillas

rogersma wrote: Is there a place hereabouts one can buy fresh corn tortillas (hand-made would be great but I'm probably dreaming)? What I generally seem to find are machine-made versions that have been living in plastic too long.

hmmm, short of going to Sunset Park, perhaps Calexico on Fifth or Pequena in Ft. Greene might sell you some fresh ones.

pitu · March 2006

and if you find any place that sells fresh masa, either for tortillas or tamales PLEASE post it back here! From what I've found that is *not* happening in NYC.

unterberg · March 2006

Hmmm....maybe a Daily Heights Tamale party in the works? My grandmother passed along some fo the best, authentic recipes;)

sweet tea · March 2006

yes, please! i know i'm new, but can i come, pul-lease?

i'm in serious withdrawal from leaving my guatemalan neighbor and her habit of cooking for 20.

pitu · March 2006

Today, I had a frozen tamal (boo-hoo for me, right?)
well, I warmed it up first, but still not the same as fresh

sweet tea:
at Fourth Ave between 10th and 11th St in Park Slope, just down from the F/R train stop, and a quick bike ride from PH
there are tamales.
west side of the street, the place looks like nothing
has no sign
and sells pretty nice flowers too

lots of tamales, good tamales
even the kind wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks

they also have really nice drinks in the summer -- jamaica, tamarindo etc

sweet tea · March 2006

banana leaves? that's the kind my neighbor made! i'm not sure i've ever seen them for sale (although she used to sell them at christmas.)

thanks for the tip!

what kind of frozen do you favor? i just braved the crowds at trader joe's to stock up on their chicken and cheese ones, which are quite good for frozen and mass-produced.

ben · March 2006

I bought banana leaves once at the vegetable market on 5th ave and 15th st, across the street from Blockbuster. It's not my regular place to shop so I don't know if they always have them or not but they were fun to cook with.

My banana leaf recipe:

Red Snapper or another fish of your choice
Mango
Tomatillo
Red Onion
S+P to taste

Wrap it up in the banana leaf, tie with butcher's twine and either bake or toss in on the Que.

pitu · March 2006

Yesterday's was the first frozen tamal I ever had; it was from the PSFC.

"Buenatural" is the brand. Great for breakfast, very corny. You steam it.

I hear the TJ green chile ones are pretty great, which is why I bought the one at the coop in the first place.

You can get frozen banana leaves at most asian groceries . . .
someday I'll be bundling fish or stuffing tamales into them, but for now, I'm exploring the mysteries of frozen food. jee-bus! never thought I'd do that.

I got a bag of frozen dumplings in Sunset Park. They were fantastic, and it's led me down the wicked path.
Family Dumpling, west side of 7th Ave in the 50s on a corner.
$5 for 30 frozen dumplings - you fry/steam at home. yum.

vanilla · March 2006

for special occasiona we make vegan homemade tamales from scratch... everything from scratch. so addictive.

stacey · March 2006

Bannana leaves are also used to make the Puerto Rican dish pastelles )mmmmm). They can probably be bought at any little spanish bodega/veggie stand.

I happen to LOVE the rice and beans at El Carnivento

(then again there isn't much there I don't love)

pitu · March 2006

stacey wrote: Bannana leaves are also used to make the Puerto Rican dish pastelles )mmmmm). They can probably be bought at any little spanish bodega/veggie stand.

I happen to LOVE the rice and beans at El Carnivento (then again there isn't much there I don't love)

lots to love . . .

Viejo Yayo, the place with the shiny green awing and double wide store front on Fifth Ave a couple blocks in from Flatbush, has pasteles. It's yuca masa instead of corn. yum.

pheightsgirl · March 2006

pitu wrote: they also have really nice drinks in the summer -- jamaica, tamarindo etc

Jamaica -- are you kidding me? They seriously have Jamaica? This is going to be a daily ritual....

I heart Jamaica.

dds580 · March 2006

You should defenitively try Sunset Park. There is I think Casa Lopez or Paco Lopez, They make their own bread and Tamales; I think they are on 4th Ave. between 47 & 48 Street. There ais also at least one place on 5th Ave., bet. 45 & 46Street. And I have been told that there are some little stands being placed on some corners, selling only tamales & Atole (a corn base hot drink). Lastly, there is a place on Union bet. 4 & 5th Ave. They seem original, but I have not had the chance to try this place.

Enjoy!!! Provecho!!!

stacey · March 2006

dds580 wrote: Lastly, there is a place on Union bet. 4 & 5th Ave. They seem original, but I have not had the chance to try this place.

Enjoy!!! Provecho!!!

There have been a few people who recommended Maria's on that block and when we drove by once there is Maria as well as a little Mexican Cafe does anyone know if it is the same owner or two separate entities?

smokin joe · March 2006

i've found banana leaves at the c-town on washington between park and prospect. they always have frozen ones and frequently have fresh ones.

pitu · March 2006

stacey wrote: [quote=dds580]Lastly, there is a place on Union bet. 4 & 5th Ave. They seem original, but I have not had the chance to try this place.

Enjoy!!! Provecho!!!

There have been a few people who recommended Maria's on that block and when we drove by once there is Maria as well as a little Mexican Cafe does anyone know if it is the same owner or two separate entities?

When Maria's opened, I thought it was the same ownership, but someone told me it's different. The Maria's guys are associated with Pollitos Dos on Fifth Ave. I think. All neighborhood gossip, I haven't asked them.

The hot pink cafe place has good coffee and the guys are dolls, but the tamales are not great.

billtron · March 2006

I would have to disagree about the tamales at Cafe Mexicano (on Union). Maybe we should criticize the handful of employees for being inconsistent. They do make the best agua de orchata FROM SCRATCH FOR EACH ORDER! And they deliver, although they ran out of delivery menus and the guy who delivers isn't always working. I prefer eating in, at one of the three tables.

I just read in New York Magazine that Pio Maya on 8th street in Not-Brooklyn is owned by the brother of the owner of Los Pollitos in Brooklyn.

law-n-disorder · March 2006

I don't think I've ever tried tamales but reading this thread is making my mouth water.

pitu · March 2006

billtron wrote: I would have to disagree about the tamales at Cafe Mexicano (on Union). Maybe we should criticize the handful of employees for being inconsistent. They do make the best agua de orchata FROM SCRATCH FOR EACH ORDER! And they deliver, although they ran out of delivery menus and the guy who delivers isn't always working. I prefer eating in, at one of the three tables.

I *so* want to love that place - I like the vibe, but always find the tamales disappointing.

have you tried the tamales on Fourth Ave at 10/11th St?
or the Sunset Park Ricos lady who sells out of a cooler in the window of the restaurant? (Fifth Ave at 46th St)

be sure to ask for Oaxaquenos, the kind in banana leaves
it gives this lovely tea sort of flavor to the masa . . .

Fresh tortillas

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