What does heirloom mean? An heirloom is something of value that has been passed down across multiple generations. In this case, heirloom corn comes from farmer-preserved seeds that have been hand selected for the best flavor and maintained for hundreds (even thousands) of years. Each generation does its own part...
I don't know about you, but we here at Masienda HQ have been waking up to some mighty chilly days. OK, OK, chilly for Los Angeles! Though winter doesn't officially start for a few more weeks, we're deep in pozole mode right now, nonetheless. Pozole is both a comforting dish and one...
When temperatures drop, we’re more than ready to swap our typical agua fresca (made with heirloom hibiscus of course) for a drink that’s slightly more decadent, warming, and, well, seasonal. Cue the champurrado. Champurrado is enjoyed year-round for breakfast throughout Mexico, specifically Oaxaca, including special occasions like Dia de los...
What's up with seasoning? Seasoning is the process of treating the surface of Comal with a non-stick coating formed from polymerized oil, which fill the small pores of its surface. A healthy layer of seasoning, also known as patina, will protect your Comal from rust and create a one-of-a-kind non-stick...
Have you ever tried to perfect something for months, maybe even years, but you could never get it just right? And then, when you finally did, you had a complete eureka (!) moment and you couldn’t be more excited about sharing it with others? That is exactly how we feel...
Do these blue kernels look the same to you? What about taste? If you had to guess--just by looks--would you say they cooked and tasted the same? (Hint: nope!) This varietal juxtaposition is a humbling reminder to us of just how much nuance there is to even the simplest-seeming of ingredients....
We're joined this week by our friend, Justin Crawford, a return contributor to our Masa Feature column. Justin is an avid home cook who, pre-pandemic, helmed the bar program at San Francisco's famed Nopa restaurant. Justin and I separately tackled Masienda's bolita belatove for tlacoyos and tortillas, respectively. As always,...
Pozole is a celebratory dish. And while its highest holiday associations may indeed be New Year's Eve, Christmas or Mexican Independence Day--all Winter and Fall holidays to be sure--it nevertheless felt fitting to channel a celebration, in honor of our next guest. Chef Sarah Thompson is a consummate badass. Since...
I don't love tamales. There, I said it. Yes, I recognize the irony, and, no, it's not you--or your tamal--it's me. You're both great, really. It's a texture thing. And, as far as texture is concerned, there are two more widely-known (though, to be sure, certainly not the only two) masa genres...
Welcome back to another installment of Masa Feature, friends! We're back at it with fellow masaphile and puff commander, Justin Crawford (@ipecacfoods). In case you missed it, Justin is a home cook performing masa miracles using a hand-cranked mill (that’s right, no Molinito required). This week, we remotely tag-teamed red...
