A couple in Grand Rapids is cooking up homemade corn masa that’s garnered the attention of true tortilla lovers from all over the country. Madre Masa is one of the few Michigan businesses utilizing a process called nixtamalization in creating the dough for their corn tortillas.

Click here to see photos of the blue and yellow corn tortillas and the milling process with Renata Fernández Domínguez and Bek Ostosh. 



Looking for more conversations from The Dish? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.

A couple in Grand Rapids is cooking up homemade corn masa that’s garnered the attention of true tortilla lovers from all over the country. Madre Masa is one of the few Michigan businesses utilizing a process called nixtamalization in creating the dough for their corn tortillas.
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/arts-life/2024-09-06/madre-masa-takes-heirloom-corn-from-kernel-to-masa">Click here to see photos</a> of the blue and yellow corn tortillas and the milling process with Renata Fernández Domínguez and Bek Ostosh. 
 
<hr>
Looking for more conversations from The Dish? <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/the-dish">Right this way</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work.</a>
Music in this episode by Audio Network and<a href="https://www.sessions.blue/"> Blue Dot Sessions.</a>

The Dish, hosted by Mercedes Mejia, brings you behind the scenes with Michigan’s most inspiring chefs and culinary talents. Learn how food connects these chefs to their cultures, and strengthens our communities, one dish at a time.

Support our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

The Dish, hosted by Mercedes Mejia, brings you behind the scenes with Michigan’s most inspiring chefs and culinary talents. Learn how food connects these chefs to their cultures, and strengthens our communities, one dish at a time.
Support our work: <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

The Dish, hosted by Mercedes Mejia, brings you behind the scenes with Michigan’s most inspiring chefs and culinary talents. 

The Dish

Madre Masa takes heirloom corn from kernel to masa

Chef Eddie Vargas has a long history with birria — a flavorful stew that is slow cooked until the meat of choice is fall-apart tender. Filled with dried chiles, garlic, and spices, the stew is traditionally made with large cuts of goat or lamb. However, in the U.S., it is most often made with beef. In the past decade, birra tacos, quesabirria, and even birra ramen have taken off. Listen to how Eddie is making this traditional stew. And stay tuned because in 2025, Eddie is opening a new taqueria called Tacos Wuey Detroit with his father Jose.  

Looking for more conversations from The Dish? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.

 

Chef Eddie Vargas has a long history with birria &mdash; a flavorful stew that is slow cooked until the meat of choice is fall-apart tender. Filled with dried chiles, garlic, and spices, the stew is traditionally made with large cuts of goat or lamb. However, in the U.S., it is most often made with beef. In the past decade, birra tacos, quesabirria, and even birra ramen have taken off. Listen to how Eddie is making this traditional stew. And stay tuned because in 2025, Eddie is opening a new taqueria called Tacos Wuey Detroit with his father Jose.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<hr>
Looking for more conversations from&nbsp;The Dish? <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/the-dish">Right this way</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work.</a>
Music in this episode by Audio Network and<a href="https://www.sessions.blue/">&nbsp;Blue Dot Sessions.</a>
&nbsp;

Mexican-born birria tradition takes root in Michigan

For Chef Prej Iroegbu, Detroit is home base for both his family and his business: a series of well-loved food trucks called Fork in Nigeria. But his culinary talent was born and nurtured in Nigeria.

The Fork in Nigeria menu offers savory meat dishes made with goat, lamb or oxtail, and equally hearty but less heavy veggie-based dishes, like cassava leaf stew and spinach and kale soup.

Many of his ingredients, Irogebu said, are sourced directly from Nigeria, including peppers, yams, and various spices. He also imports palm oil, a key ingredient in Nigerian cooking.

Iroegbu’s most popular dish incorporates egusi, another import that he said he struggled to find in the U.S. The ground melon seed is served in stew form with fufu, a white, flavorless ball of pounded yam.

Fork in Nigeria Food Truck WEBSITE: https://forkinnigeria.com/

Bonus footage from Prej's kitchen: https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/the-dish

For Chef Prej Iroegbu, Detroit is home base for both his family and his business: a series of well-loved food trucks called Fork in Nigeria. But his culinary talent was born and nurtured in Nigeria.
The Fork in Nigeria menu offers savory meat dishes made with goat, lamb or oxtail, and equally hearty but less heavy veggie-based dishes, like cassava leaf stew and spinach and kale soup.
Many of his ingredients, Irogebu said, are sourced directly from Nigeria, including peppers, yams, and various spices. He also imports palm oil, a key ingredient in Nigerian cooking.
Iroegbu’s most popular dish incorporates egusi, another import that he said he struggled to find in the U.S. The ground melon seed is served in stew form with fufu, a white, flavorless ball of pounded yam.
Fork in Nigeria Food Truck WEBSITE: <a href="https://forkinnigeria.com/">https://forkinnigeria.com/</a>
Bonus footage from Prej's kitchen: <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/the-dish">https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/the-dish</a>

A Nigerian chef's journey from farmer to food truck entrepreneur

Every week, the display case at Q Bakehouse features an array of pastries that blend European form with East-Asian flavor. Owner Rachel Liu Martindale's current bestseller is a chili crisp scone. Rachel walked us through the recipe, and offered some tips for experimenting with new flavors in baked goods.

Looking for more conversations from The Dish? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

Every week, the display case at Q Bakehouse features an array of pastries that blend European form with East-Asian flavor. Owner Rachel Liu Martindale's current bestseller is a chili crisp scone. Rachel walked us through the recipe, and offered some tips for experimenting with new flavors in baked goods.
<hr>
Looking for more conversations from The Dish? <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/the-dish">Right this way</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work.</a>
Music in this episode by <a href="https://www.sessions.blue/">Blue Dot Sessions.</a>

Madre Masa takes heirloom corn from kernel to masa

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