Menu Spotlight: Elote
As you explore the delicacies of our neighbors to the south, you may find yourself growing more and adventurous in your palate. Today it is tacos you will devour with happiness, but who knows what you will fall in love with tomorrow? Elote, known for being a Mexican street food, is a staple of the Modern Tortilla menu, and we are so excited to share it with our loyal customers, we have decided to choose this special appetizer to spotlight this month! Follow along and learn all there is to know about a meal that uses simple and natural ingredients while still managing a sophisticated flavor that is all the rage.
From Aztec Days to Modern Times
Yes, you read that correctly; elote has been traced back to the Aztecs, and although we only have a general guess as to when it first appeared, (that civilization lasted from the 1300s to the 1500s) you have to figure that a dish that has been popular for hundreds of years tastes pretty darn good—and you would be correct! Popular as a street food, the original recipe is indeed a simple one, including butter, mayonnaise, cotija cheese, and chili powder. Our version may have some variations, but we promise if you have tried elote before, the flavors will be as familiar as an old friend, and this is your first time, you are in for the treat of your life!
We start with a simple cob of corn cut in half for easier dining. Sweet, fresh, and locally sourced whenever possible, you may be wondering why we would mess with perfection but be patient; the flavors you are about to experience will also make you wonder why you haven’t tried this before! Smoked paprika gives the corn a robust flavor, enhanced by creamy texture of crumbled cotija cheese and the cool tang of our lime cilantro aioli. The differences are small, but we think the lime cilantro aioli brings this classic dish into the new millennium. Feel free to test this theory out yourself the next time you visit a Modern Tortilla food truck. We predict that with one bite you will be hooked and will never choose to eat elote any other way again!
Only One Thing Left to Do
We have introduced you to the history and explained the differences from our versions and the original, so it looks like there is just one thing left for you to do: Drop by one of our food trucks and do a taste test today!