Tortilla Maker of Canada
Business name: Artisan de Tortilla / Tortilla Maker
Owners name: Miguel Ángel Jiménez Reyes
Address: 2003 St. Joseph Blvd. Unit A
Orleans, Ottawa ON K1C 1E5
Opened: Aug. 16, 2023
Tell us something about your business.
Artisan de Tortilla / Tortilla Maker is the first-ever tortillería to open in the National Capital Region. We are bringing the authentic experience of a traditional Mexican tortillería right there in Orléans.
What makes our business model truly groundbreaking, unique is the fact that customers can watch, in-store, the full process of turning the corn grain into tortillas. Customers can actually see how maize kernels are turned into tortilla dough using water, heat and food-grade lime (calcium hydroxide). Our customers can watch how our artisan corn tortillas come out, steaming hot, and feel their aroma.
We are using the millennia-old process called nixtamalization. Our artisan corn tortillas are made from 100% white organic corn and are gluten-free, salt-free. The word nixtamalization originates from the Mexican indigenous language of Náhuatl, in which nextli means ashes and tamali unformed maize dough. The process of nixtamalization significantly improves the nutritional value of maize.
The authentic Mexican experience would not be complete without our corn tortilla chips – totopos, salsas and guacamole. Our homemade salsas – Salsas Carlota – were passed down for generations in my family. They are based on great-grandmother Carlota Silvestre’s original recipes from Los Altos de Jalisco in western Mexico. We have a salsa for every spice taste. And you can turn up the heat level with our salsas. Your taste buds will not be disappointed.
What made you choose your current location? What do you love most about the Heart of Orléans?
The Heart of Orléans, with its vibrant businesses and long history as Orléans’ commercial thoroughfare, is the place to establish a business. And the Heart of Orléans BIA is the backbone of small businesses in Orleans. They have been our first point of contact, a bridge to the community and a big supporter from the very beginning. We could not be more grateful for their support.
What is the most interesting thing about you personally that no one would know, that you don’t mind sharing?
In his spare time, Miguel loves to sing, particularly Mexican classics. He has a wide repertoire of songs from the 1940s through the 1990s.
