Authentic 'tortilleria' turns out fresh flour tortillas

Andela Flores catches freshly-charred tortillas in the new tortilleria "La Espiga" in downtown McCook. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- "College is expensive," says Dalia Flores Lopez, with a smile.

To help her daughter pay for classes at Chadron State College, and in recognition of many Mexican and Hispanic residents in and around McCook, Nebraska, Dalia and her family have opened an authentic "tortilleria" called "La Espiga" in downtown McCook.

Dalia said she knows of tortilla factories in communities similar in size to McCook, and she could see no reason one couldn't operate and be successful in McCook. She thought, "Maybe it will work here. We'll try it."

Dalia Flores Lopez operates the tortilla press in her new McCook business. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

La Espiga offers fresh flour tortillas prepared daily. It's not a "secret family recipe," Dalia admits, it's a simple, authentic blend of flour, lard, salt, baking powder and water.

It's a family operation -- Dalia, her son, Jony, and her mother, Angela. "And my daughter, Neyba, but she's in college in Chadron," Dalia said.

The new tortilleria is open Monday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., in the factory at 212 West C, across C Street south of J.C. Penney.