SPECIAL TORTILLA CONTEST EDITION

Dear Readers,

Gracias, merci, obrigado for the many submissions in our contest asking readers to argue in 25 words why corn tortillas are superior to flour, or vice versa. Below are the winners for some of the cities that carry the Mexican; see the full list at ­www.houstonpress.com. Don't see your city, or don't like the winner? Why didn't you enter, you lazy Mexican?

SEATTLE

Any tortilla mi abuelita makes is good.

PHILADELPHIA

I cannot pick one / Corn or flour I have won / I love my torts! Yum!

HOUSTON

You get more corn tortillas per package at a cheaper price. So it is easier to feed the many mouths us Mexicans are known for.

ST. LOUIS

Corn tortillas are superior. Flour tortillas were only invented because stupid gringos were getting sick eating corn tortillas because they forgot the lime water step.

NEW YORK

Corn tortillas come from the domain of the Aztec diosa Chicomecoátl. Has anyone heard of a goddess of flour? Flour tortillas are malnourished arepas. ¡Guácala!

SALT LAKE CITY

Corn is native to the Americas; wheat is an import. Besides, corn masa wears out your teeth faster so you can replace them with gold.

EL PASO

Corn tortillas, because you can use them for more dishes — and, if you mess up when frying them, you can then use them as Frisbees.

TULSA

Flavor? Corn rules. Versatility? Corn version wins with tostadas, chilaquiles, enchiladas, chips, flautas or tacos. The flour tortilla improves only after eating the competition's dust.

SAN FRANCISCO

Whole-wheat tortillas for my gringo comida. Corn tortillas tend to be la variedad blanca de elote, so I make sure I'm not getting Bisquick!

EUGENE

I am gluten intolerant. Corn tortillas do not make my ass bleed. Also, they don't taste like that paste stuff kids use in elementary school.

MONTEREY

I use flour tortillas to wrap the leftover Chinese food from last night and nuke it for about a minute. Moo shu pork, kung pao shrimp — best!

LAS VEGAS

Flour tortillas are greater than corn / The latter type deserves only scorn / Corn tortillas do naught but annoy / Flour tortillas are soft discs of joy!

DALLAS

Mexicans suffer more from diabetes. Flour spikes glucose like a shot of tequila. Not so with corn. So they are better. Not funny, just true.

LOUISVILLE

At my supermarket, flour tortillas come in three sizes. If they are better than corn tortillas, why are they still trying to get them right?

themexican@askamexican.net