Hands-on flavor: Crafting homemade tortillas at the Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center

On Tuesday, October 2, students gathered at Central Michigan University’s newly renovated Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center for an interactive homemade tortilla-making event. This hands-on experience was a collaborative effort between Prospanica: Association of Hispanic MBA & Business Professionals, Multicultural Academic Student Services, and the Nutrition and Dietetics program at CMU.

“We’ve been hosting this event for three years because nothing brings people together like food,” said Yazmin Torres, President of Prospanica. Ingredients for the event were generously provided by Hacienda Mexican Foods, a family-owned business based in Detroit’s vibrant Mexicantown. Lydia Gutierrez, CEO of Hacienda Mexican Foods, shared, “Tortillas are like Mana, a bread from heaven. For us, it’s all about supporting our employees, the communities they live in, and staying true to our authentic products.”

The Culinary Nutrition Center, housed in Wightman Hall, features 12 commercial-grade workstations outfitted with modern ovens and professional food service equipment. Dr. Fisher emphasized the facility's impact, stating, “This state-of-the-art space significantly enhances the hands-on learning experience for our Nutrition and Dietetics students.” Courses offered in the center include NDS 160 Introduction to Cooking, NDS 361 Food Science, and the recently introduced NDS 291 Introduction to Wine, offered each fall.

For more information about the Nutrition and Dietetics program and its course offerings, please contact Program Director Dr. Najat Yahia at yahia1n@cmich.edu.