b'Hola! Tortilla thriving in storefrontBy Trina Kleist that stayed open for to-go orders needed wraps, so People have shown us so muchorders for flour tortillas rose. I was able to keep all love! Carmen Lang exclaimsmy employees, Lang says.Hola! Tortilla now also sells preparedmasaasshepreparestoopenher, Nevada City tortilla shop for thetortilla hand-presses and home-made salsa. Items daysbusiness.Thecombinationimported from Oaxaca, Mexico, give the shop an authentic feel: Choose frommoleof organic grains, locally sourced (a paste of ingredients,baked-this-morningground chile, seasonings and other ingredients), freshnessandfun,importedchocolate, amaranth bars, baskets, embroidered items has inspired a steady streamtortilla cloths, miniature table settings and of retail and wholesale customersCarmen Lang offerscalaveras(traditional,death-mockingskullsand from Auburn, the San Juan Ridge,white and blueskeletonfigures).Forthe corn tortillas, flouradventurous,Langalso Yuba City and Tahoe City. tortillas, tamales,stocksimported,roasted When Hola! Tortilla foundersmasa and imported CarmenLangandRenMexican goodsgrasshoppersa delicacy Sprattling were featured in theat Hola! Tortillasenjoyedbypre-Hispanic 2018-19 edition of Nevada Countystorefront in Nevadaroyals, she says.Citys Seven Hills BusinessFocus,theiroperationDistrict. TuesdaysSprattlinghaspulled spread across Sprattlings diningfeature tacos to go. awayfromthetortilla roomandontothecanningbusinesstospendmore (Studio540.net)porch. The pair started with aPhotos by Trina Kleist timeonherpottery.She hand-turned machine that cranked out 50 dozen tortillas a day.expects to offer workshops at her Nevada After nearly 18 months of design work, permits and inspections,City studio into 2021, covering a range of Hola! Tortilla opened in May 2019 in Nevada Citys Seven Hillsskill levels on the potting wheel. Potter Ren Sprattling District. Now, the shops new machine flattens and bakes 200In addition to clay, she also operateshelped start Hola! Tortilla. dozen tortillas in a couple hours, Lang says. retreatcabinsneardowntownNevadaShe has since returned Tamales expanded the menu when emergency power shut-offsCity.Meanwhile,shethrowshammerto her art, based in her hit the region in fall 2019. With no power, stores and restaurantswith the Sierra Gold Masters team of theNevada City studio.had to shut down and cancel their orders. That left the partnersU.S. Track and Field Association. As COVID-19 doused opportunities with mounds of cornmasa. Tamales, it turns out, are made usingfor competition, local teammates created virtual, though unofficial, the same ground hominy dough used for tortillas. Therein laymeets. They also built a training ground on the Peardale property of the solution. coach and certified official Dick Hotchkiss. We have continued to We were going to start making tamales anyway, so wemeet, outdoors and with social distancing, to continue our practice thought, well, people need something to eat besides tortillas, soso we are ready for next year, Sprattling says. why not start making tamales now? Lang recalls. Chicken, pork, vegetarian and vegan fillings wrapped in corn husks make thisHola! Tortilla Studio 540 - Ren Sprattling Potteryclassic meso-American party dish a favorite American fast food.821 Zion St., Nevada City 540 W. Broad St., Nevada CityAll ingredients are organic. But unlike the traditional variety,(530) 903-2108HolaTortilla.com (530) 277-1510Studio540.netthese tamales are meal-sized. HOURS: 8am4pm Mon-Thurs-Fri8am5pm TuesOn Etsy: SprattlingPotteryThen, the COVID-19 pandemic put Hola! Tortilla on the11am4pm SatClosed Wed & Sun Sprattlings Get-away Cabinsmap. Grocery stores sold out their mass-produced brands andTACO TUESDAY: Taco plates to go: 11am5pm (530) 470-0816NevadaCityRetreats.comshelves stood empty for weeks as panicked shoppers stocked up.Toppings:Carnitas(shredded pork), roast chicken,Sierra Gold Masters/U.S. Track & Field Restaurant sales tanked, but wholesale orders surged. Restaurantschicken with mole, vegan, grasshoppers; w/rice & beans Association SGMTFF.orgHEATINGAIR CONDITIONING GENERATORSWATER HEATERSCELEBRATING CUSTOMSENIOR SHEET METALDISCOUNTS YEARS SERVING NEVADA COUNTY FOR 60 YEARS3 GENERATIONS763 S Auburn St, Grass Valley530-273-1301AAHeating.com26Business 2020'