FOOD & DRINK

Culver City’s Tito’s Tacos Is All in the Family

Third-generation owner Lynne Davidson receives Lifetime Achievement Award

By Marin Heinritz

When Lynne Davidson was 17, she got her first job at her grandfather’s restaurant in Culver City. But when she asked for weekends off, she learned waht it meant to work for the family business. “If it’s not convenient for you to work when the customers are here then I don’t need you,” Davidson’s grandfather told her. “I gulped a big glob of air,” she remembered. “It was true. After a couple minutes I said, ‘OK, Got it!’” From that fateful start in 1971 to becoming a manager and now owner of celebrated Tito’s Tacos, it’s that work ethic and commitment to excellence that undoubtedly helped earn Davidson the California Restaurant Association’s Elizabeth Burns Lifetime Achievement Award. Davidson said she learned a lot from her grandfather, as well as her father who took over the family business in the 1960s when her grandfather’s health started to decline. Her grandfather continued to show up for work even after he stepped down from management. “In the morning he would come in, wash all the windows and then go home,” Davidson said. Tito’s Tacos has been in business for more than 63 years and is known best for its crunchy hard shell beef tacos topped with cold cheddar and iceberg lettuce. “They taste fabulous,” Davidson said. “I ate one yesterday, it was so good. Make sure to put lots of salsa on them.” The salsa is made daily, Davidson said, much like other offerings. Hot tortillas are delivered daily, the tortilla chips are fried on site daily in lard. (“I’m not sure you should be able to call it Mexican food if you’re not using lard in it,” Davidson said.) The recipes have remained since the 1960s after a few minor tweaks, such as eliminating chorizo from the taco meat because some customers didn’t like it. Tito’s Tacos won an award for

PHOTO BY CHRIS MORTENSON

Tito’s Tacos in Culver City was founded in 1959 by Benjamin Davidson and is now run by his granddaughter, Lynne Davidson, and her husband, Wirt Morton.

America’s best burrito in 2015, as well as the California Restaurant Association Foundation 2017 Restaurant Neighbor Award and Senate District 30’s Small Business of the Year in 2018. Davidson said she has been running Tito’s Tacos since the late 1980s when her dad semi-retired. She attributed the restaurant’s success to its use of fresh ingredients and its family atmosphere. The employees work hard, long hours and in close proximity to one another, and they make the most of it. “Everybody is so close to each other,” Davidson said. “You’re shoulder to shoulder with everyone, so let’s make this great, let’s have some fun. “We have a couple of people who work here who are really good with jokes. It feels like everyone is family.” Family is important to all involved. The restaurant’s first employee was Amado Madera, who was hired at 24 and retired at 80, and helped Davidson’s grandfather develop the recipes — and Madera’s brother was the main cook for many years. Another noteworthy fact: Madera’s daughter, Denice Renteria, is running for Culver City City Council. “It’s the people I work with and the customers, it’s so much fun,” Davidson said. “It’s so rewarding to see people sit down, eat their tacos and smile. We try to have a good time. “That’s what we do here: we sell Mexican food. We want everybody to come and be happy they bought their tacos here.” Celebrities have shared their love of Tito’s Tacos. Jack Black boasted of Tito’s Tacos’ breakfasts on Instagram. “We generally don’t talk about that, to be honest,” she said. “We want to keep them as customers.” Their customers are so loyal that those who leave the area have been known to make Tito’s their first stop whenever they fly into LAX. “We get a fair amount of online orders, and sometimes people will place the order in the airport before they board so they can pick it up after they land, hopefully,” Davidson said. “That’s kind of risky these days with all the flight delays.” Tito’s Tacos is a singular establishment, though at one time there was an Orange County franchise. “This one restaurant does fine,” Davidson said. “Culver City is a great place. It’s been a small town environment so it’s homey and comfortable.” Davidson was set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, but the ceremony was postponed until this June because of the pandemic. Tito’s Tacos weathered the pandemic after having to close for two and a half months and then reduce their hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., as well as their number of employees from 75 to 42. “I’m glad it’s over,” she said. “I’m not sure I could survive that again — the stress would kill me.” As for retirement for Davidson? “I have some thoughts of trying to cut back on my hours a bit,” she said. “But what would I do with myself?” At the moment she’s simply thrilled to be honored by the California Restaurant Association and received her award on June 10 during the Elizabeth Burns Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Dinner at Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica. “It was truly incredible to have all of my restaurant friends at the event who came from all over the state,” she said. “I was overwhelmed by the wonderful words and support by people I have so much respect for. It was also really special to have over 25 high schoolers in attendance at this annual charity event that raises essential funds for local ProStart programs, instructing young people on appropriate culinary techniques and management skills needed to gain employment in the restaurant industry. “The entire evening – from the dinner and dancing to the Mariachi band to the speakers – was just fantastic.”

Tito’s Tacos

11222 Washington Place, Culver City 310-391-5780 titostacos.com

Celebrating Dad

Treat the man in your life to an extra special Father’s Day with these offerings

By Kamala Kirk All images courtesy

• Celebrate Dad with a Father’s Day 3-Piece Bento Box from Sugarfina. This chic gift set features three different sweet treats including iced vanilla latte bears, martini olive almonds and single malt scotch cordials. Retails for $20. Available online and in stores. sugarfina.com

• The Portofino Hotel & Marina is hosting their Noble House for Noble Dudes event on Father’s Day (June 19) from noon to 5 p.m. Celebrate Dad with live music by Brent George, craft beers from the entire Noble House collection, cocktails, BBQ by Chef Gung Quan, and outdoor entertainment. Tickets are priced at $81 per adult (includes three drink tickets and all food items) and $33.75 per child (includes all food and non-alcoholic beverages). hotelportofino.com

• For the Dad who likes to grill, American Beauty in Venice is offering Summer Grilling Kits that have everything he needs for a delicious meal. Choose from the Steakhouse Burger Kit ($75), Baby Back Ribs Kit ($85) and the Flannery Dry Aged Ribeye Kit ($125). Additional items can be added on including a Street Corn Grilling Kit ($12) among others. americanbeauty.la Get great service & Get great service & great rates. great rates.You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements.

Agent Name, Agent Street Address City, State, Zip Phone E-mail You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements. with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements. Agent Name, Agent Street Address City, State, Zip Tatiana Ruiz More, Agent 8705 Truxton Ave Agent Name, Agent Street Address Phone E-mailState Farm Bloomington, IL 2001877 Los Angeles, CA 90045 Office: 310-450-8833 tatiana@coveredwithmore.com

City, State, Zip

Phone

E-mail

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001877

“EASE OFF” (6/9/22) By PAM AMICK KLAWITTER

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001877

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• Looking for somewhere special to celebrate Dad this Father’s Day? Beachside Restaurant & Bar located inside Jamaica Bay Inn is cooking up a special Beachside BBQ Plate for the holiday. For $55 per person, enjoy a selection of baby back ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, brown sugar baked beans, corn on the cob, Ding’s spicy slaw, Kings Hawaiian bread and fresh watermelon. The Father’s Day BBQ will be served from noon to close. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s Sunday Night Movie on the Lawn, which begins at dusk. The showing for Father’s Day will be “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” jamaicabayinn.com

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JUNE 16, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 11

Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can, during flight, by way of olfactory engendered clairvoyance, accumulate and store internally essential love; eventually he is able to bestow this love. The following excerpts, inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, occur in the

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FIND EXCERPTS

GENRE: Magical Realism Fictional Memoir

GENRE: Magical Realism Fictional Memoir

Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, FIND exemplify the intimate relationship between EXCERPTS two art forms: painting and writing. The on YouTube protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can,