BUSINESS KEEPS AUTHENTIC TASTE.

Byline: Alejandro Guzman

Like any other, the city of San Fernando has certain landmarks whose names are synonymous with the city itself.

Among activities like attending Mass at Santa Rosa Church on Workman Street, Sunday afternoon cruising on Laurel Canyon Boulevard and window shopping at the San Fernando Mall, you also have picking up masa (corn dough) at Carrillo's Tortilleria and Mexican Delicatessen to make tortillas or tamales.

Who knows if back in 1975 when Carrillo's had just opened, the owners knew their homemade tortilla business would evolve into a restaurant and deli with a reputation that would stretch across the United States. But, they must've known they were onto something.

During that time, the art of hand-making tortillas was becoming extinct and humans were quickly being replaced with machines that could mass-produce tortillas, said current owner/operator William Luna. But the Carrillo family, Luna's grandparents, insisted they would continue with the traditional method.

Well, it paid off and their customers continue to take notice, even today.

Angel Arellano, a long-time San Fernando resident and Carrillo's customer explained that it is very important for him to preserve his culture. And because he finds an authentic taste in the food Carrillo's offers, he keeps coming back for his favorite dishes.

"I like the whole beans, chorizo, tortillas de arina (flour) and tortillas de maiz (corn)," Arellano said. "I come here to cheat on my diet."

In fact, he makes sure to stop in at least once a week to pick up rice and beans, even though he now lives in Lancaster. And he's not the only one.

Luna says some of his oldest and most loyal customers who remember him as a 15-year-old boy working under his parents, continue to drop by with their children and grandchildren to order their favorite dishes.

"I have a friendly relationship with my customers," Luna said. "I know lots of names and have some old relationships ... people come in and remember me as a kid."

And when old customers bring in their own children, Luna says new traditions begin and soon those children and grandchildren become regulars.

Even more impressive yet, Carrillo's clientele has spread far out toward the East Coast into New York, New Jersey, Florida and even Puerto Rico.

Luna said as time passed, some of his customers moved away, but craved Carrillo's enough that they were willing to not only call and place a $30 order, but also pay for a $60 shipping charge.

Luna, on many occasions, has packed frozen tamales in a box and shipped them next day air to Idaho, or some other state. Business as usual for Carrillo's now that the reputation has grown.

Over the years, Carrillo's has enjoyed a good name and drawn in high-profile customers such as U.S. Congressman Howard Berman, who once decided to bring along his friend, 2000 Democratic nominee for President Al Gore.

Even though the entire street was shut down and his restaurant was shaken down by the secret service, Luna didn't mind.

One celebrity even managed to leave his mark at Carrillo's. Comedian and actor George Lopez became a customer and friend of Luna's sometime back in 1989.

Lopez and Luna became so well-acquainted that once, Lopez joked that some dish be named after him. Luna responded and from that moment on, Carrillo's Burrito Supreme would be known as the George Lopez Supreme.

Still, despite all the fame and recognition Carrillo's has gained over the decades, Luna likes to emphasize that the community of San Fernando really embraced Carrillo's in the beginning. And because of the community's continued support, the business thrives today.

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Photo:

William Luna points at a picture of him standing with 2000 Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore.

Alejandro Guzman valleynews.com user