“Award-winning Tito’s Tacos and Tito’s Handmade Vodka are again joining forces for the 7th annual Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana. The highly anticipated and beloved annual local event will take place at Tito’s Tacos in Culver City on Friday, October 4 – on National Taco Day and National Vodka Day – from 3:00 PM until 9:00 PM to raise funds for the Culver City Arts Foundation.”
“Partygoers can enjoy Tito’s Tacos’ delicious award-winning tacos, burritos and flan, Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s specialty cocktails, and five hours of non-stop musical entertainment by new and returning world-class mariachi artists like Mariachi Juevenil Herencia Michoacana, heavy metal rockers Metalachi, the Grammy nominated all-female Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and more. Additionally, guests will be treated to a colorful compilation of traditional Mexican folklórico dances throughout the event by Folk Revolución. The jam-packed day of lively activities will be orchestrated by Master of Ceremonies comedian Eric Schwartz, also known as “Smooth-E.””
“In the seventh year of hosting Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana, Tito’s Tacos and Tito’s Handmade Vodka will continue their philanthropic tradition, donating 100% of the net proceeds from the event to the Culver City Arts Foundation. The event has raised over $90,000 over the past six years, with this year’s donation expected to increase that total significantly.”
“This fiesta brings so much joy to the community and we are always honored to host this celebration with our friends at Tito’s Handmade Vodka,” said Lynne Davidson, co-owner of Tito’s Tacos and granddaughter of founder Benjamin Davidson. “There is no better way to celebrate National Taco Day and National Vodka Day than immersing yourself in the vibrant culture displayed at the fiesta while supporting the Culver City Arts Foundation, an organization that is doing impactful work in our community.”
A limited number of tickets are now available and partygoers can choose from two ticket packages:
- Responsible Partygoer - $35 (Includes general admission, three award-winning Tito’s Tacos food items and three refreshing Tito’s Handmade Vodka specialty cocktails)
- Non-alcohol Partygoer - $20 (Includes general admission, three award-winning Tito’s Tacos food items and soft drinks)
Tito’s Tacos Co-Proprietor, Lynne Davidson, joins us with all the spirited details.
Hi, I'm Chef Rudy Soremin, Princess Cruz's head of culinary arts and the menu maker for a catch by Rudy, that's me. Come sell with us when I want the Alaskan king crab of Food News. I listened to Salkall restaurant show on AMA30KLA radio. And we're back! We used the Salkall restaurant show, and we're here with you every Saturday morning from 10 AM until 12 noon, right here on AMA30KLAA, the home of Angels Baseball 2024, and you can also catch us on the AMA30 Angels app. I'm Andy Harris, the executive producer and co-host of the show, and I forgot to mention it earlier, but we're happy to have Chuck in technical excellence with us this morning. So, good morning, Chuck, and we're enthusiastically presented each and every week by Melissa's World Variety produce. I love family institutions in the restaurant business in LA and beyond. But certainly, most Angelenos are familiar with Tito's tacos in Culver City. This is a one-off taco restaurant that has been there since 1959. And if you watch the, excuse me, the Dodger broadcast on Pay Television, you definitely know Tito's because they have those very catchy ads. They have a big event that's coming up. We have not talked with their co-proprietor, Lynn Davidson, who is representing the second generation of the founding family, and wanted to have her back to discuss National Taco Day. And with that as background, it is a pleasure to welcome Lynn back to the show. Lynn, good morning, and welcome back. Hi, Andy. How are you? We are doing well, but I would be doing a lot better if I had one of your new chicken burritos in front of me. Do you think that could be arranged? Oh, yes. We can arrange that. Thank you. Lynn, they believe me. They are good. Lynn, backing up a little bit, again, your father founded Tito's way back in 1959. You are an institution in the area. People can't get that little jingle that your husband created out of their head. But you don't introduce new menu items very often because, kind of in the vein of In-N-Out, which has been very successful. It's keep it simple and keep the menu short. So tell us about this earth-shaking development that you inaugurated back on Cinco de Mayo this year with this introduction of a chicken burrito. I mean, this was a headlining event, Lynn. Well, we thought it was very exciting. Lots of people love it. We just were talking with the managers and we had lots of customers asking for a chicken burrito. So I said, "Well, we better give it a try." So we experimented three or four months with recipes and came up with one that everybody loved. And the rest is history, I guess. Well, you know, Lynn, I think overall that's a good thing. Yes, yes, it's really good. Now, you and your husband are big believers in being part of the community. And something that you inaugurated going back seven years ago is this wonderful event that you do called Tito's Fiesta Mexicana and it supports the Culver City Arts Foundation. And Lynn, just to get our audience's attention, over the seven years that you've been doing this, how much money has been raised from this little one-day event? I think it's over $80,000 for the Arts Foundation. Lynn, I would say that is pretty impressive. Now, in the food business, actually in the spirits business, there's another Tito's out there. So you join forces with Tito's vodka every year to do this Tito's Fiesta Mexicana. Kind of give us, Lynn, if you will, the top line of what this crazy event is, that this year is coming up on National Taco Day, which I believe is the first Friday in October. And it's quite the event. I mean, you run from 3 to 9 p.m. And as I like to say, there's a lot going on. So give us the overview, if you will. Well, this is actual -- should have National Taco Day and National vodka day. So we teamed up with Tito's Handmade vodka and we just throw this great party. We've got great mariachi bands. We've got folk revolution, which is a folklorico dancer group. Eric Schwartz, the comedian, is the host. Mariachi de la -- the Reyna de Los Angeles is there. Netalachi, we have a couple of youth groups that play. And they're always wonderful. We have Franklin Saint, the magician, and we have the mariachi Rams also going to be performing. So Lynn, as they would say, a lot is going on. Now, we've talked about the entertainment. You've talked about the music, a female mariachi band. I mean, you got to love it. But we're a food and restaurant show. So let's talk about the spread from Tito's that will be available to your guest coming up for Tito's Fiesta Mexicata on National Taco Day on October 4th, which, as you also mentioned, I mean, who knew? Also National Vodka Day. I wonder how that happened. I don't know. I didn't have anything to do with it, but I think it was a good idea. You know, I have a feeling, Lynn, but, you know, we'll keep this between us. That it might have had something to do with Tito's Handmade vodka. They know a lot of people. Yes. So. They know how to throw a party, too. I would hope so. Yeah, I would definitely hope so. So we'll talk about their contribution to the event in a minute. But first of all, let's talk about what specialties from Tito's tacos are going to be available to your guests. Well, but we're going to have energy, burritos, tacos, and flan, and a lot with Pepsi soft drinks. That is for the participants. Partico's. Yeah. Well, probably the ones that are designated drivers. So that's a good idea. Now, you know, as we know, if you've ever been to a food festival or an event, Lynn, that Tito's Handmade vodka is part of, those folks know how to put out and put on a good time. So in terms of their contributions, I just have a sneaking suspicion that they're going to be some vodka specialty cocktails from Tito's. Can you give us any more information? Well, I know you have the same information I do. Every year they come up with fabulous new drinks, usually three or four different new drinks every year. So I'm really excited to find out what they're going to, what they're going to be serving this year. Now, are you allowed to sip and serve? Me? No. You know, just, you know, we, Lynn, one thing we do need to do on the SoCal restaurant show is we always imbibe responsibly. So we just have that as a little footnote to the festivities. Now-- Well, I'll say I'm on our flyer. The $35 entry fee for people that get the Tito's drink, they're called a responsible party goers. I love it. But of course, I'm sure everyone that is attending, Lynn, is responsible. So, but, you know, they're to have a good time. Now, always having a good time. 100% of the Chica sales out of the Culver City Arts Foundation. We don't take any costs or anything out of what's being put. Yes, and in terms of the information that I have in front of me, over the past six years, you've raised over 90,000. So to do that for a local community group, Lynn, that definitely gets my attention and is pretty wonderful. Now, the one thing that we haven't done, Lynn, is where do our listeners get the information about the event and can also purchase tickets? You can purchase tickets online at cheetosdespa.com. The party is from 3 to 9 p.m. on October 4th. And we hope everybody can come out. You're going to have a great time. Lynn, I think they always do. And repeating that again, the website is teetosfiesta mexicana.com. And mexicana is M-E-X-I-C-A-N-A. Just so there's no potential conflict with that. Now, one other thing to mention, Lynn, is, you know, people are always nervous about where they park. You have satellite parking with a shuttle. Can you give our listeners any more details on that? Sure. There will be shuttles running constantly from harbor freight, which is just down the street from cheetos. It's a little bit far to walk, but there will be shuttles going back and forth to the fiesta. Up until 9.30 at night, we do have a security guard down there also to make sure that the cars are all safe. So you don't have to worry about that. Lynn, always good. Now, Lynn, switching topics here in our remaining minute. You are very active in the California Restaurant Association. We have many chefs and restaurateurs that listen to this show. Can you encapsulate very briefly about why you feel the California Restaurant Association is important? Well, I found the Restaurant Association to be very, very important in keeping me out of trouble. They always let me know when the laws are changed and I have to do things, you know, different procedures. They come down from the health department or LA City Council or Sacramento. And I've always been able to, you know, keep on top of things that way. And it's also an outlet to, you know, advocate for the whole industry. Absolutely. Well said. Ladies and gentlemen, second-generation proprietress of Cheetos Tacos in Culver City, Lynn Davidson, and we look forward to seeing her and also enjoying some of Cheetos specialties as well as some libations from Cheetos Handmade Vodka coming up at Cheetos Fiesta Mexicana, which is October 4th, which is National Taco Day. You are listening to the SoCal Restaurant Show. We need to scoot. It's our top of the hour break. We'll be back on the other side. We're proudly presented by Melissa's World Variety Produce. ♪♪
