In the late 1980’s Sullivan Bluth Studios, an Irish-American animation studio, employed Fitzers Catering to feed their employees. Many of the animators moved to Ireland from sunny Santa Monica and when they first arrived at Conyngham Road, they experienced a great deal of homesickness. The brief was to make the Californians feel more at home by serving them food that one would typically find somewhere along the Santa Monica Boulevard.

I befriended animator Tammi Anderson, and she taught me everything I needed to know about authentic Mexican (street) food with a Californian twist. We were serving our customers burritos, tacos and enchiladas long before this type of cuisine was ever seen in Ireland. Our Mexican feast was the perfect start to every Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Sharon Fitzpatrick