Coffee Conversations - Lito

Lito smiles. That’s what he does when you meet him. He does it with the simplest, purest smile as if saying, “hey, let’s start a new adventure through this journey called life.” I met him back in 2003, when I was a newly arrived immigrant. He told me his unbelievable story of making it through the border. We immediately hit it off. Every time I greet him, I joke and say, “What’s up, my brother that I wish I had always had? He invariably answers, “But I am your brother.” And then he smiles. Lito is the embodiment of the American dream. He is the perfect example of what it means to be successful. More than being successful at what he passionately does, though —cooking, creating and perfecting dishes for his three top-notch Mexican restaurants in Northern California—, he is amazingly successful as a human being. He is a devoted, loving father, husband and friend. And I think being a real friend is what he does best. Everyone who has had the fortune of being around him knows what I am talking about. He came to the US with only a backpack full of dreams. There is a song that says, “the dreams are made for those who really try.” —Oh man, has he tried and succeeded! No matter how busy he is, Lito simply smiles. He smiles with this contagious, spontaneous, confident smile of a kid. The kid who is always thinking of finding ways to make new dreams come true.

More coffee, please.