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| Owner Nicole Carrasco launched Masa Catalina in the summer of 2021 after her job as an interior designer fell prey to the pandemic, leading to idle days in her Van Nuys home in a predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood. Moving to the Valley from the Philippines in 2000, it was here that she met and married her high school sweetheart, Andres, the son of Mexican immigrants.
The 34-year-old was even inspired by the word masa itself, which means “dough” in both Mexico and the Philippines, as well as the idea of eventually connecting their new baby girl, Catalina, to her heritage. All while providing better-tasting, healthier tortillas for her Mexican American family and community.
“I wanted something that celebrates my daughter because she’s Mexican and Filipino,” Nicole says of the company’s name. Today, Masa Catalina offers a robust cache of what Nicole calls “designer” tortillas, made fresh for customers who direct message her on Instagram or find her at farmers markets and pop-up events.