For Women’s History Month, we’re paying tribute to the matriarch of Del Real Foods, Luz Cardenas. Affectionately known as Doña Luz, she traveled from Jalisco, Mexico with her husband Jose to southern California in pursuit of the American dream. Every time you serve Del Real Foods proteins, tamales, salsas, and sides, you taste Luz Cardenas’ traditional recipes.

As one of 11 siblings and one of the oldest girls in her family, Luz Cardenas was responsible for helping her mother prepare the family’s meals. She developed a passion for food at a young age, cooking for her childhood household and later, her husband and children. Luz Cardenas put her heart and soul into her dishes, always selecting the freshest, highest-quality ingredients and never using preservatives. We’ve continued that tradition since Del Real Foods began, with recipes and ingredients that are a testament to family recipes passed down from generation to generation.

One of the Del Real Foods products Luz Cardenas is most proud of is our Barbacoa. Luz Cardenas spent years perfecting the recipe, which she first learned from her mother. After a bit of trial and error, Luz Cardenas knew she’d hit the right notes when her family gave her their seal of approval. It brings her joy to know that so many people across the country get to enjoy her Barbacoa now.