Burrito-making an artform for ‘master’ Eldridge

Katy Eldridge didn’t earn the title “burrito master” overnight. It took a decade of rolling the fat, stuffed tortillas into tight little bundles behind the Petaluma Whole Foods deli counter to achieve “master” status.

“I’ve really tried to hone my burrito skills,” said Eldridge, 30. “It’s so much fun. I’m kind of a perfectionist.”

Originally from Eureka, the mother of one daughter has lived in Petaluma since 2006 and enjoys helping customers with all of their food orders. Besides burritos, she said she is also an expert sandwich maker, adding a secret ingredient - love - to every order.

For her work, Eldridge was nominated as the service person of the week.

Eldridge has spent time recently behind the scenes at the East Washington Street store buying for the department, but she loves every chance she gets to be out on the floor serving customers.

“I try my hardest to make everyone happy,” she said. “The store is really cool. It’s like a neighborhood market. You see the same people all the time. You see their kids grow up.”

In nominating her, Elizabeth Clary said that Eldridge is an expert at getting customers to expand their food horizons by sampling prepared foods in the deli.

“Katy’s sense of fun is a joy to both her coworkers and customers,” she wrote in an email. “As my daughter and I shopped on her fifth birthday three years ago, Katy made an announcement over the store loudspeaker, urging customers to give my daughter birthday greetings. The story is now legendary.”

Eldridge is the fourth nominee to be chosen as Service Person of the Week for 2017.

Beginning March 2, readers will vote on which one should be crowned Service Person of the Year. The winner will be honored at the 2016 Petaluma Community Awards of Excellence, co-sponsored by the Argus-Courier and the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce, on April 20.

Email a nomination to matt.brown@arguscourier.com or write us a letter to tell us why you think your nominee should be considered for the service person award (no phone calls, please).

Nominations can cover all aspects of the service industry, from cashiers and clerks to baristas and servers - not business owners, managers or directors.