How Northgate became L.A.’s best Mexican supermarket — and how it plans to stay on top

They don’t need to try to become Whole Foods.” Travis Hayden, chef de partie at Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, had never heard of Northgate until his Mexican coworkers started bringing in its produce and baked goods for the staff’s before-service family meals. Intrigued, he stopped in to the Culver City location. “I ended up doing my ...