El Cholo’s 85th Birthday Benefit (10/08)
From the moment the doors opened at 5 pm on October 26th for the 85th birthday party at all of the El Cholo’s (the original Western Avenue site, and locations in Santa Monica, Irvine, La Habra and Pasadena) staff and guests shared a contagious festive energy.
Even with the sagging economy and the election news vying for attention, within an hour or so, every room in the rambing two-story restaurant was filled – under the expert and watchful eye of manager, Fernando Reyes.
The annual fall anniversary party honors local heroes, firemen, policemen and teachers with a complimentary entrée, with proceeds from the evening going to charity, such as the Puente Learning Center.
At the Santa Monica location, the kitchen seemed to pour as much energy into the shortened menu of Mexican classics, such as the famous green corn tamales, enchiladas, sizzling fajitas and Chile Colorado. Every dish seemed to taste even more flavorful and rich than usual. It was evident that guests were savoring the food and the good cheer as owner Ron Salisbury made his way around the room, personally greeting guests at each table.
In fact, this year the fall bash was as lively and high spirited as the annual spring party El Cholo throws for its green corn tamales, which celebrates the dish with Mariachi music and a huge buffet created by Chef Felix Salcedo. And the October event didn’t even feature the generous tastings of a dozen different tequilas!
The family story goes that in 1922, Alejandro Borquez pushed back from the dinner table and announced to his beautiful young bride, Rosa,"You are such a good cook we should open up a restaurant." And so the The Borquezes open the Sonora Café in a small storefront on Broadway and Santa Barbara Avenue, near the Coliseum. The lunch special cost 45 cents.
Two years later a guest wandered in, while he is waited for his meal, doodled a figure of a man on the menu he labeled "el cholo" — the name given their field hands by the Spanish settlers in California. Alejandro liked the idea so much he changed the name of the restaurant to El Cholo Cafe. (Note: In 1986 history came full circle with the opening of new sister restaurant, the elegant Sonora Café," featuring southwestern food).
History was made again in 1926 when guest George Salisbury dined at El Cholo and met the Borquez’s daughter, Aurelia, whom he later married. They opened their own El Cholo with eight stools and three booths in a storefront at 11th and Western, then considered to be Los Angeles’ far western border. A few years later, against the advice of everyone, Salisbury moved El Cholo across the street to its present location in an old homey California bungalow with rambling rooms. And still the customers and celebrities continued to arrive.
E l Cholo remains on the site to this day, although the neighborhood around it changed, and little house now sits in the midst of Koreatown. And still celebrities fill the comfy Spanish booths, now joined by entire pro sports teams and frat houses – mostly from USC nearby. The restaurant attracts possibly the most diverse celebrity clientele of any restaurant in Los Angeles including Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Nolan Ryan, Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor, George Hamilton, former Mayor Dick Riordan and Tom Hanks.
Michelle Phillips of the “Mommas and the Poppas” never misses a lively green corn tamale party when she is in town, seated at one of the many long family-style tables that include many retired waitresses and cooks—several from the World War II era!
One of the most outstanding examples of a long time employee is Joe Reina, who began in 1932 as a dishwasher, and quickly worked himself up to the post of head chef, which he held for 54 years. Busboy Reymundo Vicente also reached the 50-year mark, along with servers Anna, Beatriz, Tillie and Maria, who each worked for at least 30 years.
One of the many reasons for loyalty is the care and consideration given the staff by the owners. Ron Salisbury, for example, supports promotions. For motivation, he pays employees from $50 to $100 for every book they read, one of the reasons perhaps for why the charity was chosen.
But El Cholo’s success comes mainly because of the hospitality and the food lavished on every guest at all of the locations. Representative of the volume, El Cholo sells enough tortillas that if laid end to end would stretch 3 1/2 times around the world and would pile as high as 6,146 Empire State Buildings!
“And it’s family-like,” adds sunny, spirited Alma Corona, an El Cholo employee of over 20 years, who grew up in the Western Avenue area. Alma started as a waitress; today she directs the entire catering department. You can see her wide smile at charity events and in the restaurant all year round.
Yet nine-year veteran, manager Fernando Alvarado feels “El Cholo’s historic feeling is also a big draw, and it remains strongest, almost visceral at the original location. Stepping into the dusky, hand painted lobby from the glaring sun or night traffic is definitely like stepping back into a more relaxed time. .. and you can almost feel the entire history when you look at it in old photos on the lobby wall.”
For details and information about El Cholo visit (www.elcholo.com).
The annual fall anniversary party honors local heroes, firemen, policemen and teachers with a complimentary entrée, with proceeds from the evening going to charity, such as the Puente Learning Center.
At the Santa Monica location, the kitchen seemed to pour as much energy into the shortened menu of Mexican classics, such as the famous green corn tamales, enchiladas, sizzling fajitas and Chile Colorado. Every dish seemed to taste even more flavorful and rich than usual. It was evident that guests were savoring the food and the good cheer as owner Ron Salisbury made his way around the room, personally greeting guests at each table.
In fact, this year the fall bash was as lively and high spirited as the annual spring party El Cholo throws for its green corn tamales, which celebrates the dish with Mariachi music and a huge buffet created by Chef Felix Salcedo. And the October event didn’t even feature the generous tastings of a dozen different tequilas!
The family story goes that in 1922, Alejandro Borquez pushed back from the dinner table and announced to his beautiful young bride, Rosa,"You are such a good cook we should open up a restaurant." And so the The Borquezes open the Sonora Café in a small storefront on Broadway and Santa Barbara Avenue, near the Coliseum. The lunch special cost 45 cents.
Two years later a guest wandered in, while he is waited for his meal, doodled a figure of a man on the menu he labeled "el cholo" — the name given their field hands by the Spanish settlers in California. Alejandro liked the idea so much he changed the name of the restaurant to El Cholo Cafe. (Note: In 1986 history came full circle with the opening of new sister restaurant, the elegant Sonora Café," featuring southwestern food).
History was made again in 1926 when guest George Salisbury dined at El Cholo and met the Borquez’s daughter, Aurelia, whom he later married. They opened their own El Cholo with eight stools and three booths in a storefront at 11th and Western, then considered to be Los Angeles’ far western border. A few years later, against the advice of everyone, Salisbury moved El Cholo across the street to its present location in an old homey California bungalow with rambling rooms. And still the customers and celebrities continued to arrive.
E l Cholo remains on the site to this day, although the neighborhood around it changed, and little house now sits in the midst of Koreatown. And still celebrities fill the comfy Spanish booths, now joined by entire pro sports teams and frat houses – mostly from USC nearby. The restaurant attracts possibly the most diverse celebrity clientele of any restaurant in Los Angeles including Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Nolan Ryan, Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor, George Hamilton, former Mayor Dick Riordan and Tom Hanks.
Michelle Phillips of the “Mommas and the Poppas” never misses a lively green corn tamale party when she is in town, seated at one of the many long family-style tables that include many retired waitresses and cooks—several from the World War II era!
One of the most outstanding examples of a long time employee is Joe Reina, who began in 1932 as a dishwasher, and quickly worked himself up to the post of head chef, which he held for 54 years. Busboy Reymundo Vicente also reached the 50-year mark, along with servers Anna, Beatriz, Tillie and Maria, who each worked for at least 30 years.
One of the many reasons for loyalty is the care and consideration given the staff by the owners. Ron Salisbury, for example, supports promotions. For motivation, he pays employees from $50 to $100 for every book they read.
But El Cholo’s success comes mainly because of the hospitality and the food lavished on every guest at all of the locations. Representative of the volume, El Cholo sells enough tortillas that if laid end to end would stretch 3 1/2 times around the world and would pile as high as 6,146 Empire State Buildings!
“And it’s family-like,” adds sunny, spirited Alma Corona, an El Cholo employee of over 20 years, who grew up in the Western Avenue area. Alma started as a waitress; today she directs the entire catering department. You can see her wide smile at charity events and in the restaurant all year round.
She added, “El Cholo’s historic feeling is also a big draw, and it remains strongest, almost visceral at the original location. Stepping into the dusky, hand painted lobby from the glaring sun or night traffic is definitely like stepping back into a more relaxed time. .. and you can almost feel the entire history when you look at it in old photos on the lobby wall.”
For details and information about El Cholo visit (www.elcholo.com).