Cafe De La O

Happy Heavenly Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 22:34:00 +0000

Seventy-eight years ago today, October 25, 1947, my mother and father were married in a quiet courthouse wedding in Downtown Los Angeles. Today would be their 78th anniversary.

They met earlier that same year when my mother was babysitting for her aunt Peewee. My father knocked on the door. My mother opened it. He took one look and was smitten. It was literally a whirlwind romance.

Their first official date was at the Avodon Ballroom on Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The accompanying photograph is from that night.

The Avodon Ballroom was a popular nightclub throughout the 1940's. It was the Big Band era and this was one of the venues that hosted some of the big names.

My father was not a big name but he did sing there from time to time. Presumably, with the house band.

Back to their first date; they were enjoying themselves, along with a few friends when my father excused himself. My mother used that moment to go to the ladies room, or the powder room as they were sometimes called.

A few moments later, a young woman rushed into the ladies room, "Annie, Annie, he's singing!!

"What, who's singing?"
"Andy! Andy's singing, he's singing to you!"

She rushed out of the ladies room and there was my father, in her eyes larger than life, singing, "Embracable You" by Frank Sinatra. That moment is the moment he won my mother's heart.

I heard this story so many times over the years, especially after my father's passing in 1981, that it is imprinted in my mind.

It was a good solid marriage but like every marriage they had their ups and downs but they stayed together.

So, Happy Heavenly Anniversary to the absolutely amazing man and woman; Andrew and Anita De La O, that gave their all to my sister, my brother and me.

October 19, 1974

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 17:40:00 +0000

Fifty-one years ago today October 19, 1974, I walked into the Golden West Ballroom in Norwalk, California. This woman caught my eye. I asked her to dance and she said yes.

Fast forward through the decades; five children, nine grandchildren, gray hair and a lifetime of memories. We grew old together.

It's not our anniversary but we remember the date every year.

Throwback Thursday Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 20:19:00 +0000

Sometimes an old photo can trigger not only memories but emotions as well. My wife Jeri was in the, "Family Way" with our daughter Meranda. I'm not sure of the date but Meranda was born in May of 1978. So maybe March or April of that year.

This was the first house we lived in on Newlin Avenue. We moved in on February 15, 1978. We lived in three houses on Newlin. When we speak of that house now we refer to it as, either the white house or the first house, so we will know which house we are talking about.We loved that house, in fact we loved the neighborhood too.

We didn't know it yet but looking back we understand now, God Blessed us. That house, that pregnancy, as well as the neighborhood was the genesis of our family.

Then and now, I always thought my wife was a beautiful pregnant woman.

This photo is from sometime in 1979.

Back in those days me and my old pal, the late great, Steve Wallace made the drive to Lake Piru practically every other weekend to go trout fishing but sometimes we would snag an occasional Largemouth Bass. We almost always caught our limiit.

Sometimes we would be having such a good time we would stay a few days. Much to the chagrin of my wife. We didn't have cell phones back then. I never called and she never knew if I was dead or alive.

In our minds, we were the adult versions of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Steve was Huck. It was Huck that took this photo.

Steve passed away in 2000 and Lake Piru has never been the same since. God Bless you, stay safe and enjoy your memories.

Happy Birthday to my Wife

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 23:04:00 +0000

Happy Birthday to my wife Jeri. I celebrate and I thank you for all the good meals you have cooked for our family, all the love and all the shared adventures.As I have always said, you make me look good by just standing next to me.

I give thanks to God,who, in his infinite wisdom, put you directly in my path. Happy Birthday, I love you and your family loves you!

Arroz con Pollo

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 02:04:00 +0000

Arroz con Pollo (Chicken and Rice) for tonight's supper. This is a dish that I have made for years but it has been a while.

For the most part I stick with tradition but I add linguicia sausage which is Portuguese. Linguicia lends a distinctive taste to the rice.

Tonight I also borrowed from Puerto Rican cooks, who know a thing or two about Arroz con Pollo. I used the Gandules peas which is the central ingradient in Arroz con Gandules. It also adds flavor and texture to the rice.

Ultimately though, this my own personal take on Arroz con Pollo. Not 100% traditional but I can live with it.

There is a debate as to the origin of Arroz con Pollo. It is thought to come from Spain, which is a plausible theory considering the great rice dishes Spain is famous for including Paella, Spain's national dish. The other side of the debate is that it all began in Puerto Rico.

I don't know. What I do know is that Arroz con Pollo can be found in almost every Latin America country, including Mexico and the American Southwest.

I should also add that this was a dish my mother regularly made when I was growing up. Cooking and eating it brings the past alive, if only for a moment.

Buen Provecho

The Way Things Used to Be

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 02:01:00 +0000

The Helms Bakery Truck

The Good Humor Ice Cream Truck

The Helms Bakery Truck and the Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, two icons from my childhood. Simple times, good times! I'm kind of sorry today's generation of children never got to experience life the way it used to be. Maybe it is that way with every generation.

We did not have cell phones and computers, but we did have comic books, and we did play outside: hide and seek, tag, dodgeball and we had the Good Humor Ice Cream Trucks and the Helms Bakery Truck.

Jeri and Meranda 1978

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:19:00 +0000

From 1978: Jeri and Meranda in front of our first home (a rental) on Newlin Avenue in Whittier. We moved into that home on February 15, 1978. Meranda was born in May of that year.

We were young. The future and retirement seemed a long, long time away. We had a good time in that house. Lots of good parties, good neighbors and good friends. We lived in two other homes on that street until we bought our current home on February of 1998, twenty years later. We didn't know it then but we do now, we were Blessed.

#TBT #ThrowbackThursday

The Red Headed Ancestor

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 21:40:00 +0000

Some time in the mid 1980's I was visiting my uncle Henry, my father's youngest brother, at his upholstery shop in Uptown Whittier. I don't remember how the conversation came about but we began talking about Las Cruces and Dona Ana, New Mexico, family and family history.

At one point he told me of a wild red headed ancestor who came riding into town, guns a blazing. He stayed and settled. Was he a De La O? Or perhaps someone who married into the family? Possibly a great great grandfather. Or just some unfounded family lore? I don't know.

All of my life, before my hair turned grey, I would occasionally find a hard wiry red hair. I never gave it any thought. I just plucked it. Same with my mustache.

My girls had light colored hair, as did my brother but my youngest daughter (Jack & Josiah's mom) Savannah's hair, while not red, had a tinge or a hint of red.

Then along come Jack and Josiah. My red headed grandsons. Now? I'm inclined to believe that story about the red headed ancestor, though the guns a blazing might be slight embellishment.

Happy Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:53:00 +0000

Seventy-seven years ago today, October 25, 1947, my parents were married in a private civil ceremony in Los Angeles. They remained married until my father's passing on May 7, 1981. My mother passed away April 14, 2018.

They were old school, salt of the Earth, people. Together; through hard work, tenacity and determination, they sought and found the American Dream.

They were two imperfect people just like the rest of us but they stayed together and they built a life together. It was a simple life. A good life.

Happy Anniversary mom & dad. We still miss you and we still love you!

The first photo is from their first date in 1947 at the Avadon Ballroom in Downtown Los Angeles. The second was in 1978 during a road trip to Lake Tahoe.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 02:04:00 +0000

Way back in 1979, when my old long gone pal Steve Wallace and I used to fish Lake Piru in Ventura County we always made a pit stop at Disco Sally's in the town of Piru.

Disco Sally's was a small market, a small Mexican American restaurant and a tackle shop on the edge of town on the road leading up to the lake.

After buying any extra gear, tackle and bait we needed we would sit at the counter and have breakfast or lunch, whatever the case would be.

More often than not, we would order the taquito plate. The taquitos were extraordinarily good. One day, I mentioned to the owner Henry that they were really good. He said his wife made them with canned roast beef hash. Simple but good.

I don't know why it took me forty-five years to get around to making them but it did. I was at the market this morning and saw the cans of Mary Kitchen's Roast Beef Hash. Today's the day, I said to myself.

They weren't perfect but they will be. Good things come to those who wait.

Ol' Steve has been gone a quarter of a century. He was on my mind and in my heart today.

Memorial Day 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Mon, 27 May 2024 22:04:00 +0000

To those that gave the ultimate sacrifice defending American ideals and freedom, and to the families that endured the loss, we give you our everlasting thanks. God Bless you and God Bless America!

Happy Anniversary and Steak Picado

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 03:25:00 +0000

A special dinner tonight for my wife and I. Today is our anniversary. The rain was coming down hard. We didn't feel like driving to a restaurant. So we did the next best thing, or maybe it was the best thing.

I gave the wife a break. I made Steak Picado, with sirloin- the only meat I use for picado - along with bell peppers, onions, carrots, tomato, garlic and tomato sauce. Homemade pintos with bacon, Spanish rice and tortillas.

At the first bite I knew we made the right decision to dine in at home.

Steal Picado is not a spicy dish. Hence the hot Serrano chile. I gotta have some heat.

Happy Anniversary to my wife. I love you. God Blessed us both the day we met.

Camping, Old Friends and Good Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 22:12:00 +0000

I have been going through some old photos and this one jumped out at me. It captures another time for me. I'm fixing breakfast, directly across from me is my late friend Steve Wallace and my life long friend Ken Robledo is behind the camera.

It was 1980 and we were at the Colorado River. That's my old (new at the time) 1979 Toyota Landcruiser. That's Steve's guitar leaning against the Landcruiser.

The tent in the photo once belonged to my parents and they put it to good use during the 60's and 70's. They used that tent for all their camping trips.My father passed it on to me and I used it til it just became a rag. They got their money's worth out of that tent.

All these years later and I still remember what I made for breakfast: Chorizo con papas (Chorizo with potatoes) with a couple of fried over easy eggs and tortillas. Too bad there was no Facebook.

A long gone time with good friends and a very good memory.

Click on the photo for a larger view.

Arroz con Pollo

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 05:37:00 +0000

Tonight's Supper.. Arroz con Pollo (Rice with Chicken)

There are certain dishes that I cook that, in order to be "Authentic ", need to be made with traditional methods and ingredients. I am a stickler for authenticity in anything I cook (within the boundaries of my limited skills) but I tend to stray from tradition with arroz con pollo. I add linguicia sausage, the sausage of Portugal.

Back in the early 1990's, about thirty years ago, on the MD-11 line at McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, California I worked with a Portuguese man, around my age, give or take a year. We were eating lunch together and he pulled out a sandwich on a roll. As he was eating the sandwich he began making sounds. I mention this because this is something I do when I am really enjoying something.

Well, I had to ask," What kind of sandwich is that?" "It's a linguicia sandwich". Up til that time I had never heard of linguicia. He brought me up to date on everything linguicia and then he said the magic words a man like me loves to hear, "I have another one if you want it!" Well, I don't have to tell you what my answer was. Still, to this day, it was one of the best sandwich I have ever eaten.

I cannot, for the life of me, remember his name but I think of him every time I eat linguicia.

Anyway, one day I had the idea to add the linguicia to my arroz con pollo and I have made it this way ever since.

God Bless you, stay safe and eat good!

Caldo de Pollo (Chicken Soup)

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 02:30:00 +0000

"A recipe has no soul. You as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe." - Thomas Keller

The ideal weather today for Caldo de Pollo (Chicken Soup). Hearty and hardy, as well as nutritious. I grew up on this soup. I was feeling a bit under the weather but I'm feeling better by the second. Lot's of good stuff in that bowl.

At Rose Hills Memorial Park

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 02:46:00 +0000

A few pics from earlier today at the Rose Hills Memorial Park. Jeri gave the headstone a good cleaning. There is a good view from Nathan's graveside of downtown L.A., Rio Hondo Community College and the San Gabriel Mountains. Also a photo of the Rosemill Store and Flower Shop where we buy our flowers. Rosehills is a beautiful home for Nathan.

We prayed and said our goodbyes. We will love that boy forever. Happy Birthday Grandson.

After we left the Cemetary we met up with Meranda and the girls and she took us to Seal Beach for lunch at A Slice of New York Pizza on Main Street, our favorite pizza joint. We took a stroll around town before heading back home. A beautiful town, reminiscent of Uptown Whittier, with the added bonus of the Pacific Ocean and a pier.

Happy Birthday Nathan Joseph Guardian

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:40:00 +0000

The routine is the same. We wake up, have our coffee and breakfast, wait around, maybe watch the news until one of us invariably says, “It’s time!” We get in the truck and make the drive; about four miles or so. About a ten, maybe fifteen minutes’ drive. Not much talking on the way. We stop at the Rosemill Flower Shop on Workman Mill RD. The routine is the same here too. Jeri begins the search for the flowers she wants while I wander around looking at some of the other merchandise. Eventually she finds the flowers she wants, we pay for the flowers then we are on our way again. Still not much is said. In a few minutes we approach the Rose Hills Memorial Park. We take the short service road into the cemetery and make our way up the winding hilly road. We are here to visit our beloved grandson Nathan.

Today is our first born grandson’s birthday. He would be twenty-three today. He was just short of four months when he passed. It is an understatement to say he is still loved and still missed by his family. I often think of the boy he would have been, now I think about the man. My wife and I still grieve. Especially in our private moments. It will always be this way. Our time with Nathan was short, the pictures are few but the memories live inside of us. God Blessed us with Nathan and we continue to be Blessed by him. That has not changed.

I sit on the bench near Nathan. The placing of the flowers, cleaning of the headstone and cleaning of his little area is her job. It has become, in some ways, her sacred mission. I do not intrude. When she is done we sit with Nathan for about an hour. We pray and say our goodbyes.

Keep my daughter Meranda and my granddaughters Mariah and Maddie in your prayers today.

The Pledge of Allegiance

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 02:11:00 +0000

It has been many years since I have had to recite the Pledge of Allegiance out loud. It is etched into my heart and psyche, along with the Lord's Prayer. It is something I believe in and live by.

I grew up in a different time. I cannot speak for any other high school but at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, California in the early 70's during the early morning hours before classes started, if you were on school property when the National Anthem was playing you stood still and you kept quiet, it was a matter of respect. You did not move until it was over.

To my way of thinking, it was a good way of life, even if life itself was not perfect.

Just my thoughts for today. God Bless you and may God Bless America.

Happy Birthday JoJo

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 03:51:00 +0000

Happy Birthday to our youngest grandchild, Josiah, or as we affectionately call him, JoJo. He turns three today. An amazing and affectionate boy. He is one of our Blessings. This kid stands up for himself but he has a gentle nature. Nana and PopPop love you JoJo.

Jack's First Basketball Game

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:51:00 +0000

Yesterday, Saturday January 13 was our grandson Jack's first basketball game. It was a great game and both teams played well. Jack had a few brilliant moments in the game. His dad, my son in law Josh is the coach. The team's name is the Red Shooters, which fits him to a Tee. Needless to say, Jeri and I are proud of him. The site for the game was the Whittier Area Community Church.

Cocido on a a Cold Evening

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Nothing like a warming bowl of homemade Cocido, also known as, Caldo de res (Mexican beef soup), to take the chill off a man. Plenty of vegetables too. Good for what ails ye.

Carne Adovada Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 03:23:00 +0000

A good supper today; carne adovada made with Lemitar, New Mexico red chile sent to me in December by my cousin Juanita De La O-Gordon . Also pintos cooked low and slow with smoked bacon, and Spanish rice and of course, flour tortillas.

What is carne adobada? You ask. Carne Adobada is pork (I use pork shoulder), marinated in red chile, along with onion garlic, a few choice spices and a little bit of honey (not everyone uses honey) for no less than 48 hours, then slow braised for 2 1/2 - 3 hours. This is a New Mexico specialty. I haven't made it in a while. It was therapeutic making it. Thank you again for the chile prima Juanita. It is being enjoyed.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, there is magic in the New Mexico soil. Chile from anywhere else just does not compare!

100th Birthday: Andrew De La O

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 16:56:00 +0000

One hundred years ago today, December 16, 1923 my father Andrew De La O was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Sometimes, great men and women, are born and they live their lives in relative obscurity, recognized only by family and close friends. My father was such a man, as were his siblings, my aunts and uncles. There were ten altogether.

Born into poverty, growing up under difficult circumstances in Las Cruces, New Mexico and eventually finding his way to California, he, as well as all my aunts and uncles, found it within themselves to rise above the circumstances and create a good life for themselves and their families.

He did it through hard work, service to his country and all those big and small things good men do. He never complained, nor did he blame anyone else when things went wrong. He owned his mistakes.

The saving Grace in his life is that he was saved by God's Grace. For that I am eternally grateful.

Happy Birthday Dad. We still miss you and we still love you! Give ma my love.

Thanksgiving 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:28:00 +0000

I have said it before and I'll say it again. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite meal of the year. I like it kept traditional; Roast turkey and a baked ham, mashed potatoes with giblet gravy, stuffing, green beans or asparagus, candied yams, cranberry sauce, good bread and pumpkin pie. My drink of choice is water and egg nog.

My wife has been the Thanksgiving hostess throughout our marriage, she inherited that labor of love from my mother, just as our daughters have inherited it from her. She has earned her rest.

Why is it my favorite holiday? It is the pureness of it all, as well as the simplicity, not that cooking and hosting a Thanksgiving dinner is simple or easy but the intent is just to express our gratitude to God for all those good things in our lives.

With that, I offer this prayer: Father God, thank you for the family that you have given my wife and I, our five daughters and one son, perfectly imperfect but filled with love, nine loving grandchildren - including the one who sits with you Father God. We thank you for the the parents and grandparents that you, in your infinite wisdom, placed us with. Thank you for our siblings, the aunts, uncles and many wonderful cousins that defined our childhood. Thank you for those cousins I have found late in life. Thank you for the good, life changing, friends that you put in our path; some for a season, some for the duration.

Thank you for the good work you provided me with. It was enough. It was more than enough. Thank you for the home you gave us to live in and raise a family. Thank you for all the good dogs and cats that gave us love and joy. We remember them all.

Lord, we Thank you for our great country, however imperfect it may seem at the moment. We continue to pray not only for these United States of America but for the world.

Father God, more than anything, we Thank you for your, mercy, forgiveness and grace.

In Jesus's name, we thank you and we pray

Now, about the Thanksgiving day stuffing: my mother made a wonderful stuffing but the stuffing/dressing of my heart is my wife's stuffing. It seems to me that it was created just for me. Maybe that is just one ingredients in God's plan for us. However, I feel as if I have put an undue burden on my daughters. Whichever one of them hosts the dinner they will almost invariably say to me, "Dad, I know it's not mom's stuffing but......" They needn't worry I love theirs too.

God Bless you, stay safe, eat good today and leave room for the pie.

The American Flag

noreply@blogger.com (Randy De La O) — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 19:50:00 +0000

This is the American Flag. it does not represent the Republican Party, neither does it represent the Democratic Party, nor any particular race, ethnicity or special interest group. This flag represents America. Be proud!