This past Sunday I attended a special event. Angeli Caffe turned 25 years young. That’s 25 years at the same Melrose Ave location. Which is a feat in any town, but it is a downright miracle here in Los Angeles.
Angelinos are rough on their institutions, particularly restaurants; often turning their backs on a great restaurant just as it hits its stride. Or if it does manage to stick around, there is usually a revolving kitchen door that many an ambitious chef used to saute his or her way to the top.
Not so with Evan Kleiman. She has been the creative force behind Angeli Caffe all these 25 years.
So you see, the longevity alone made this a special night for people like me who love eating, who love restaurants and who love this big crazy city too.
But I have a special reason for loving Angeli. It’s one of those “there are a million stories in the naked city” stories. This one’s my own and it’s personal– so if you’ re one of those people that leaves me nasty notes whenever I get personal. CLICK away now, cuz you’ re really gonna hate this story.
Unbeknownst to that little caffe on Melrose– Angeli played an important role in my full and whole-hearted integration into this great city.
It was 1988. I was freshly graduated from college when I moved to Los Angeles. I had been living a pretty easy life in spectacularly beautiful Santa Barbara. But I decided no podunk town for me (yeah, that’s the shameful way I talked back then). Nope, I craved action. I wanted to live in the center of things. So I moved to the big city. I was young enough and naive enough not to think about the consequences of transplanting myself to a major metropolitan area. I had very few friends, fewer prospects for employment and absolutely no money at all. But like Mary Tyler Moore I had spunk. But once I got here I learned that, like Lou Grant, L.A. hates spunk!
I won’t bore you with the details of some of my first dark days because this is a story about Angeli Caffe, and how Angeli Caffe became a central part of my early city life.
Like a lot of people my age, I wanted excitement. I craved glamor. And when you are that young (and that stupid) you usually associate glamor with nightlife.
So once I (finally) landed a full-time job as an assistant to a well-known photographer I turned my sights to my social life. Up until this time I had a fairly “repressed” social life if you know what I mean. AIDS was still looming large and scary. But slowly the gay community was coming back out of its shell. It was an exciting time to be young, gay (and marginally cute) in Los Angeles. Armed with the knowledge of how to protect ourselves, people my age were taking to the bars and clubs of West Hollywood again.
And you know, maybe this is an inappropriate story for a food blog. I know I am going to hear from the contingency that thinks the real reason I write this food blog is to push my social agenda. I don’t know how they saw through my nefarious plot.
But, I don’t care because it’s an honest story. It’s a story about how young people live when they first move to the big city. It’s a story that honors a place that was very important to me at an important time in my life. Maybe I did not always make the best choices. Maybe I had my share of youthful indiscretions. But I survived. Hell, I thrived.
Because as soon as I could afford it, I got myself a studio apartment on Sycamore Ave, just a few short blocks from the trendiest part of Melrose Ave. I felt like I had finally arrived. I felt like I belonged. I just assumed having a cool apartment meant all the other things I craved would just fall into place. A successful career, a handsome boyfriend, and interesting cosmopolitan friends; they just had to be waiting for me right outside the door.
So I hung out on Melrose quite a lot. But success, friendship and my one true love were eluding me. My apartment was expensive for those days and my income. I was constantly worried about money. I got myself a boyfriend who turned out to be anything but my one true love. My great job with the photographer was A LOT of hard work.
I began to feel down. I decided to snap myself out of it with an even more glamorous nightlife– filled with entertainment industry parties and exclusive night clubs. Maybe the answer to my dreams lay inside one of these great distractions. I decided I would make myself available to anyone who was interested. Basically, my rule was if someone asked me out I said yes. No matter how unlikely the pairing. I was just getting to know myself. How would I know what I wanted if I didn’t take a bite from all the fruit in the bowl?
A philosophy like this leads to a lot of first dates. But when I say I made myself available to anyone who showed an interest I want you to know I don’t mean “available”! So I had to choose a venue for those 1001 first dates that made sense. It needed to fit my pocket book. Sometimes it’s better to host a first date than accept the hospitality of a first date. Still, this place needed to be cool and hip and current. It needed to have good food; even then I had discerning tastes (no jokes please, it’s not polite).
But most importantly, the setting for these dates needed to be close to my apartment. That way no matter how the date went, I would be close to home. Either an escape or a “retreat”
By now I am sure you have figured out that I chose Angeli Caffe for my romantic soul searching. I did not go once or twice, or even 10 times during that summer, fall, and winter of 1989. I probably went 100 times. Because sometimes there were actually second dates. And sometimes Angeli turned out to be a good place to meet friends for dinner. The pizza made it a perfect choice for a group of 8 to celebrate a birthday. Sometimes I just wanted a bowl of Tuesday night pasta all on my own. Angeli became all of this for me. I even talked my boss into ordering photo shoot lunches from Angeli.
Maybe time and my great love of Los Angles has colored my recollections of this period of my life. Maybe I didn’t date quite as much as I think I did. Maybe I was never as lonely as in the telling of this story. Maybe I have romanticized that period of my life all out of proportion. Maybe.
But whatever the reason, I’ll always think wistfully on that time and of that caffe. Because, despite the fact that I have not been an Angeli regular in years, a large part of who I am today was invented out of necessity right there at that spot, in that restaurant on Melrose Ave.
Because I doubt my story is completely unique. There must be a reason Angeli has stood while others have fallen. I think it’s because there are places that become part of the social fabric of a city. Places that just know what people want. Angeli fit that niche in my life, and I suspect the live’s of others. So it was nice to gather again with those people. Some of them were strangers, some of them were vaguely (embarrassingly??) familiar, some of them were celebrities– all of them were people touched by a restaurant, and who had the good sense to want to touch that restaurant right back.
And just in case you are new to these pages. I’ll cut to the chase. Yes, I finally did meet the love of my life and we have been happily living and eating together for more than 20 years. And you can bet your butt he was sitting right next to me at Angeli Caffe this Sunday night for that 25th-anniversary party because in so many ways it felt like my own anniversary party. My own celebration of a life lived to its fullest in this city I love.
So thank you Angeli Caffe. I hope you have 25 more years, and then some…
A very special thank you to the talent and generosity of Bryony Shearmur whose photographs grace the pages of SippitySup today. You know me, I don’t let just any old pics make an appearance on this website. So please celebrate her power by clicking here to visit her website. You never know when you are going to need a good photographer.
SERIOUS FUN FOOD
Greg Henry
SippitySup
What a clever idea. I love it. Although it would make me feel guilty if I wasn’t eating fish 3 times a week. I would be making my steak and the fish would be saying “hey.” And, who would ever put cows on their walls? 🙂
Those top ten look like really good American food and drink. People love apples, potatoes, bacon.
I admit it. I love your kitchen, but who wouldn’t? We’ve remodeled many homes through our marriage so I’m always interested in beautiful remodeling results. At one time early in our careers, we considered abandoning our “day jobs” and remodel houses for a living. It’s a good thing we didn’t do that because we were in Houston at the time and about five years later the economy tanked and would have taken us along with it.
Like everyone, I love the fish plates and I’m glad to hear you use them. The red beet fusilli is killer it’s so gorgeous. I missed that post but saw the photo on someone’s blog in a round-up and stopped dead in my tracks to see whose it was…and of course it was yours. I thought it had to be but couldn’t wait to scroll down to be sure.
I’m staying tuned to see how you will top your top ten in the new year. Should be a great ride.
Sam
Thanks Sam…
The thing is I clicked on your photo just because of the kitchen (fish plates and platters)on food gawker, so no matter what if it gets visitors coming it has to be a good thing.
Top ten is not so important as having them return and enjoying the experience.
Of course I know you are right. TKS
Blogging about food is something so special, so passionate yet something — and we know this every time we have people over to eat — is something that needs to be done thinking of our own pleasure and the pleasure of our guests. Not everyone is always going to like everything and heaven knows we’ve all made one or two things that we didn’t like but did it to please a friend or loved one, but it usually evens out in the end. And the favorites you showed us here are both luscious, gorgeous flavors, intriguing ingredients and stunning to look at! Beautiful!
And it looks like we have a great meal here, too. I’m on my way!
because I’m JEALOUS AS HELL
I’ll quote my inner monolog upon seeing your kitchen stove: “F**K ME!”
So you see, and I’m sure understand, that’s why. ~Mary
…you’ll be back. The stove has cast a spell over you. You’ll be back. GREG
you have such an awesome kitchen! and great round up for 2009 🙂
and remember why we began to blog in the first place. Everyone has a common thread of wanting to get noticed sure, and I believe it is by way of putting passion into words, and with pictures. It is not about what is well written, who’s photos are the best, the most talented. We are all different and what makes SS who he is comes out in what is on here. All Good. I never cared for contest, because we all have talents that can never really be better than another, Everyone has there own taste and definitions. Why, because we are all equally wonderful, and our work is beautiful whether short pieces, long, wordy, or just recipes posted. Even the short buss people deserve attention for their efforts. Our true soul comes through in our work, the fact that we took the time to cook, take photos, and share. Too bad the world has to revolve around beauty pageants, and perfection. There are so many talented people out there who never even TRY because of the pressures.
I personally do not care who comes to my site, I do it for myself. Some education does factor into my drive. I know when I first presented my work to the present was a slow work that evolved, and will continue to do that. I am just happy to be a part of it all, and will continue to learn, and present what feels right as I go.
You know how I feel about your talents. From the moment I first looked into that face on foodbuzz, I knew I had to follow that handsome face and his work. I could say more, but I think you know the rest…
This has helped me see my true passion, and I have gotten the writing gigs for my food poetry, and the fact I am just presenting a nice friendly fun style…
Greg, I know what you mean about the top posts. I once went on a sushi course and was sure it would thrill my readers to no end.…I had videos, step by step photos, the works. The response was just ok. When I made chocolate waffles, it was unbelievable the outpouring of LOVE. That has been a great lesson to me! You can’t judge your own posts 🙂
touché
Great roundup from 2009 Greg! Looking forward to next years round up from 2010!
Culinarily yours,
CCR
=:~)
I can’t believe your post on how to cook fish wasn’t in your top ten! I love that post. Great round-up, makes me wonder what my top posts would be. I’m sure I would be surprised too.
I would have chosen the “how to cook fish” post in the top ten too. But these were the top ten most viewed pages of the year and statistics can be cruel! GREG
Had I read the kitchen post when it published, I probably would have liked it, the most, too! your cocina is HOT, baby! Love the fish plates on the wall. Do you use them ever when entertaining!?!? Maybe I should just go read the post.
use the plates from off the wall. I have even used them as props in photos here on sippitysup. Like this post… http://www.sippitysup.com/bouillabaisseveloute GREG
I have no clue what constitutes a good post versus a popular post — my stats tell me that at least two times or even three times per day someone comes to my blog to learn about huazontle — so huazontle is one of my biggies…do what you do thats how I see it — if its well written (and even well written doesnt seem to matter in some instances) and interesting (again subjective) then people will still do what ever they want.
well said…
Is that your kitchen? If so you have amazing decorating tastes! Wow I would love to cook in there.
God, I love your kitchen!! 😉 Now that I’ve said that…this is your blog. I already think you’re successful with it. It got some great posts. This is your space and you do whatever you want in it. I was debating on whether or not to do a top recipes thing myself, but I never got around to it. Plus, laziness took over and it just never came to be.
The Fish Plates ARE the bomb. That’s all I can say.…oh, and I love the way you swam them over your wall. Awesomeness! ~Chris Ann
Alcohol, comfort food, dessert and a beautiful kitchen remodel what more could you want?I think your kitchen remodel was most popular because a. It’s gorgeous b. It gives us a glimpse into your home and who you are, making your readers feel more connected to you.
These are excellent top 10! The beet pasta has been quite a sensation on the 5 star makeover!
I can’t offer as interesting an explanation as Joan & Oui — only that I love your posts because you present what has inspired YOU.
I knew you’d get me! GREG
But will you come over and help redesign me a new kitchen? LOVE the calming, subtle colors, and yes, the fish platters rock! As for the mashed potatoes recipe, duh, who DOESN’T love bacon and cheese in mashed potatoes? Obviously a winner Sippity Sup recipe.
I grapple with that what-was-most-popular versus what-did-I-like-most thing too — they don’t always match up for me either! I’m just learning as I go along… (at least I hope I am). And I’m still sighing longingly at the thought of your kitchen…
then you know how I feel about your garden. GREG
Greg — As a fairly new reader of Sippitysup, I was happy to find this post as it prompted me to dig back through your archives to see more of your great posts that I’d missed. As for what your top 10 list says about your readers, well let’s see.…
1) Aside from the fact that your kitchen remodel post highlights your absolutely gorgeous sense of design, it also shows a picture of the chef cleaning up after himself in the kitchen, an act that clearly holds universal appeal!
2–4) The first 3 food post winners focus on the use of copious amounts of alcohol and fat.….what’s not to love there?
5–7) Sweets round out the middle of the field, including my absolutely favorite photograph of yours, the red fusilli.
8–10) Hmmm… harder to find a theme here, although each plate has some food that is round in shape.
So, what does all this say about us readers?
That we are fine design coveting, clean-freak, fat-loving alcoholics, with serious sweet tooths, and an odd penchant for round food???? Sorry, it’s the best I could do.
…interesting analysis. GREG
There is none! But I offer up one other variable to explore if you’re still into trying to figure it out. Were your top 10 actively promoted on other websites, like twitter, fb, etc.? I think your beet fusilli would fall into that category since it was part of an event and shown on multiple sites.
Anyway, I totally agree with the results of your kitchen remodel. Even in the photo above, I was admiring the fish plates before I even read the post.
I had not considered. All 10 od the finalists did make it onto TasteSpotting and FoodGawker, perhaps proving how valuable the Photo Bullies at those two sites can be (teasing…kiss kiss). GREG
A difficult phenomenon to explain being a success blogger but if you feel it, it’ll come 🙂
Excellent delicious top collection Greg & Henry!! Just drooling with the pictures.…
Have a great week!
Gera
Thanks for the laugh. My name is Greg Henry! I am one person with two first names. Also TKS for the stumble. It’s been ages since someone stumbled me. GREG
I’ll tell you why I think this was your number one post(imho). Its freakin fabulous. The kitchen is beautiful. The fish platters on the wall are incredible (I may/probably am going to steal that idea). Your photo of the whole scene is so lovely it looks like it should be in a professional design magazine. And, last but certainly not least, everyone loves you and is happy to see you in your new kitchen! That is you isn’t it??? Hehe
That’s me! GREG
I was looking at my analytics the other day and it seriously dawned on me that it has been over 15 years since I have had calculus classes.
Are these the most viewed based on total incoming hits? I have a large number of incoming hits that come from search engines so that group just gives me an idea of what people are searching for, not necessarily in my blog.
When reading everyone doing their top 10 of 2009, I really gave up trying to figure out which ones were the most viewed by my regular, returning readers.
FWIW, I still have the terroir post bookmarked to try, the mash potatoes are gourmet comfort food, I remember that post, and I love wedge salad, so I think this list is pretty solid. It included 3 of my favorites.
I am putting it all out of my mind and moving on… GREG
Self serving, or self helping, in this case, you did your readers a favor by consolidating some of your wonderful work in a single post. Thanks!