Many years ago, I traveled by train from Los Angeles to San Diego to visit my aunt and uncle. When I arrived, I wanted to see Balboa Park and spent a delightful afternoon wandering around its Spanish Village Arts Center . One of the picturesque galleries caught my eye, and the photograph I snapped has inspired this photo essay:
Balboa Park, San Diego, CA (photo by L. LeVasseur, 1990)
The small stucco building is draped in flowers and sunshine. Its white walls glow pink in the morning air. The rooster weathervane glints golden in the delicate light and spins lazily with a faintly musical creak.
Marisa and Joe carry sacks of fresh vegetables across the empty courtyard. Soon the colorful slate tiles will be covered with umbrellaed tables for guests who prefer to dine beneath the brilliant blue sky.
As Marisa deposits her bags in front of the eclectic lilac door, the inspiration for the name of their new restaurant, Joe fishes the key from his coat pocket. The door swings open and they stand back to admire the results of all of their planning.
Entering the brightly decorated dining room, she immediately heads for the kitchen, while he hauls in the bags of produce and then begins to take down the chairs from the sturdy oak tables. In just a few hours, the hushed tranquility will be replaced with the rush and clamor of their very first lunch hour. The clatter of silverware, the hum of conversation and the sizzle of the kitchen grills will fill the space, along with the warm and comforting aromas of chilies, cumin and cilantro.
Marisa emerges from the kitchen, her face already smudged with flour. She has put a batch of churros in the oven. She and Joe exchange a smile. After years of studying in culinary school and working in other chefs’ kitchens, their dream has finally come true.
Words and Photos by Linda A. LeVasseur 