1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Hey, it's Neil Savedra. You're listening to kfi EM six 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: forty The Fork Report on demand on the iHeartRadio app. 3 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: Len Me, did you had it? 4 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: Let me teach you had it? Adam, Marron, Nathan, Let 5 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: me teach you at it. 6 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: It's a column marriage Nick. Let me teach you how to. 7 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 3: Let me teach you. 8 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: Kf I am six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. 9 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: Happy Saturday to you. It is the four Report, all 10 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: things Food, beverage and beyond. I am your well Fed host, 11 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: Neil Savadra. How do you do? Every Saturday? We get 12 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: together for three hours and we celebrate food, the culture 13 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: behind it, the people that make it, cooking, going out 14 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: to eat, tipping a glass, and everything in between. I've 15 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: said this before. The very word companion, the root word 16 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: is bread pond. Companion means someone you break bread with. 17 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: So we celebrate those things on the show every week. 18 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: And my next guest, Christy Vega, is from Casa Vega. 19 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: We've had her on the phone once before, we've never 20 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: had her in studio, and I know she was with 21 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: her buddy Tim Conway Jr. The other day, but we 22 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: welcome her back to the studio today. Hi, Hi, nice to. 23 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 3: See you for having me. 24 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: Oh no, I'm thrilled it is. It's so strange because 25 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: being in La, growing up in this area, being born 26 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: in Encino. But I like to clarify to people it 27 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: was the north side of the boulevards. They're like, oh, 28 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: it's you know, I'm like, no Burbank Boulevard. Sorry. So 29 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: loving everything La. You it's a staple. Tell everybody that 30 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 1: might not know about Casa Vega how long it's been 31 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: there and the family background. 32 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 3: So Casa Vega, we are celebrating our seventieth year in September. 33 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: Wow, just like Disneyland. 34 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: That's sorry. 35 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: Nineteen fifty six and it was founded by my father, 36 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 3: Raphael Rey Vega, at the age of twenty two, and 37 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 3: he founded Casa Vega as a way to put his 38 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: parents back to work. My grandparents were restaurant tours in 39 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 3: La when they immigrated from Tijuana, and they owned a 40 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 3: very famous restaurant. It was the first sit down Mexican 41 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 3: restaurant on Elvada Street. And then when they I don't 42 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 3: know if you if you know this little bit of 43 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 3: history about La, they were considering banning alcohol because it 44 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 3: became part of the State Park District, and so my 45 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 3: grandpa was like, well, we can't survive without the Margherita's in. 46 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: The bar, so they no one can. 47 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 3: Nobody can, So they went to Hollywood. It didn't turn 48 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 3: out so well from them over there. It was a 49 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 3: little bit of anti Latino sentiment. Operation went back, so 50 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 3: they closed and then my dad came back to support 51 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 3: his family. So he had just been in a hospitality school. 52 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 3: He quit to come home and then he and my 53 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,839 Speaker 3: grandmother would cater every night, and by day he would 54 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 3: sell life insurance to support his parents. And when he 55 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,119 Speaker 3: was selling life insurance, he met a woman who was like, you, guys, 56 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 3: are the Vegas from Alvera Street you need to reopen. 57 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 3: He's like, well, we're belly up, we don't need you money. 58 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 3: And she said, I have a place in Studio City 59 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 3: and I'll give you three months free rent. And so 60 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 3: he borrowed from everybody he knew, and then he put 61 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 3: his parents back to trucks. My grandmother got busy in 62 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 3: the kitchen and my grandfather got busy behind the bar, 63 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 3: and my dad still sold life insurance by day to 64 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 3: keep the income coming in. But then he'd work the 65 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 3: restaurant all night and let his parents rest. But when 66 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: we got to the valley, and so we were just 67 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 3: a few blocks east of where Cosa Vega is now 68 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 3: there's a barbecue galore, if you know. Yeah, and so 69 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 3: it was wonderful they opened the door. No racism, no 70 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 3: anti Latino sentiment in the valley. And one of the 71 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 3: first customers was Marlon Brando carry Grant. And what we 72 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 3: realized that little space that we got just out of 73 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 3: pure lock was all the hills was homes to the stars. 74 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 3: So they would just come and they became our frequent customers. 75 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 3: They were very liberal, so they were open to our 76 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 3: immigrant Mexican family. And Marlon Brando really put us on 77 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 3: the map. I mean he brought everybody in. He was 78 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 3: in five nights a week, and if he wasn't in there, 79 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 3: like said Nico said that they were getting to go food. 80 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: It was like a little hideaway sort of too, because 81 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: you're coming down the north side of the hill rather 82 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: than into Hollywood proper. 83 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: Exactly. That's just funny. 84 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 3: Quentin Tarantino described it as you know, Casa Vega, you 85 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 3: can you can fall well, he said, the Mexican restaurants 86 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 3: you can fall down the hill. One side you go 87 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,679 Speaker 3: to Cosavega, the other side you go to al Kayote. 88 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yes, we'll tell you more about that connection when 89 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: we come back. So go nowhere. It's our Oscar show 90 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: just because the Oscars are tomorrow, and there is even 91 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 1: more film ties to Kasa Vega as we talk with 92 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: Christy Vega and something exciting that they just opened. I 93 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: think after three or four years is what it took. 94 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: Because you can build Disneyland in a year, you can 95 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: make a baby in nine months, but putting a patio 96 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: in La and the amount of red tape you have 97 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: to jump through takes three to four years. So we'll 98 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: explain that when we return. 99 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 4: You're listening to the Fork Report with Nil Savedra on 100 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 4: demand from KFI AM six forty. 101 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: Thanks for hanging out. It's the day before the Oscars, 102 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: so of course we do our Oscars show. Started this 103 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: a handful of years ago and it ties into food. 104 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: Of course, you know Wolfgang Puck when it comes to 105 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: catering the actual event, but we have so many places 106 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: that have been around for a long time that are 107 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,919 Speaker 1: really that have fed the artists, have fed the actors, 108 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: the people behind the seats forever, and Casa Vega is 109 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: one of them on Ventura Boulevard there, Christy Vega is 110 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: with us. Took years in the making, but finally you've 111 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: got that stunning Now I've only seen pictures. I'm going 112 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: to grab the fam and we're going to come out 113 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: and check it out. But I've seen the beautiful pictures 114 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: of the new patio. Tell us about that. 115 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: Thank you. 116 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, the patio was a three year journey because I 117 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 3: knew Alfresco with the city wasn't going to be very 118 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 3: permissive or really allow us to do anything. So I 119 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: went through the massive cup process and changes the use 120 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 3: of land, which means that I now have a three 121 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 3: thousand square foot patio. I'm able to put a retractable 122 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 3: roof on it to keep the customers shaded from the 123 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 3: valley heat or you know, kind of close it and 124 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 3: they can we can keep the heat in. And then 125 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 3: I've got an eighteen seat bar, full plumbed bar, which 126 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 3: you know I do an al Fresco. I added two 127 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 3: bathrooms and the patio seats one hundred. 128 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: Wow, that's awesome. Is there a fire pit out there too? 129 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: There's not a fire. 130 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: Pit because there's something that is stunning that goes the 131 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:08,679 Speaker 1: length or part of it. 132 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 3: It's waters, but I do wow on there too. So 133 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 3: I built I call it the heart beata of a patio, 134 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 3: and so there's a big fountain in the middle and 135 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 3: that you can sit. It has seating so you can 136 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 3: grab a seat by the fountain. I dedicated it to 137 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 3: date nights because we have so many date nights at Casavega, 138 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 3: and I hear that from my customers. 139 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 2: This was our first date. 140 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 3: This was our first date, so we get families and 141 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 3: first dates. So the fountain is dedicated to date night. 142 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 3: And then but I have I piped in gas natural 143 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 3: gas to the lanterns because I really wanted to bring 144 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 3: in that old world wow from Casavega from the interior, 145 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 3: so you'll see a lot of elements like that. So 146 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 3: we have gas lanterns all around with a live flicker 147 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 3: flame and I mirrored little boxes of smoke glass so 148 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: that dances in it. And then it's really beautiful, and 149 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 3: so I did a tottom round iron. I have outdoor 150 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 3: leather tufted boots, so it gives that old Hollywood vibe 151 00:07:59,600 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 3: that the rush. 152 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: It looks gorgeous and I can tell by just your 153 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: how you dress that you have an eye for detail. 154 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: Did you have a lot of say in that Did 155 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: you really say, hey, listen that you know, can we 156 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: do gas out here? Can we do those? 157 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 3: Absolutely every decision I was involved, I was there, I approved, 158 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 3: I picked it. 159 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 2: It was you know. 160 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 3: Of course, it takes a huge team to do something 161 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 3: like this. We had architects and designers and X, Y 162 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 3: and Z, but I think they were a little thrown 163 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 3: off about how every single decision I was like, no, 164 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 3: I need to know, I need to know, I need 165 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 3: to approve, I need to do this. I want it 166 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 3: to look like this. I was very specific because this 167 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 3: is my family, it's my dad, and I really want 168 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 3: to take care of it, and I want to honor 169 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 3: the customers that have kept us in business for so long, 170 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 3: and the crown weighs heavy. 171 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: I don't want to mess anything up. 172 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: I want to keep cross a vegu irrelevant, but I 173 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 3: don't want to dishonor what's made it so famous for 174 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 3: all these years. 175 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: Did you name? 176 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 2: Yes? And I named the patio the rey Vega Patio. 177 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: I love it. 178 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's after my father and our founder, and we 179 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 3: lost him in COVID and he always had the dream 180 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 3: of a patio and we had like four different renditions 181 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 3: and architects. But he always got very frustrated with the 182 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 3: city and so. 183 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 1: Wow, LA, I know. 184 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, So he'd give up and just like throw up 185 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 3: his hands and not deal with it. 186 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 2: But I thought, I'm gonna do it. I'm going to 187 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: do it for him. I'm going to get this through. 188 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 3: And every year he would try and buy the property 189 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 3: and he'd write the same landlord a letter from nineteen 190 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 3: sixty one I found in the corporate books all the 191 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 3: way through. 192 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 2: And I just got the land this year. 193 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: Wow, good for you. That is an awesome story. That 194 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: is awesome. Good for you. That is what legacy deserves. 195 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: I have a friend who owns I don't know ten 196 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: different restaurants, same restaurant, different locations in LA and he 197 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: always makes the joke that he'd prefer the powers that 198 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: be and the politicians in LA to just go no, 199 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: we hate business, go away, instead of saying jumping through 200 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: the hoops, oh no, we want to help, we want 201 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: to help, but they don't. A friend of mine is 202 00:09:55,600 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: on the city council, councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, and she she 203 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: was thrilled because we originally tried to do the show 204 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: from the location and she had texted me she goes, 205 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: if you're going, I'm going, and I said, of course, yeah, 206 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: you're coming. We'll all hang out. 207 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: She is one responsible that the party is open. 208 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: She's real. She loves food and small business and she's 209 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: the real deal. 210 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 3: And every time we would get stuck, she would pull 211 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 3: me out and push it through, and I was just like, 212 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 3: Ellie needs more of this. 213 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: She is the real deal. And I bust her chops 214 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: on the daily run for mayor already and straighten this 215 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: garbage out right, Just be honest. I don't nobody really 216 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: cares when it comes down to it, if somebody's a 217 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: moderate on either side, just get stuff done. 218 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 2: Get it done. And that's what she does. 219 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, and she absolutely does does. And I you know, 220 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: I met her through a food friend and fell in 221 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: love with her. I'm just like, she speaks the truth 222 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: that you know. Do we always agree? No, of course not. 223 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: I wouldn't. I don't think anybody agrees across the board. Man. 224 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: I believe her math. I trust her math and that 225 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: she's you know, looking through these things. 226 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 2: But you will be one day. 227 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: Yes, oh no, I believe I've said it on the 228 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 1: show many times, so much so. One time I was 229 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: joking with somebody about her being mayor that the La 230 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: Times picked it up and reached out to her saying, 231 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: are you running? I'm like, good, get her to do it. 232 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: But she's she's one of the few that loves working 233 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: where she is, and she's a. 234 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 2: Huge advocate in restaurants all over time, big. 235 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: Time, big time, And I'm glad she was a part 236 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: of that because she's like, have you seen the patio? 237 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: He said, only in pictures? And so if we were 238 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: there today, she was gonna come hang out with us, 239 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: because she's just an amazing person, one one of many 240 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: like yourself that are the bones of Los Angeles, the 241 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: structure that is holding up parts of the culture that 242 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: are important. We can't let these places go. God bless 243 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: you for living through COVID. Yes, which was frustrating. 244 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 3: It was awful and frustrating, but it honestly made me 245 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 3: fierce and find my voice and become, you know, unapologetic 246 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 3: that I'm going to save this legacy. And if it 247 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 3: ruffled a few feathers, and it did. 248 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you'd think it would come from a seven 249 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: foot two body. Would you walk in and goes who's yelling? 250 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 1: And then you look down, Oh man, that little thing 251 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: looks pasted. Well, what a pleasure to meet you in person. 252 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 1: You're welcome on this show. Anytime anything any you know, 253 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: specials or events or anything takes place, you let us 254 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,439 Speaker 1: know and we'll either get you on or promote it. Well. 255 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: You always know where we are there, sir, aren't you. 256 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: But just anytime we support you and have to thank you. 257 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: We can't lose you. 258 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: No, we're a family business, so that means everything. 259 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: We just can't. So thanks for coming out. The food 260 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: is fantastic. I've been nibbling here. They were so kind 261 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: to bring us food. We're gonna eat some of this 262 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: through the next break and make sure everybody gets some 263 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 1: of it here on the crew. But it's just fantastic 264 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 1: and stunning, and I'll post some pictures as well. Thanks 265 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: so much for coming by and sharing your legacy with us. 266 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: It's the fork Report. That's Christy Vega, Christie Vega. That 267 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: non Sam is familiar CAUs A Vega. Check it out, 268 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: go see the patio, make your date night there. The food, 269 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 1: the attitude, and the vibes are spectacular, and it really 270 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: is a place that we need to fight to protect 271 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: and to keep. 272 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 4: You're listening to the Fork Report with Nil Savedra on 273 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 4: demand from KFI AM six forty. 274 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: It's our Oscar show because it's the day before the Oscars. 275 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: And boy, what an absolute lovely human being Christy Vega is. 276 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: We've shared friends and mutual friends and stuff like that 277 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: for a long time. First time ever met her in person, 278 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: and what a delight and what a fire ball man. 279 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: The fact that she goes toe to toe with La 280 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: to get stuff done and doesn't make it political in 281 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: a sense like it's this side or that side, but 282 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: just goes after the rights of business owners and the like. 283 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: God bless her. But what an absolute wonderful little human being. 284 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: I say little because she is tiny. Holy smoke, we'll 285 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: post those pictures. 286 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 4: It looks like. 287 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: It looks like she was my lunch, you know, like 288 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: on like a plate. She's the size of this platter 289 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: right here. Knock it off, Kayla, you get how old 290 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: are you? Oh? My god, she was your lunch? 291 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 2: I wait, Oh that makes it better. 292 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: Jeez, no to self, get a producer. He's not seven 293 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: years old. Did you have any of the food. Did 294 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: you guys get food? It's so delicious. Oh my gosh, 295 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: so so whoever that seven year old boy was loved it. 296 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: Sorry I leave. My friend's calling me telling me I 297 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 1: sound like a teenage boy. 298 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 4: Yeah. 299 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, when it's time to change, it's time to range, 300 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: all right, that take us all bad. 301 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:18,119 Speaker 2: It's delicious. 302 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: Beans and rice are like my grandma used to make. 303 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: Oh man, they're just wonderful. Mario, did you get some food? 304 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: I did? Oh my goodness, just that word Casavega. How 305 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: have anyone here been to Cassavega? No, it's on my list. 306 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: I always wanted to go. Oh my god, the vibe 307 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: is great, that's what I hear. It's always been. I've 308 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: gone there forever. I used to go there for lunch. 309 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: When I was in management here, we would look for 310 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: excuses to go out there with Robin Bertlucci, like if 311 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: we had meetings out that way, We're like, boom, let's 312 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: go to Casa Vega. 313 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 2: And now they have that nice patio and it's perfect 314 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: because the summer's right here. It's wonderful outside. I can't 315 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 2: wait to check it out. 316 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: These are the places you root for you want them 317 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: to be around. You want them to stay their staples. 318 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: And the carne i sada, Oh my gosh, look at 319 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: how perfectly cooked that is, just enough redness in there 320 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: to let you know that it was thoughtfully prepared and 321 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: not overcooked. And well it's going to go on a taco. 322 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: We'll just chop it up. It'll be fine. 323 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 2: No, they took care of that meat. They put it 324 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: on taco and chips and sausa. I know it's like 325 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,479 Speaker 2: it sounds plain Jane, but no, stop the basics. 326 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: If you don't get the basics right, they not gonna 327 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: get everything else right. One of my favorite sayings of 328 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: mo Kelly is get the easy ones right, and he 329 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: I stole that and I run with it because it 330 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: absolutely is is true. If you can't get the easy 331 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: stuff right, you're not going to get the complicated stuff. 332 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: So that's why I like to taste simple things, or 333 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: I like to say simple cocktails. See if they get 334 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: them right. If they're not going to get those right, 335 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: they're not going to get a sazarak or something else 336 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: right that might have a little more nuanced to it. 337 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: All right, stick around, we'll talk a little bit about 338 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: I want to tell you actually some movies that were 339 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: shot at Casavega as well that you may not have known. 340 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: So go know where. 341 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 4: You're listening to The Fork Report with Nil Savedra on 342 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 4: demand from KFI AM six. 343 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: Forty Oscars are tomorrow, so we're kind of doing an 344 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: Oscars show. We had Casa Vega in here. What a delight, 345 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: you know. These there's just people and places that you 346 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: root for. Christy and her family we root for here 347 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: because she she speaks her mind, you know, and she's 348 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 1: she's a powerhouse. You know. I follow her or watch 349 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: some of the things she do. She does. I've seen 350 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: stuff on in print and social media and in interviews. 351 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: You know, it took a long time, not only the 352 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: three to four years it took to actually get their 353 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: new patio, which is gorgeous, but when she told me 354 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: the story about her father since nineteen sixty one trying 355 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: to buy the property to be able to do something 356 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: like this, man, you got to stand up and cheer. 357 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: That's the end of a movie right there. But in 358 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: addition to them celebrating their seventieth year, just like Disneyland. 359 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, nineteen fifty six was when 360 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: they popped up, but celebrating that on the day before 361 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: the Oscars. It's nice to talk about the fact that 362 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: they've been in film. Not only Marlon Brando put them 363 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: on the map back in the day when Casa Vega 364 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: in Sherman Oaks opened, but Once Upon a Time in 365 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: Hollywood came out in twenty nineteen. It was used for 366 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: multiple scenes there the End nineteen seventy eight with Burt 367 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: Reynolds his characters a lawyer at the restaurant, Valley Girl, 368 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: the Neon side. That super super familiar and landmark sign 369 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: in the background is in that film. But it's just 370 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: got this great vibe. It's dark and intimate on the inside. 371 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: Now they have a different ambiance in the back, but 372 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: from what Christy Vega was telling us, they still made 373 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: sure that it was vintage, that it had that old 374 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: world vibe, putting in gas lamps in the like. Celebrities 375 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 1: have long been going there, you know. I don't know 376 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: that I can remember a time that I've been in 377 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: there on an evening, on a date or with friends 378 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: or whatever it was back in the day, and I 379 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,880 Speaker 1: didn't see someone famous in there just enjoying themselves. I mean, 380 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 1: oftentimes you'd see them with these big old margarita's hanging out. 381 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: But Brando was one of the first, apparently, and started 382 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: bringing people there. They have special offers as well. They 383 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: have a Tarantino Margarita there, and it just is, I 384 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: don't know, one of these important places, but I love 385 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: the fact that it shows up in movies like that, 386 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: and it's been in like The Real Housewives of Beverly 387 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 1: Hills another movie called Killer's Delight in nineteen seventy eight. 388 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: Barnaby Jones was there in nineteen seventy three. You know, so, 389 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: I just I love those kind of things that separate 390 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: places like Casa Vega and La Proper. You know that 391 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: set us apart that way. 392 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 4: All right? 393 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: More to come go to where it's The Fork Report. 394 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: I'm Nil Savedra. This is KFI heard everywhere on the 395 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app. You've been listening to the Fork Report. You 396 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: can always hear us live on KFI AM six forty 397 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: two to five pm on Saturday and anytime on demand 398 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app.