The employees had already been told they could have the day off, replied Fidel Jr., and most of them had already made plans. Green Chiles, Onion, Tomatoes and Cheese. Crab Quesadilla and Enchilada Verde (chicken) served with Rice & Beans. Washing dishes, cutting vegetables, cleaning. It used to be a private home, he remembers. Id go out [socially] and what did I end up talking about? But what the hell did I have to be afraid of? To tell people were out of beans, were out of rice, or were out of everything it was frequent. 621 Valley Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075 Somebody needs to fill that office, his time, his money, his decisions. And according to Fidel Jr.'s analysis, when it comes to making decisions about the business, Mark feels he dont have to ask nobody, and Richard wants to make sure hes not going to hurt anybody. With the visible accumulation of wealth, many things have begun changing for the Montanez family, among them the dynamics of prejudice. Chicken, Tortilla strips, Green Chiles. . Mayo, Lettuce / Add Avocado, Tomato $6.25, Adult (large cuts of hand-cut french fries/Child (frozen variety), Banana, Mexican Chocolate and Cinnamon, rolled inside Four mini Flour Tortillas, fried and covered with Chocolate Sauce and Whipped Cream (with Ice Cream $9.50), Vanilla Ice Cream in a Homemade coating of Vanilla Wafer, Coconut, Coco and Nuts, topped with Chocolate Sauce and Whipped Cream, Dough-pastry, fried, rolled in Cinnamon and Sugar (Four per order) ($10.00 with Ice Cream), Flour-dough, cut into bite-sized pieces and fried until golden brown and puffy; served with Honey, Flour Tortilla, deep-fried, powdered with Cinnamon and Sugar (with Ice Cream $5.25). Served with sliced Tomato, Avocado, Rice and Beans. Filled with Imitation Crab (white fish) & diced Onion covered with Tomatillo Sauce and Jack Cheese, garnished with Tomato and Avocado. Mark was managing the Carlsbad restaurant at the time and he was also having problems of a different sort. Ground Beef, topped with Lettuce, Tomato, Sour Cream and Guacamole. Shortly after opening his barbershop in Eden Gardens, Fidel bought the shop of a deceased South Oceanside barber; he and an employee cut hair there in the daytime, and evenings Fidel worked alone in Eden Gardens. Whos going to take it? I wanted for people to look up to him and say, Seor Fidel. But she also wanted a house with a swimming pool, a Cadillac, a diamond ring, and the ability to travel all over the world. To keep all these business endeavors running, Fidel left his house in Encinitas at five-thirty or six in the morning and headed first up to Oceanside. All rights reserved. Theres no doubt but that we blew it.. A speical treat is called Platos Especiales de Papas, which is homestyle comfort food featuring potatles servediw ht rice, beans and toritallas. All sauted with a Special Seasoning and served with Pepper We never used scissors. He felt, though, that this was not really being a barber, it was just cut, cut, one way and that was it. The ones that worked got the benefits and the ones that didnt got taken care of but didn't get all the mashed potatoes and gravy. But after the Escondido restaurant opened, Richard realized thats just not the way its going to be right now. Served with Avocado & Queso Fresco. Soon the word about their chiles rellenos, turkey tacos and other tasty food spread throughout the area and even as far north as Los Angeles. I was involved, where was I going to go with my business? And when he was asked whether he could afford the purchase, Fidels reply was inevitable. Add Shredded Beef or Turkey. Fidel unloaded the truck then took off for his Carlsbad restaurant where he found Fidel Jr. and told him he wanted the Escondido branch open for the holiday. You have to go. Don Julio Reposado, Kahla, Orange Curacao, Bitters. Onions, Tomatoes. Aficionados of Mexican food know that Valley Blvd runs right through Eden Gardens where the oldest and best Mexican Restaurant is located. Tender Calamari, breaded and fried. Yet, it is the authentic-tasting Mexican dishes and seafood entries that get the greatest acclaim. Beef/Turkey/Carne Asada/Shrimp, Green Chiles, Cheddar Cheese, Tomatoes, Onions (Jalapenos optional) served with Rice & Beans, Green Chiles, Cheddar Cheese, Tomatoes, Onions served with Rice & Beans, Oversized BurritoFlour Tortilla filled with Refried Beans, or Pot Beans (V), Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes and Sour Cream / Add Rice (contains turkey broth), Deep fried burrito with your choice of Beef/Pork/Turkey/Machacha/Ground Beef/Bean topped with Lettuce, Guacamole and Sour Cream (+$2.00 Carnitas/ + $2.00 Carne Asada). Lightly breaded jalapeos stuffed with cream cheese, deep-fried, served with a dipping sauce. I just fit what they needed and they took it. He resigned after one year. Seafood Enchilada and Fish Taco.Served with Rice or Beans or Split of Each $21.40. include Rice, Beans, and Tortillas. Served with corn or flour tortillas. Their father used to buy them a lot of cars, says Mark. Oaxaca Cheese, Frijoles De La Olla, Fried Chiles and Onions, Radish, Soft rolled Corn Tortilla with Chunks of Tender Steak. $17.50, Med. And they would all come have dinner, see me, I was managing, I could buy them a meal. This was news to Fidel, and when he asked about it, Richard, who was filling in for Fidel Jr., current manager of the Escondido branch, told him Fidel Jr. was responsible for the closing. His father thought it selfish that Richard would want higher initiative and productivity rewarded with increased pay and authority, and it had become apparent that, in the interest of the family, certain of the brothers would always be propped up regardless of ineptitude clashing with the interests of the business. Before I was eighteen I had already had five cars. I could go to Rancho, but who the hell wants to be living up there with all those highlights?". As Fidel Jr. remembers it, it happened almost overnight, and he dates the transformation at the fall of 1973 when, instead of tapering off as usual after a busy summer business just kept on going. Frijoles De La Olla, Fried Chiles and Onions, salsa Fresca, Sliced Avocado, tortillas, Grilled Pork Chorizo, Sliced and Mixed with Sauteed Seasoned Zucchini, Yellow He says he enjoyed his tenure on the board but is unwilling to discuss the matter beyond stating that it was quite educational. It was also, as Martha recalls it, quite a revelation. . The houses exterior is white stucco and red tile to match the restaurant, and it is surrounded by parking lots front and back to provide room for Marthas Cadillac, Fidels Porsche, and the constantly changing fleet of cars owned by the kids a trend initiated by the new Thunderbird Fidel Jr. received at sixteen. The Bluebird and Tonys vie for the honor of being Eden Gardens oldest restaurant; Tony Gonzales established his Jacal, which started as part of his house, in 1946. He was sending a Mercedes 450 SL after us, taking us to lunch, wining and dining us, telling us he'd like to see about getting us some good suits he knew we were going to make him money. It might not be the best, but its definitely not the worst, and you know a lot of people who dont have it as good as you. Green Chile wrapped around Cheddar Cheese, covered with an Egg Battered and Fried (may request Mole Sauce). Your choice of Turkey/Beef/Carne Asada/Shrimp with Cheddar Cheese between a folded Flour Tortilla, (Cheddar Fondue with Chorizo) Served with Corn Tortillas), Strips of Jalapenos and onions, covered in batter and deep fried, Lightly breaded Jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and deep fried, Thick maza (corn) lightly fried, topped with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, Queso Fresco, sour cream, and Avocado. He sees two possible ways of accomplishing this: starting another restaurant, or getting the three I have so theyre going to be supporting me." You've got to be willing to put into this business a hundred percent of your mind and your ability., What drives or compels a person is often a mystery. I used to make good money, he recalls. With the advent of the beer bar, he started spending more time at the Eden Gardens location and it wasnt long before he was in the food business. The only reason they put me on the board, besides the image of an established, successful, family man and contributor to the community, is because Im brown, because they dont have a Mexican on the board. The Bluebird and Tony's vie for the honor of being Eden Gardens' oldest restaurant; Tony Gonzales established his Jacal, which started as part of his house, in 1946. . He won't die for a long time. . He has a flattened nose, closely cropped black hair, a thin moustache, and tiny black eyes capable of projecting an eviscerating glare the no-nonsense eyes of a man who believes that nobody else is going to do it for you. He has six years before hes thirty-one; discounting his sister and younger brothers entirely, he figures that Richard has already decided to leave. 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM. He also began cutting hair regularly at the old San Diego Military Academy, located in the hills above the barrio, and in 1962, as if he hadnt enough to do already, Fidel put a beer bar in the Eden Gardens barbershop. Carmel custard dressed with a caramel sauce. Martha is not yet reconciled to her symbols of wealth. I remember times when we had seventy-five people and had to close the doors because we ran out of food, Mark recalls. On the front door that day was a notice advising that the restaurant would be closed for an upcoming holiday. The staff was inadequately trained, decision making was erratic happy hours were scheduled and canceled from week to week, equipment was ill-chosen, and waste was encouraged because of vastly excessive budgeting. I can promise you growth, but I cant promise you a contract like this, with this sum. All this time we didnt tell my dad. sauted Vegetables and Rice, Lightly seasoned Grilled Salmon atop a Green Lettuce Mix, chunks of T-Bone Steak covered with Green and Yellow Chiles, Onions and Tomatoes. . Our Signature Pork, Cilantro & Onion served in a soft Corn Tortilla with Guacamole, Salsa Verde, Rice & Beans on the side. Richard withdrew from the business and a period of discouragement and apathy set in. Served with Tortillas. . Crispy Taco, filled with semi-mashed seasoned Potatoes, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Cotija Cheese and Avocado Salsa on the side. youre the one. Served with Rice & Beans. Tony's Jacal "El Campesino" Combination. Served with corn or flour tortillas. . A few have died, the majority are in jail, the rest are either in an institution somewhere or theyre on the street in Eden Gardens. The Bluebird has been in business off and on for more than forty years and its owners, the Rincon family, have intermarried with Tonys family and members of both families work in each restaurant. Served with Frijoles De La Olla and a Pineapple Salsa Fresca. Chips covered with Melted Cheddar and Jack Cheese, Chorizo, Jalapeos, Guacamole and Sour Cream. , It was a chancy place to start a business, admits Fidel. Our Signature Pork, Cilantro & Onion served in a soft Corn Tortilla with Guacamole and Salsa Verde on the side. Shredded turkey, lettuce, diced onion, fine Cotija cheese, wrapped with a soft corn tortilla (not fried). Its amazingly delicious! Served with Salsa Fresca, Sour Cream and Avocado. filled with Squash, Zucchini, Portobello Mushroom, I always have a customer there that I hate to eat my lunch and he watches me. So I always packed an extra sandwich or an extra burrito. Tonys Jacal Mexican Restaurant (5), 621 Valley Ave. (Eden Gardens), Solana Beach (858-755-2274). . 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