Sunday At The Market To Gorge: Where There's Smoke There's Family

Let me start by reiterating...this IS the best turkey chili I ever have eaten and I shall speak for everyone else who had it, as I witnessed it, it is THE BEST TURKEY CHILI THEY EVER HAVE EATEN ALSO.

The reason for getting that part of this, out of the way, is that "the boss," whomever that is, and you will need to read further, because that is a "tease" and not just a taunting one, like we do on TV, it has to do with how I got this story, because it takes time to get good people to tell their stories...they think I am some kind of food only "Foodie" but I am not just about food...I am foodie and cheffie in equal parts. OK? I don't need your permission- did Jonathan Gold ask for your permission? No...he was like me and Gold and that's what some people say about me, so ssshhh!
Here comes this story....

HOW I GOT THE STORY ABOUT "THE BEST TURKEY CHILI" AT THE FARMER'S MARKET IN WEST HOLLYWOOD...

(...Just outside the city limits...by just a few steps...don't call me "crazy," ok? I didn't zone it that way. I barely know from which town an officer is giving me protection- they all seem equally protective.)

I was on my way to finding Reuben who makes tamales and whose story gets postponed, as life has its own way of happening, i.e., it's my choice, so let's leave it at that. Don't worry Reuben, or his customers...tamales, aok- es la verdad! But I won't split focus for anyone...as I am want to do, by automatic reflex.

I pass some guy in a high chair- more like a Director's chair than a bib-and-baby one, and he mutters something that sounded like- "try food"- the point is- I could barely understand what it was he said and why I went over to him and asked,

"WHAT!?"

He gestured to a blackboard with a menu, but things changed quickly by the time I came back from a fully reported story on Reuben, next to come, or as they say, in short order cook speak..."on a raft, medium rapids," at least I think that's what Alice said to Flo in the movie, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, but, be my guest, ask Ellen Burstyn. I think she won the Oscar for playing the waitress named Alice- tell her I said it's the least she could do.

Talking to the guy in the high chair was a man named Marco, I said, "Like the Adventurer!" He had a sample cup in his hand and I asked, "How was it?," and he said, "The Best Damn Chili in California," so I said, "Really? Then how come you're just sampling it?"

Marco discovered the world wasn't flat at that moment. I told him it sounded to me like he was giving me a promo line and he said he was, and I asked, if he was working for this company, and he said no, and then I asked, "If it's that good, why aren't you having it for lunch?" Marco the Explorer then just discovered the world was round and that he had two left feet but to his rescue, stepped up a man named Greg, who said,

"Because he just ate lunch."

Oh, so you're going to step in and tell me a more expansive version of the truth. Greg said, "Yes."
"Why does it look as if Marco is just trying this chili for the first time?"

"Because we just moved our business next door yesterday."

Sounds right to me. Marco jumped in to add, "My girlfriend lives just down the block," but I said, "I'm done talking to you, I'm talking to Greg. I don't have time to pull the truth out of you, because you're afraid of your own honesty."

That's the thing about honesty- it is a ramble but so was Christine Ford's explanation of her fear of flying on Capitol Hill- did anyone think it was anything but the whole truth? No. No one thought that. Hint- the truth takes time to explain. I was in a rush to get this story by end of day and the guy in the high chair was still saying nothing...to me.

I introduced myself to Elaine and Gwendolyn, who were working hard, moving around and smiling the entire time, even as I barraged them with so many questions, it took a long time to get to Roy's story, aka: "Smoke."

It's always the diva who says nothing about himself and always is spoken about with such high praise. Elaine is Roy's wife and Gwendolyn is Elaine's sister, one of seven siblings, including a sister who passed away, and when I asked Elaine, what does your husband do? She said,

"He's the boss."

I said, I got that part but what makes him the boss? She said he's the chef, who makes what I shall say again, because it is so true, "The best damn turkey chili I have ever tasted in my life."
Roy started making this chili for his son and his son's friends, when his son was about 12 or 13, according to Gwendolyn, and he was making them snacks, when he was fully employed as an engineer in the aerospace industry, it was a labor of love, as they all were working full time jobs, from which they are now retired, and it seems Roy has a green thumb for chili.

These were the first vendors to sit me down to make sure I was enjoying the turkey chili I ordered and paid for in full, and Roy, aka: "Smoke" was too busy entertaining other paying customers to deal with me, when he knew I was in such capable family hands.

The guy who ordered the chili dog seemed very pleased with what he was about to eat...that gave me pause to wonder, "No one mentioned a word to me about chili dogs," what's "Smoke" got against me? I didn't do anything wrong but ask questions. Not my problem but I will find out next Sunday what may have been his problem or one I may have imagined.

SMOK N JOE'S CHILI also serves Vegan Chili, Chili Tamale, Turkey Hot Dog, Chili Fritos & Turkey Hot Dog.

They have plans for one more Green Market site...I know where they're thinking but anyone who knows something about making a profit in business might want to try and change their minds and steer them in your direction...I'm not saying they'd be interested because I don't work for them. I'd make them an offer they couldn't refuse, however...that's a tip, free of charge.
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