Marine Major George Velasquez grew up in Arcadia. In recent years he has been serving tours of duty in Iraq and Honduras.

One of the things he misses most from home is his beloved Taco Lita  chow and that special sauce. He takes photos of the famous white Taco Lita bag wherever he is stationed.

Taco Lita owner David Muniz-Harryman has been communicating with Velasquez and even sent him a care package to Honduras that included the hot sauce and a few t-shirts with the logo of the restaurant and picture of the sauce. Harryman was sad to learn that the package was stolen before Velasquez could enjoy it.

Major George Velasquez, USMC (right), with Taco Lita owner David Muniz-Harryman

On Dec. 30, Harryman was surprised and thrilled to get a call from Velasquez saying he was home for the holidays and heading to Taco Lita! Harryman was not at the restaurant right then but said he would drop what he was doing.
“I’ll meet you there!,” he said.

Harryman told ArcadiasBest.com, “I was finally able to meet him, his beautiful family and treat them to lunch and replace the box of sauce and shirts that were stolen.”

Velasquez presented Harryman with a metal from his base in Honduras.
“I was deeply touched,” he said.

– By Scott Hettrick

After nearly a century of being the top watering hole for famous jockeys and a fine dining steak house for residents of Arcadia and visitors from all over the country, it’s about time someone threw a party to celebrate The Derby.

Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay and other luminaries from Santa Anita and the horse race industry will join restaurant co-owners Dustin Nicolarsen and Michael Thomas and officials from the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce and the Arcadia Historical Society in commemorating the 90th anniversary of the restaurant with a Chamber business mixer from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11.
The Arcadia Historical Society will kick off the celebration of the eatery made famous by legendary jockey George Woolf by unveiling the group’s eighth historical marker in the community at 5:30 p.m. near the entrance from the driveway.
Mayor Gary Kovacic, Mayor Pro Tem Bob Harbicht, and County, State, and federal officials will be on hand to present certificates.
Following the presentation, the Chamber Business Mixer, featuring refreshments, will be held in the largest of the restaurants three dining rooms.
Mixer tickets are $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members.
Afterwards, all are invited to stay and buy dinner at the iconic restaurant and enjoy the historic showcase of memorabilia.

The “History Lives Here” historical marker features vintage and recent photographs and descriptions of the history of the iconic Derby restaurant that relocated from Foothill Boulevard to its present location at 233 E. Huntington Drive in 1931.
The Derby, one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles County, has continued to be a favorite hangout of famous jockeys, trainers, and locals for decades.

The Derby was previously Proctor’s Tavern when it was relocated from Foothill Blvd to its present location on Huntington Drive in 1931 by then-owner Hudson M. Proctor. Seven years later, in December 1938, The Derby celebrated a grand re-opening under new co-owners Bill Petersen and George “The Iceman” Woolf.

Woolf was acknowledged as the greatest money rider of his time, guiding champions such as Seabiscuit, Whirlaway and Kayak II. He was fatally injured during a race at Santa Anita in 1946. Woolf’s widow Genevieve ran The Derby for another five years and lovingly maintained the racing memorabilia her husband had accumulated.

In 1951, Genevieve Woolf sold The Derby to the Sturniolo’s – affectionately nicknamed Murph and Slugger, who, along with their son Chip in later years, kept the dynamic connection to the Sport of Kings alive throughout their combined sixty years of ownership.

Current co-owners Dustin Nicolarsen and Michael Thomas bought the iconic restaurant and watering hole several years ago after Dustin had been general manager for seven years. They have been good stewards of the legends, memorabilia and quality service, food and ale at The Derby.

The series of Historical Markers dedicated in the past four years are part of the non-profit Society’s mission to create broader public awareness of noteworthy historical events, people, and landmarks in Arcadia. Other markers are located at Santa Anita Park, The County’s Arcadia Park, First Avenue Middle School, Adams’ Pack Station, the Arcadia Woman’s Club, the site of the original City Hall, and the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce.

The Society would like to thank the City of Arcadia for co-funding many of the Markers, including The Derby marker, which was installed by the restaurant.
Gene Glasco is president of the Arcadia Historical Society. The Historical Marker Committee is chaired by Scott Hettrick with members Carol Libby and the two who are most responsible for The Derby marker, Sandy Snider and Jacquelyn O’Sullivan.

 – By Scott Hettrick

After drawing nearly 23,000 patrons on a horse race day with 80 gourmet food trucks earlier this month, Santa Anita Park is going to see how well the trucks draw when there are no races at the track.

Santa Anita will host its third Gourmet Food Truck Festival, featuring approximately 73 vendors, on Saturday, May 14. The first event was held in January with about 20 trucks.

“The Food Trucks have found a home here at Santa Anita,” said George Haines, Santa Anita President. “Both of the Food Truck Festivals, on Jan. 29 and earlier this month on April 2, far exceeded anyone’s expectations. We expanded the Festival to include the entire infield area and added many more trucks on April 2, and it was a tremendous success.

“We have a picturesque, safe and secure facility here at Santa Anita and we welcome the opportunity to introduce new people to horse racing and to what we consider to be the most beautiful sports venue in the world. The Food Truck Festivals deliver a family-oriented crowd, which is a great demographic for us.

“Additionally, we have received very positive feedback not only from attendees, but from all of the vendors as well. The Food Truck phenomenon has really taken root here in Southern California, and these vendors realize Santa Anita is a perfect place for them to maintain and expand their own fan base.”

Among the many prominent gourmet food trucks that are scheduled to be represented are The Grilled Cheese Truck, the Lobsta Truck, Ragin Cajun, Canter’s, Border Grill, Shrimp Pimp and many more.

All Food Truck Festival attendees will be admitted for just $5, and satellite wagering from Hollywood Park, Churchill Downs, Belmont Park and other tracks around the country will be offered.

All Santa Anita parking lots will open at 10:30 a.m.  Admission gates will open at 11 a.m.

Festival operating hours will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  First race post time at Hollywood Park is 1 p.m.

– By Scott Hettrick

In the lobby of the Din Tai Fung dumpling house on Baldwin Avenue (1088 and 1108) is an article from the New York Times in 1993 ranking the original restaurant opened by owner Frank Yang’s father in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1969 as one of the ten best gourmet restaurants in the world.

Frank Yang’s own restaurant here in Arcadia, which he opened in March, 2000, has garnered many of its own accolades from the Los Angeles Times as well as top rankings in the Zagat and Michelin guides. On Friday the famous eatery picked up a ranking from USA Today as one of “10 great places (in the entire United States) to taste, toast the Chinese new year,” as selected by Jennifer 8. Lee, author of “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles.”

Although she lists the restaurant as having two locations Los Angeles despite both being side-by-side in Arcadia (Din Tai Fung does the same thing on its own web site, an obvious similar marketing ploy as Methodist Hospital of Southern California, L.A./Ontario International Airport, and the Los Angels of Anaheim), Lee says in USA Today that Din Tai Fung’s dumplings, which are usually filled with pork and crab and are served with soup, “have consistently high quality, time and time again; they’re excellent.”

Following are several videos I shot several years ago with owner Frank Yang at his original shop and then during construction and immediately following the opening of his new shop:

– By Scott Hettrick

Along with all the horses racing at the annual Sunshine Millions event at Santa Anita Park on Saturday (Jan. 29), the track will also feature a full field (actually, infield) of food trucks.
More than 20 gourmet food trucks will be parked on the infield along with a wine tent and something called Gastropub at the first-ever Food Truck Festival.
In addition, there will be live music by The Spazmatics at 1:30 and a Pony Park with activities for the kids.
Infield admission is $12 on top of $4 parking.
The food trucks participating from 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.:

• The Grilled Cheese Truck
• Don Chow Tacos
• Border Grill
• Canter’s Truck
• Chunk’n Chip
• Baby’s Bad*ss Burgers
• South Philly Experience
• Dosa
• Yatta Truck
• The Sweets Truck
• Dante Fried Chicken
• Dogtown Dogs
• Barbies Q
• No Reservations
• Knockout Tacos
• Chef Brian’s Comfort Truck
• Ragin’ Cajun
• Crepe’n Around
• Lobsta Truck
• Fresh Fries LA
• Lardon Truck
• Tapa Boy LA
• NaanStop
• Coolhaus
• Lake St. Creamery