Father's Day at an L.A. Landmark

While things are beyond crazy right now with the move, we were fortunate to be able to celebrate Father's Day here in L.A. with Dan's daughters, Kammy and Nicole, Kammy's husband, Jon, and their baby, Samantha....the first grandchild in the family.  We felt the perfect way to end our time in L.A. was to finally introduce the kids to an L.A. institution....Canter's Deli.  Dan and I had made Canter's something of a tradition in our two years in L.A.  Whenever Dan sold a painting or won a painting competition, we went to Canter's to celebrate.  At some point, we realized he was selling too many paintings and our waistlines couldn't handle the fare on a regular basis and it was relegated to only the most special of occasions.

The pickle plate

For Dan, Canter's represents one thing....meat.
Pastrami to be exact.... and pile it high and deep, please (to coin a phrase from the classic movie, What About Bob).  Being married to a vegetarian has made Dan partake in the beast whenever an opportunity arises.  His children must take after their father as it was brisket, roast beef and another pastrami around the table.  Me?  I ate my avocado melt with a clear conscience.  Nothing compares to the plate of pickles that miraculously appears on the table.  Crisp, crunchy, and spicy.  Sheer deli perfection.

But the thing that always turns head and leaves mouths hanging open is the pastry and dessert case as you enter.  It is an absolute wall of decadence.  Rugelach, cheesecake, and cookies....oh my!  Wayne Thiebaud would have been in his glory and had all the subject matter he needed to carry him through canvas after canvas.  Jon was taken with a black and white cookie, Kammy the carrot cake, and Nicole and I just about everything that didn't move.  It really is a dessert extravaganza and the guys behind the counter only make the whole experience that much more memorable.

Total and complete bliss

Sami has been teething for quite awhile and I was really hoping she would cut her first tooth at Canter's.  I think it would have been a sign she was a certifiable L.A. baby.  Alas, there was no tooth that happened to appear in the booth at Canter's beneath the poster of Guns n' Roses, so it's pretty safe to say the first tooth will ultimately emerge behind the Orange Curtain.  You know where we stand on L.A versus the Orange Curtain line, but no matter....she's still the cutest baby around and I think she could have a future in pictures.   Mr. DeMille, she's ready for her close-up.

It was a wonderful....albeit tearful....Father's Day and we're so happy the load-in for the move was slotted for the 18th and 19th so as to afford us this great memory at a memorable L.A. institution.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day and for those whose Dad is no longer with them, a day of loving memories.

Pile it high and deep, please