El Cholo, Ruben Navarro & my 21st birthday party . . .

By Ricardo Farris, "El Gringo Bandito"

I'm a gringo, so what I have to say about Mexican food carries no weight here.
I agree with what the guy says about El Torito. Crappy food and bad margaritas
However, "El Cholo" is my all-time favorite restaurant. It's located on Western Ave. just south of Olympic Blvd.
I will choose this eating establishment over any other place in the world, I don't care what type food, etc.

The place has been there since 1918. They say the food is "Sonora Style", and this Gabacho doesn't care if Mexican's like it or not.
Their Margarita's are beyond compare and I've had them everywhere.
This is the first place I ever got drunk. I was 18, shortly before my pro debut.
My future sister-in-law, Kam Nelson was 19 at the time, and had just married Olympic pole vault gold medalist Bob Seagren.
They will never let me forget that day. Neither will I forget my surprise 21st birthday party that was held there three years later.

On the day of my birthday, my soon-to-be wife Karla, Ruben Navarro & wife Carol, Bob & Kam Seagren, Rams wide receiever, Lance Rentzel & his actress wife Joey Heatherton, Olympic shot put record holder Brian Oldfield, welterweight Gil King, lightweight Ron Cisneros, heavyweight Kit Boursse', other friends and my family was there.

Ruben and I go to the bar to order a couple pitchers of Margaritas. The bartender is Mexican, he seemed to have a chip on his shoulder.
When we place our order he asks for our ID's. I show him mine but Ruben's had been suspended, Carol had driven so he didn't have ID.
The bartender looks at me and says, "You can drink". He then looks at Ruben and says, "You can't."
Ruben protests, "I'm 26! Do you know who I am?"
The bartender answers, "Yeah, you're the guy I'm going to toss out of here if you don't quiet down!"

Ruben's dark Chicano eyes are blazing. He tells the bartender . . .
"Well then, get all the cholos from the kitchen and tell them to bring their lunches, it's going to be an all day affair!"

Suddenly, big Brian Oldfield, all 6'8" & 280lbs of him, Lance Rentzel, heavyweight Kit Boursse', Gil King, Ronnie Cisneros, Seagren and our father-in law Karl Nelson (the most dangerous of all) are standing behind Ruben.

The manager quickly shows up and relieves the bartender of his duty that afternoon.
He apologized to Ruben and asks him for an autograph.
The "Maravilla Kid" drank on the house the rest of the day.

I'm not Mexican, and in the eyes of Ruben Navarro, neither was the bartender.
However, I love that food. When I have guests from out of the country or just out of town, I take them to El Cholo.

Call me a Gabacho, Gringo, Honky, Cracker, whatever. Just don't forget to call me if you want some company at El Cholo.
It's MY kinda place!