Johnnie’s Pastrami in Culver City, California is this month’s Lagniappe winner. A big thanks to recent Global Leadership Program participant Yoshio for the story.
Johnnie’s Pastrami has been in the same spot on Sepulveda Blvd since 1954. The place is completely an anachronism, a horseshoe counter with a few tables along the outside, a patio dining area with lava rock fire pit, Seeburg Jukeboxes at every table and for every two seats on the counter. Other than their Nike tennis shoes, everything about the wait staff looks like they’ve been there since the beginning. It’s very possible that the brine that the Pastrami cooks in has been there just as long.
I know what I want. A pastrami dip sandwich and order of fries. I’ve been going there since I was in high school, and that’s never changed. Well, this time, the onion rings catches my eye. So I ask “What kind of onion rings do you have?”, a puzzled look in response… “Beer batter or breaded?”, I refined the question.
She pauses, “breaded”. I respond, “Okay, I’ll have the fries”. “You don’t like breaded?” “Not really”.
She takes my order to the cooks and in the same motion, grabs an onion ring out from under the heat lamps and puts it in a small paper tub and places it proudly in front of me. “Try it, I’m sure you’ll like it.” So I did, and it was good, but I still prefer beer battered.
Kathy was not only interested in making sure I got what I wanted, she also wanted to show me she was proud of the food that she was serving up. And, she was going to give me a chance to change my mind if the breaded onion rings turned out to be ambrosia. In one motion, Kathy showed me pride in her work, and the food she was serving up, and a sincere drive to please the customer.
The breaded onion ring wasn’t ambrosia, but it came with a heaping serving of Lagniappe.
In recognition of Johnnie’s Pastrami and appreciation of Yoshio for sending in the story, this month’s Lagniappe contribution goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society supporting Yoshio’s friend who is running the half marathon fundraiser.