The Grand House
I worked at The Grand House at 809 South Grand when I was eighteen and nineteen years old. It was the mid to late‑1980s, and the place was unlike anything else in San Pedro at the time and had a very European feel to it. Placed in a 1923 Spanish‑style home turned into a restaurant, bed‑and‑breakfast, and folk‑art shop all under one roof. It had this charm you couldn’t forget creaks in the floors, a musty and cool basement stocked with worldly wines and spirits, colorful art hanging from the walls, and a kind of lived‑in magic that made people feel instantly at home and relaxed. I was the pantry cook back then, responsible for salads, cold appetizers, and the mountain of vegetable garnishes that went on every plate. The style of food was the kind of cuisine that felt both familiar and a little larger than life ,” which meant everything had to look vibrant, abundant, and full of life. I spent my shifts surrounded by the smell of fresh produce, the clatter of the kitchen, and the fol...