Sunday IN THE MARKET 2 GORGE: Head of JJ Kelly- Boss & Sweet!

HOW I GOT THIS STORY...One day I get an e-mail from a guy named Rick -who tells me I'm the Patch Mayor of West Hollywood, and then....a kaleidoscope of emotions, much like the multiple phases of mourning a loved one, trust me, I know them well, but I think, there was one or two more:

• Excitement
• Bewilderment
• Pride
• Confusion
• Then resentment sets in: "No one elevates me without asking me first!"
• Then comes destiny: "How can I refuse what the world expects of me?"
• Then epiphany, aka: reality check: "What do you mean, I have to prove myself? You put me on a throne, then wonder...is he Mayor enough to keep it?"
• Then you are resigned to prove aptitude of holding a Higher Office, equivalent of not being without a seat, that would have been the throne you came in with, if they hadn't pulled it out from under you, and somehow, you're still ok with playing Musical Chairs..."BUT ONLY ONE ROUND, Rick," a gesture, like, noblesse oblige, and I returned the favor of empowering Rick to bend the rules and let me have a second try.

That's just about how I get a story at the Farmer's Market at the foot of WEHO, just a few steps outside the City Lines, just where we want it...at our beck and call.

I was pressed for time, so I went where I couldn't see a story and barely could tell who was behind the scrim...it seemed ideal...who are they and what were they hiding...and why?

"I'm the Mayor here- what's your story?"

That always breaks the ice because people are so kind- they're not sure what the problem is, other than it isn't theirs or theirs to solve nor make go away...there's an upside for everyone, but 3 to 1 for them.

"What's the story with all four of these meals- fish, shell fish, beef, chicken-they all look the same, with obvious differences in entree...but spaced out in such equal proportion (I wasn't going to say the a -part of retentive, but I also wasn't trying to waterboard it out of them...I thought I could get them to volunteer it.)

"You confuse me- you had a look of indifference, when I asked permission to photograph you, but from that moment on, you have this take it or leave it attitude, you move around so fast, it's like you're pretending to cooperate but now suddenly...I can't even get a glimpse of your face, it's like you don't want your boss to know you are facially photo-possible...it's not like a mug shot. Oops."

It always works to loosen up the big guys ...mostly because they're working and are still thinking..."Crazy old fogey or not, he's wasting my time but I've been in worse jams than this," and I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, as I put words into his head, I bet some of them, would prompt Rick to show up and say, "Hold on, this is a "G" Patch, and we didn't anoint you King, nor entitle you to royalty." Check? Check.

Here's how it unfolded ...as I had suspected...truly. Big guys of physical stature do have special needs and challenges...they always trigger safety/danger in that yin yang, bodyguard-why a bodyguard way. I suspected, "Chan," had more reasons to be working the back and the middle, in such a haphazard way, as he had been doing...and here's why...

My interrogation did cause Chan to break...into more laughter than I'm pretty sure he had all day. That triggered the other person in charge, the woman I referred to as "the front man," literally to say,

"I answer the questions for him." Then I asked, "Him too? (nodding in J.J.'s direction.)

"Yes."

"Does Chan know that?" Kelly said "Yes."

"How about the other guy?" Kelly is so on to me now, she goes with the flow and let's down her guard, as she laughs, "Yesss!"

Here's the Story...most all of it, any way:

Chan and J.J. are the best of friends, and came to Los Angeles together from Indonesia, and once here, Chan, who is of Chinese origin, learned the food business specifically as Japanese food, and stuck with it. It took more grilling than what was on the hibachi at the particular moment, to get Chan to confess to being the Boss of HIBACHI, serving local farmers markets throughout Los Angeles, CA,-that also does private catering, and there is a reason why and why it took some extra effort on my part...so well worth it.

When I started to grill Kelly, Hibachi style, about the entrees, she assured me, the vegetables, that include broccoli and zucchini, are bought fresh, each day. Chan assured me the beef is quality that he also gets at a restaurant market, and when I asked, is it grade "st.." "STEAK, Yes!" I didn't think it was rump or worse, but there's nothing like spontaneity to assure quality control.

Chan let Kelly tackle the fish marketing, both salmon and scallops, also bought fresh each morning, and when I probed further, and asked, about the salmon,

"Is it handed over or tossed?"

Kelly lets loose with a real laugh, Chan is confused, and shouts from the back/middle row:

"Yes it's fresh!" I'm pretty sure he didn't hear my question but for sure he didn't wait for Kelly to answer.

For all spouses who are considering working together- I don't think there's more of a gold standard than Chan and Kelly, who have so much respect for roles, in each of several, all in order, according to their rules of roles...whether Asian, and in this case, would it be, Indonesian, Chinese or Japanese, or some variation? I think it has to do with leaving one country but not wanting to abandon part of one's heritage for a country they choose to live in...that is a choice of favorite, a real place of honor, privilege and loyalty as American citizens but people are also part of the place they were born.

AT whatever point Chan and Kelly fell in love, he was and still is the boss of this business, she is his chosen person up front, and this is not the same as co-owners, although it is mutually dependent, there is a pecking order in business...they choose for themselves...and only some renegade such as I...would go trawling to understand what seemed to be the underpinnings of dual roles, doubled over, more times than flipping any entree on their Hibachi grill...they don't confuse business with their personal lives...their golden rule is "no public displays of affection." Trust me - they know rules, they re their best disciplinarians and this does relate directly to the quality of their food. Be assured- it is what THEY say...every variation of "they" all vouch for quality.

When Kelly or Chan told me they also are vendors at various Farmers Markets throughout L.A. County, I asked, is there a difference in what you serve, M-F? Kelly said most assuredly and it's what changes the serving vessel from bowl to plate... she said the egg is only on weekends.

I risk profiling the egg as American.

My apologies to J.J.- there was so much grilling going on...Kelly and Chan made me forget to photograph you from the angle not of your back...at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

HIBACHI https://www.instagram.com/tsuk...