Not Just Any Restaurant || Wool Growers: Basque-American cuisine in Los Banos, CA
Vložit
- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
- Wool Growers Restaurant in Los Banos, California is a century-old institution of Basque-American cuisine and culture. This documentary short, originally produced for the Central Valley Community Foundation's annual "Big Tell" program, explores the restaurant's story through interviews with its current owners, a Los Banos historian, and a trio of lifelong patrons.
This is a celebration of the people and places that make our hometowns unique. Those places worth fighting for.
A film by Matt Mealer | www.mattmealer.com
Associate producer: Emily Mealer
Consulting producer: Sascha Brown Rice
Gaffer / additional camera: Evan Christensen
Grip: Connor Camenson
Postproduction sound: Henry Grimmius
Music (via Artlist): The Bows / Hans Johnson / David James Terry / Patrick Ussher
Historical images: Wool Growers Restaurant archives / Los Banos Milliken Museum
Sponsored by the Central Valley Community Foundation / James B. McClatchy Foundation
Shot on Arri Amira + Cooke Varotal 20-60mm
More about The Big Tell program: www.centralval...
#woolgrowers #basque #basqueamerican #restaurant #cooking #food #cuisine #culture #losbanos #sanjoaquinvalley #centralvalley #california #arri #cooke #documentary
I love Woolgrowers. An old school buddy and I have taken each other there for each other's birthday for probably twenty years now. We may not talk to each other for six months at a time, but every time that text or call comes through for dinner at Woolgrowers, the answer is always yes.
That's my kind of tradition. Thanks Matt!
I’m from Los Banos, my family are the Basingers, & Wool Growers has been so special to Los Banos, woven into the fabric of the community. A few years ago, my mom’s high school reunion was held there, and it just felt so special. It’s funny that when you’re young, you tend to want to get out of the small town that you’re from, but as you get older (I’m 51 now), you long for that connection to your hometown. That’s how I feel about Los Banos these days, even though I live in the Bay Area now. Life just seems so much simpler, you know?
Great short film. ❤
Thanks for watching!
Loved this. My grandparents, Jack and Anita Izoco, owned Wool Growers for a short time in the 60s. I remember being a little boy going there, opening the door to packed bar with loud voices and big personalities. We'd pass through in to the dining hall as if walking into a whole other world; share a huge meal with family, and by family I mean EVERYONE eating there. When my grandfather passed, after his funeral we landed there and he had set money aside to pick up the tab for one last "Salute!" Definitely a magical place.
Guess the bar hasn't changed too much in all these years ;) That's a beautiful story about your grandfather.
I knew your grandparents, your uncle Mitch, and your Mom, (I think Christine is your Mom) well. Vic and Genevieve Arretche owned Wool Growers as far back as I remember. Vic passed in 1974, a few months before my dad, they were good friends. I miss the Wool Growers, the Basque culture and the many good friends I left behind when I moved to Idaho in 91.
Beeñ going there every Saturday during duck season since I was a girl with my dad back in the 90's love it amazing food and amazing people
Great documentary short. My mom literally grew up there. She lived in Los Banos from the late forties to the very late sixties, a daughter of Aragonese immigrants from Teruel and Huesca provinces. (They were the Martinez family because Ellis Island immigration officials could not spell Jarque accurately. This is how Esteban Jarque Martinez became known as Esteban and then Steve Martinez.) Her family were regulars who celebrated many momentous occasions there. I am grateful to the proprietors for keeping tradition alive.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
What a wonderful video! I grew up in my maternal grandmother's Basque Hotel Pyrenees in Merced which closed in the 1970s. (My grandparents came from Zilbeti, Navarra, Spain. Family name Goñi) Since then our family has been driving to Los Banos to have delicious meals at the Wool Growers Rest. I had my 60th birthday party there ten years ago with relatives coming from all over California. It was fantastic! Long live Wool Growers!
Thank you so much Nels! I have family in Merced but I didn't know there used to be Basque place there...guess I shouldn't be surprised!
What a great video! I just started learning about Basque culture as I started planning our vacation in Nevada and ran across several articles about towns that referenced Basque people or Basque food there. I had to learn more, so I jumped down the Basque culture rabbit hole, which today brought me to this video. I am a food and nutrition educator in Illinois and I love to share with my clients the stories of different treasures and traditions that are carried on through the foods we eat. I"m really looking forward to visiting out west and getting to experience some Basque food in Nevada!
Thanks Amy! Have a great trip.
What a great film. My grandparents retired to Los Banos in the 1980’s and this became our special occasion, or no occasion, place to eat out. My dad and I had many wonderful meals with them here and the last few years before they passed my dad would gather my great Aunts, Uncles and cousins for an annual dinner on him. The last time we ate here was our last trip to LB to clean out his house. I’ve wanted to go back. I think ownership may have changed again, so I’m not sure if I’d make the drive down, unless I knew it was like in this video.
Thank you! Haven't heard about any ownership change since the release of this project.
What a community, I love this video, makes me want to drive and soak in the experience. I'm so happy there's such a fine establishment in Los Banos!
Thank you, much appreciated!
My dad used to bring me here as a child. He'd tae me though the back door in the kitchen. I'd get to sit at a table in there and get fed. Great memories of this place and the people that worked there then. Glad to see it's still doing well.
It sure is!
This place holds such a special place in my heart for the memories I’ve had here. A lot of us grew up in Santa Cruz and and the others in the valley. Los Banos was always the halfway part. 25-30 of us would meet her ever since I can remember and we would fill that bar then the back room. With All Portuguese and Italian farmers this place has always felt like home to me. Tells a story of cultures past that use to live in Central California before me and influenced how I was raised. I’m 40 now and so many of my family members are gone now so I look to places like this for the nostalgia and memories I can pass on to my kids. This place is truly part of California Americana and I’m so glad they get their story told. The fact that they have barley changed for over 100 years is something you just don’t see anymore and when everything is trying to be brand new this place strives to persevere. True Gem. Central California cuisine at its finest imo.
Well said. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I just found 8mm film of a family coming out of the restaurant in the early 1940's
Wow, cool...wish I had been able to find something like that to incorporate into this project!
I remember going there for dinner with a group of guys in the mid-1990's when we used to play golf at Stevinson Ranch GC nearby when it was open (the course is closed now). I just remember how much food I got for the $12 I paid for it. Now (2022), I heard it is now about $40. Still worth it.
My late grandfather and his friends adored this place, they’d drive from Stockton just to have a meal together. We’d also been as a family and everyone enjoyed it. I’m glad to see it’s still going strong and holding true to its roots. I have Basque ancestry and I’m proud.
Same here...my late grandfather (and step-grandfather) and his friends often visited Wool Growers from Merced. It's been a lot of fun to learn the story behind that place and experience it for myself. Thanks for your comment!
I'm from Bakersfield. I really enjoyed this film.
Appreciate it!
👏 👏👏👏👏 the best! Thanks again Matt !
Thank YOU!
A sense of place and community anchored with good food and a vision for the future!
Well said!
I loved this short documentary on this historical restaurant! And feel proud of my family members that are continuing and keeping up with the decades tradition ❤️👌🏼
Thank you so much Alicia! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Que gran gusto ver este video del restaurant de mi querida RUTH,,, ya tendre el gusto de comer ahi,,,, y saludar a mi guapa y bella amiga RUTH,,,,
Great recap on what this restaurant brings to the community
Thanks Susana!
This place is amazing, food is delicious , drinks , service , If you drive to up north of California you have to stop on Wool growers Restaurant, you will enjoy delicious food and good people
Agreed! Thanks Nadia!
Really, really great Matt! Love the tone and the nuances of the storytelling.
Thanks Evan! Couldn't have done it without you!
Hey Matt - Thanks 4 sharing this special(I say special because it’s in my town & my blood,)vid to the world! In fact just brought home their takeout spread last night and then some,lol 🍽🍲🐑😋😊 I grew up on their cuisine since literally a baby👶🏻 and I am a happily homemade fed from scratch by the greatest Italian🇮🇹 and Portuguese🇵🇹 ladies in the WORLD,lol,that’s how GREAT WOOLGROWERS IS💯👌🏻🙌🏻‼️ Once again thank U and kind regards to U/familia!✌🏻🤠
You're welcome!
Say what you want about history, but the first thing people asked after the new owners took over is, "Hows the food?". It is amazing that the Basque culture and food have survived this long without a country. But it may be that not having a country is how they survived.
YUMMMM. WOOL GROWERS!♥️💯
You won’t find a better vegetable stew anywhere !
Love to see Women run some businesses especially them being Mexican Yesssss 🙏🏽
Ruth and Talisa do a great job!
There's a Wool Growers in Bakersfield. Any connection?
I wondered about that too early on in this project, but apparently it's just a coincidence
Fresno as well but, no connection either.
May be one in Nevada as well. Last time I went to the one in Bakersfield, they were still ringing the bell for lunch service. Bar was elbow to elbow before noon on a weekday.
@@bullfrogger1208 Yeah, it's right around the corner form me, I get the oxtail stew from time to time.
puro jalos ruth