Gustavo Arellano

1 week ago | latimes.com | Gustavo Arellano

Last February, I wrote about my visit to Frank del Olmo Elementary, located on the outskirts of Historic Filipinotown northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of the death of its namesake, the legendary Times columnist and masthead editor whom this paper and city swore we would never forget when he tragically passed away of a heart attack at just 55 — and then we mostly did.

2 weeks ago | gustavoarellano.beehiiv.com | Gustavo Arellano

Gentle cabrones: Every week since I started doing these cantos, I’ve offered a Song of the Week because — to quote the O’Jays — I love music. Sometimes, in fact, I’ve done cantos that were only about songs I liked, which maybe I should do more of because — to quote Rozalla — I love music.

2 weeks ago | latimes.com | Gustavo Arellano

When the world calls you “Little Al,” you’re going to do what it takes to be seen. That’s what I thought after spending an hour last week at the Porsche Experience Center in Carson with the city’s former mayor, Albert Robles. He’s not the Albert Robles who was found guilty 19 years ago of fleecing South Gate out of $20 million as treasurer — that’s Big Al Robles.

2 weeks ago | latimes.com | Gustavo Arellano

When Tony Barragan worked at his family’s Echo Park Mexican restaurant in the 1970s, he regularly heard longtime customers tell newcomers about the story of his father. How Ramon Barragan came to Los Angeles as a 16-year-old immigrant. How he went from dishwasher to head chef at a restaurant run by someone from his small hometown of Tecuala, Nayarit. How Barragan opened up a spot bearing his last name in 1961 at a former coffee shop that seated only 24.

2 weeks ago | latimes.com | Gustavo Arellano

As a graduate of Orange Coast College, I’m honored to speak to community college students whenever I can. That’s why I was more than happy to accept an invitation months ago to be a judge at something called the Culinary Cup, which happened Friday at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar. I figured I’d taste a couple of dishes, say some inspirational words, and that would be that. Oh, how wonderfully wrong I was.