---- THE ORIGINAL DAVENPORT BAKERY------
Mary and Gilbert Caiocca standing on the corner of Coast Hwy 1 and Ocean Ave, where the Whale City Bakery is now located, c.1945. Photo courtesy of Dave Scott, William Caiocca's stepson.*
Patty Morelli (left) and LaNorma in front of the Whale City Bakery.
(Photo courtesy of La Norma.)
Patty (left) and Whale City Bakery Official King Greeter (OKG) Amy . ['Clicca' on photos to view enlarged image.] Photo courtesy of LaNorma.
Mary and Gilbert Caiocca standing on the corner of Coast Hwy 1 and Ocean Ave, where the Whale City Bakery is now located, c.1945. Photo courtesy of Dave Scott, William Caiocca's stepson.*
Patty Morelli (left) and LaNorma in front of the Whale City Bakery.(Photo courtesy of La Norma.)
Patty (left) and Whale City Bakery Official King Greeter (OKG) Amy . ['Clicca' on photos to view enlarged image.] Photo courtesy of LaNorma.___________________________________________________________
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS DERIVED FROM INFORMATION PROVIDED ME BY LaNORMA:
Towards the end of summer and early fall last year (2007) – the King of Jordan (Abdulla II) and his wife (Queen Rania) were visiting San Francisco. Since the King’s next stop was to be in Monterey, he decided to ride down the Coast on a Harley Motorcycle. Off he went with his
entourage of bodyguards, etc. (some riding in passenger cars, others on motorcycles of their own) down Coast Hwy 1, passed ‘Haffa Moom Bay’ passed Pescadero, passed "La Slida" and onto Davenport. At which point, as many of us who have taken a similar trip down “la costa” have experienced, His Majesty (on the left in photo) needed a break from the long ride.
As providence would have it, the King commanded his entourage to stop at the Whale City Bakery for a much needed restroom and refreshment stop. The owner Emad Ayad was not there, however; his Official King Greeter (OKG) Amy was. The bodyguards, wanting to make sure that security was in place for this most necessary stop, came in first. They made contact with OKG Amy and told her that the King of Jordan was about to enter her historic establishment and most seriously wanted to use the restroom. OKG Amy then led the bodyguards to the sole bathroom in the Bakery. After a thorough inspection of the rest room and establishment, the King was given the “go ahead” to enter the Bakery.
Apparently, OKG Amy made such an impression with the bodyguards, that they established a friendly rapport with her. This was especially true when she informed them that Mrs. Ayad (wife of the owner) was originally from Jordan.
As a gesture of good will and unbeknown to the His Majesty, OKG Amy gave the bodyguards a big apple pie for the group to injoy when in Monterey. The bodyguards thanked OKG Amy and along with the King continued on their way to the City of Monterey.
When the King and his entourage subsequently arrived at their hotel, the bodyguards in the presence of their King brought out the apple pie. Being surprised by having such a delicious pie in his presence, the King asked the body guards where they had obtained such a delicious morsel . (As we all know, what Kings want to know, Kings will always get to know.) The bodyguards promptly informed His Majesty that OKG Amy at Whalers (Whale City Bakery) had given it to them as a gift.
Whereupon, the King reminded his bodyguards that it is the custom of their culture to always acknowledge a gift and thus they were obligated to reciprocate with a gift of their own. He commanded the bodyguards to immediately to go back with a gift. Promptly obeying the King’s command, two of the bodyguards drove all the way back to Davenport with a gift from the King of Jordan.
Much to the surprise of OKG Amy, the King’s gift was a very expensive watch, with the official insignia of Jordan. (LaNorma actually saw it and describes the watch as: “Gorgeous and awsome".)
And now for the moral to this story which is: "If you happen to own a restaurant in Davenport (or anywhere 'su per la costa' for that matter) make sure that you hire and Official King Greeter. When nature comes a-calling, one never knows who might drop in."
________________
*The Whale City Bakery was originally known as ‘The Davenport Bakery’ and was owned by the Caiocca’s, Gilbert, Mary, William and Leo. It was later purchased by the Morelli’s (Patty’s mother and father) and re-named the Miramar.
After her own hotel ( Hotel D’Italia) in Davenport, was destroyed by fire (1945), my Godmother Pina Micossi entered into partnership with the Caioccas and then continued on, for a time, with the Morelli’s. Thus, the Davenport Bakery, Miramar, and presently the Whale City Bakery has some serious “La Nostra Costa” history behind it.
Thank you very much for your visit, Your Majesty.
Ivano Franco Comelli is the author of “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast), published by Authorhouse (2006): http://www.authorhouse.com/
Towards the end of summer and early fall last year (2007) – the King of Jordan (Abdulla II) and his wife (Queen Rania) were visiting San Francisco. Since the King’s next stop was to be in Monterey, he decided to ride down the Coast on a Harley Motorcycle. Off he went with his
entourage of bodyguards, etc. (some riding in passenger cars, others on motorcycles of their own) down Coast Hwy 1, passed ‘Haffa Moom Bay’ passed Pescadero, passed "La Slida" and onto Davenport. At which point, as many of us who have taken a similar trip down “la costa” have experienced, His Majesty (on the left in photo) needed a break from the long ride.As providence would have it, the King commanded his entourage to stop at the Whale City Bakery for a much needed restroom and refreshment stop. The owner Emad Ayad was not there, however; his Official King Greeter (OKG) Amy was. The bodyguards, wanting to make sure that security was in place for this most necessary stop, came in first. They made contact with OKG Amy and told her that the King of Jordan was about to enter her historic establishment and most seriously wanted to use the restroom. OKG Amy then led the bodyguards to the sole bathroom in the Bakery. After a thorough inspection of the rest room and establishment, the King was given the “go ahead” to enter the Bakery.
Apparently, OKG Amy made such an impression with the bodyguards, that they established a friendly rapport with her. This was especially true when she informed them that Mrs. Ayad (wife of the owner) was originally from Jordan.
As a gesture of good will and unbeknown to the His Majesty, OKG Amy gave the bodyguards a big apple pie for the group to injoy when in Monterey. The bodyguards thanked OKG Amy and along with the King continued on their way to the City of Monterey.
When the King and his entourage subsequently arrived at their hotel, the bodyguards in the presence of their King brought out the apple pie. Being surprised by having such a delicious pie in his presence, the King asked the body guards where they had obtained such a delicious morsel . (As we all know, what Kings want to know, Kings will always get to know.) The bodyguards promptly informed His Majesty that OKG Amy at Whalers (Whale City Bakery) had given it to them as a gift.
Whereupon, the King reminded his bodyguards that it is the custom of their culture to always acknowledge a gift and thus they were obligated to reciprocate with a gift of their own. He commanded the bodyguards to immediately to go back with a gift. Promptly obeying the King’s command, two of the bodyguards drove all the way back to Davenport with a gift from the King of Jordan.
Much to the surprise of OKG Amy, the King’s gift was a very expensive watch, with the official insignia of Jordan. (LaNorma actually saw it and describes the watch as: “Gorgeous and awsome".)
And now for the moral to this story which is: "If you happen to own a restaurant in Davenport (or anywhere 'su per la costa' for that matter) make sure that you hire and Official King Greeter. When nature comes a-calling, one never knows who might drop in."
________________
*The Whale City Bakery was originally known as ‘The Davenport Bakery’ and was owned by the Caiocca’s, Gilbert, Mary, William and Leo. It was later purchased by the Morelli’s (Patty’s mother and father) and re-named the Miramar.
After her own hotel ( Hotel D’Italia) in Davenport, was destroyed by fire (1945), my Godmother Pina Micossi entered into partnership with the Caioccas and then continued on, for a time, with the Morelli’s. Thus, the Davenport Bakery, Miramar, and presently the Whale City Bakery has some serious “La Nostra Costa” history behind it.
Thank you very much for your visit, Your Majesty.
Ivano Franco Comelli is the author of “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast), published by Authorhouse (2006): http://www.authorhouse.com/
5 comments:
BTW: If you haven't already guessed, that's a copy of "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast) that Patty and LaNorma are holding in their hands.
In a way the book has returned to where it all began 'su per la costa'. After travelling around the world (Italy,Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Cental America, Canada, Central America, etc.) it has returned to Davenport.
Regarding the Bakery, I write in the book on page 351:
"I can still remember going into the kitchen in the back to see her. (My Godmother) While Pina cooked, she and my father would converse in Friulano. Soon, getting bored, I would wander to the front of the store and look at all the items for sale. Then I would engage in my favorite pastime of watching the men drinking and talking at the bar. With the Hotel D'Italia gone, the bar at Ocean View Hotel, and the bar here, became the two main watering holes in Davenport. Since this was a smaller bar than the one at the Ocean View Hotel, most of the patrons here, knew then that I was the son of Bronco della Costa. ........."
I wonder if they were able to take pictures of the king in the bakery.
Jerry
Jerry: I think OKG Amy was caught by surprise and didn't have her camera with her. Only other evidence (besides OKG Amy's eyewitness report) is the watch with the Kingdom of Jordan Emblem on it. ivn
Wow! Is that the Slide Area Just North of Davenport? (I'm referring to the photo of the King on his motorcycle.) It sure looks like it to me. Great aritcle, LaNorma. Thanks. ss
WHILE SEARCHING THE WEB IF FOUND THIS UNDER BLOGS ABOUT: BAKERY
www.blogged.com/about/bakery
THE KING OF JORDAN VISITS THE WHALE CITY BAKERY - DAVENPORT, CA
lnostra-costa
... King commanded his entourage to stop at the Whale City Bakery for a much needed restroom and refreshment stop. The owner Emad ... Amy then led the bodyguards to the sole bathroom in the Bakery. After a thorough inspection of the rest room and establishment, the King ... OKG Amy at Whalers (Whale City Bakery) had given it to them as a gift.Whereupon, the King reminded his bodyguards that it is the custom ...
Sempre Avanti, Ivn0
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