Traveling Back In Time For Coconut Cake (Reheat)

Dan goes on an adventure around Los Angeles, starting at the airport. Where is he going? He doesn't know.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Dan Pashman?

  My whole extended family and I went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this past spring. And I gotta say, I came away feeling like, number one, this is a great family destination. Number two, this is a great place to come all year round. The mini golf alone is probably worth, it's like the mini golf capital of the country. They have the most incredible elaborate mini golf courses. They also have more than 80 championship, full-size golf courses, plus 60 miles of beautiful coastline, all-season sunshine. Of course, you can relax by the beach or the pool. There's also jet skiing, fishing charters, paddle boarding, and of course, food. Oh, man, did we eat well in Myrtle Beach. From fresh local seafood to craft burgers and craft beers to kebabs on the boardwalk. With more than 2,000 restaurants to choose from, from legendary no-frill seafood shacks

• 0:43Dan Pashman?

  to chef-driven dining, Myrtle Beach has it all. Plus, live entertainment at the beach, there's always something epic going on. So, summer may be winding down, but in Myrtle Beach, you're gonna find the coastal vacation of your dreams all year long. Start planning your ultimate beach vacation at visitmyrtlebeach.com. I grew up on Lando Lakes cheese. I still remember going to the supermarket deli counter with my mom and her ordering Lando Lakes American cheese. And now, Lando Lakes cheese and butter are a huge part of my home. There are so many easy weeknight recipes using Lando Lakes cheese and butter that bring delicious restaurant taste right to your table. From chicken parm to weeknight shrimp pad Thai, Lando Lakes has plenty of quick dishes that'll have the whole dinner table talking.

• 1:23Dan Pashman?

  Visit landolakes.com/reцепes/collection for easy weeknight dinners.

• 1:41Dan Pashman?

  This Sporkful episode that we're about to reheat is truly one of a kind. I mean, we've been on this show for 16 years, hundreds and hundreds of episodes. There has never been another one like LA Story. Why? Well, first of all, it involves time travel, which is very hard to pull off, and that's why we've only done it once. But also, yes, some of our episodes are very planned out. Some of them are more freewheeling. I don't know that I've ever gone into an episode with as little of a plan as I did for this one. So, in this episode, in addition to contemplating time travel, I evade law enforcement and search for a very specific piece of coconut cake. It's pretty epic. I can't wait for you to hear it. And of course, if there's an episode you want us to reheat, drop me a line at [email protected].

• 2:23Dan Pashman?

  Now, fasten your seatbelts, get ready to be propelled through time and space in this episode entitled LA Story.

• 2:31Dan Pashman?

  Hey, guys. So, I'm in LA right now, and I'm actually right outside of my hotel, right by LAX, Los Angeles International Airport. And, well, before we get to today's show, you know, a lot of times, people write to me and they say, "I'm starting a podcast, Dan. Can you tell me, like, what kind of microphone do you use? What kind of recorder do you use? How do you get good sound in your podcast?" Well, I'm gonna let you in on one secret. Always record near an airport.

• 3:05Dan Pashman?

  Hi, how are you? Yeah, just a guy on the side of the highway, talking to himself into a microphone, nothing you haven't seen before. So, what's going on here today? I have a day to kill in LA. I came out here for some Sporkful tapings. I have an extra day, and I have decided to go on an adventure. And I've decided to take you with me.

• 3:25Dan Pashman?

  Where are we going? I don't know. I don't have a plan. That's why it's an adventure. But here's what I can tell you. I'm gonna find some good food, and I'm gonna make some new friends. And, I mean, I think it would be fun if, at some point, things got a little weird, right? I mean, it's an adventure, okay? So, I have taken the liberty of Googling "weird LA" just a minute ago, and the first result is from Atlas Obscura, great website. Love Atlas Obscura. They highlight all different kinds of obscure locations around the world.

• 3:58Dan Pashman?

  Atlas Obscura. And this is 166 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Los Angeles, California. Okay, let's bring this up here.

• 4:08Dan Pashman?

  Number one, the Echo Park Time Travel Mart. Nonprofit time travel mart sells goods you would need for a trip through the fourth dimension. Wow. Well, that's very weird and sounds kind of delightful. So, I guess, let's head in that direction first. After that, though, I don't know where the road's gonna take us. But there is one place we have to make sure we hit up. Patty's Restaurant in Toluca Lake, near Burbank. Longtime listeners, you will remember that I interviewed Andy Richter a while back, Conan O'Brien's sidekick, and we went to Patty's. It was his choice, it's one of his favorite spots, and it's an old-school LA diner, been there since the 60s.

• 4:50Dan Pashman?

  I walked in, I got there before Andy, and I remember seeing on the counter at Patty's this beautiful coconut cake, bright white, shining like a beacon, and it was huge. One of those diner-sized, giant, triple-decker cakes with the bright white frosting and the coconut shavings all on the outside. It looked ridiculous. And I am a sucker for a good coconut cake, okay? One of my favorites. So, I said, "I'm definitely gonna get that when this taping's over," right? No question. Andy Richter arrives, we sit down, we order a meal, we have a nice conversation, but, I mean, I ate an omelet and hash browns and English muffin and coffee and all that. And at this point, I wasn't feeling so hungry anymore, and I said to myself, "You know, Dan, you don't need that cake. Don't get the cake." And I left.

• 5:35Dan Pashman?

  Well, you can see where this is going. A few hours later, I end up back in my hotel, furious with myself. Why didn't I get the cake? I didn't have to eat the cake just then. I could've put it in my bag. I could have it right now in my hotel room. It was haunting me. What a mistake. Two days later, I go to visit my friends, Kenny and Missy, and it didn't occur to me until I got to their house that they live right down the street from Patty's. So, I said, "Listen, you guys." I told them the story of the coconut cake. I said, "I gotta run down the street, I gotta get the coconut cake."

• 6:08Dan Pashman?

  So, I walk down the street, walk in the door of Patty's. I don't see the cake there on the counter. I said, "You guys have that coconut cake?" Nope, not today. I was beside myself.

• 6:23Dan Pashman?

  And so, you know, that's unfinished business for me here in LA. So, I'm gonna go to Patty's today, and I'm gonna find that coconut cake.

• 6:34Dan Pashman?

  I'm gonna find that cake.

• 6:42Dan Pashman?

  Okay, here comes my Lyft. Looks like my driver's name is Yehiel.

• 6:51Dan Pashman?

  Hi, how are you?

• 6:52Speaker 01

  Good, how you doing?

• 6:53Dan Pashman?

  All right.

• 7:04Dan Pashman?

  This is the Sporkful. It's not for foodies, it's for eaters. I'm Dan Pashman. Each week on our show, we obsess about food to learn more about people. And I'm in a Lyft, riding through Los Angeles, and my first guest on the show today is Yehiel. Hey, Yehiel.

• 7:17Speaker 01

  Hi, how are you?

• 7:18Dan Pashman?

  Good, good. So, we're going to Echo Park, I think.

• 7:24Dan Pashman?

  What did you have for breakfast today?

• 7:27Speaker 01

  I normally eat waffles with banana.

• 7:34Dan Pashman?

  Okay. What, are they like homemade waffles or like the frozen waffles?

• 7:39Speaker 01

  Uh, no, I buy them at Costco.

• 7:42Dan Pashman?

  Okay.

• 7:43Speaker 01

  You know, it's not the homemade.

• 7:44Dan Pashman?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 7:44Speaker 01

  But for me, it's a healthy waffle that has a lot of fiber in it.

• 7:49Dan Pashman?

  Right. And you eat waffle every day for breakfast?

• 7:52Speaker 01

  Every day.

• 7:54Dan Pashman?

  How long have you been doing that?

• 7:57Speaker 01

  Maybe for the last five, six years.

• 7:59Dan Pashman?

  Really?

• 8:00Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 8:01Dan Pashman?

  And you have it exactly the same every time?

• 8:03Speaker 01

  Well, you know, I sometimes mix the banana with ginger.

• 8:07Dan Pashman?

  Ooh, that sounds nice.

• 8:08Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 8:09Dan Pashman?

  Are you a person who likes routine? You like, you like to do the same thing?

• 8:15Speaker 01

  That's a good question.

• 8:19Speaker 01

  I'm very conservative. When I see something that works for me, I'll stick with it.

• 8:28Dan Pashman?

  And what do you think that says about you?

• 8:31Speaker 01

  It's very, it's very hard for me to explain in English, but, you know, I like things to be, you know, like I want them to be.

• 8:42Dan Pashman?

  Wait, you said, you said it's hard for you to explain in English. What, what language do you speak?

• 8:47Speaker 01

  I'm from Israel.

• 8:48Dan Pashman?

  What made you want to move here?

• 8:50Speaker 01

  Oh, that's a long story.

• 8:54Dan Pashman?

  Well, the GPS says we have 17 minutes till we get there.

• 8:56Speaker 01

  Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You heard about the Yom Kippur War?

• 9:01Dan Pashman?

  The Yom Kippur War, yes, 1973?

• 9:05Speaker 01

  Seventy-three, yeah. I was in that war. I was a tank mechanic, so I was eight months straight in the army. After the war, I said, "You know, enough is enough." So, I landed in New York, and I was three weeks in New York. It was the wintertime.

• 9:30Dan Pashman?

  How old were you?

• 9:31Speaker 01

  I was about 25, I think.

• 9:37Speaker 01

  And then I said, "You know, I'm coming to Los Angeles, and I'm here since then."

• 9:45Speaker 01

  What else you wanna know?

• 9:49Dan Pashman?

  So this place I'm going to is called the Echo Park Time Travel Mart. It's a store where you buy things that you can use if you're gonna travel through time.

• 9:59Speaker 01

  Oh, okay.

• 10:00Dan Pashman?

  If you traveled through time, where would you go?

• 10:03Speaker 01

  Where would I go?

• 10:05Dan Pashman?

  Yeah.

• 10:05Speaker 01

  I was already there.

• 10:09Speaker 01

  And I'm not kidding.

• 10:10Dan Pashman?

  Where?

• 10:11Speaker 01

  You heard about the cotel in Jerusalem, right?

• 10:14Dan Pashman?

  The cotel, that's the Western Wall, yes.

• 10:16Speaker 01

  You ever been in the cave under the cotel?

• 10:19Dan Pashman?

  Yeah, that's like the single most amazing thing I ever saw when I was in Israel.

• 10:22Speaker 01

  That's going back 3,000 years ago.

• 10:25Dan Pashman?

  Right, that's true. Yeah, it's like, you know, you go there and there's these tunnels that are underground. You know, Jerusalem is so old that people come and...

• 10:34Speaker 01

  That's 3,000 years.

• 10:35Dan Pashman?

  And they build a new city on top and then that city gets destroyed in over 1,000 years. They build a new city, then a new city, and if you go down in the tunnels, you can see these giant rocks that the Romans, when the Romans were trying...

• 10:46Speaker 01

  Before the Romans.

• 10:47Dan Pashman?

  They were trying to destroy the buildings in Jerusalem and they took the the rocks and bricks off the top of the building and threw them down to the ground, the ground of 3,000 years ago, which is now three stories underground, right? If you were gonna travel back in time, what food would you pack to bring with you?

• 11:05Speaker 01

  Matzahs.

• 11:06Dan Pashman?

  Matzahs?

• 11:07Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 11:10Dan Pashman?

  You don't have to go back to Moses crossing the desert, Yehiel. You can go back to a different time.

• 11:14Speaker 01

  You know, people matzahs during the whole year.

• 11:18Dan Pashman?

  Well, yeah, I like matzah. I'm not gonna knock matzah. It's a delicious cracker. I just like, you know, you're traveling through time, Yehiel. You don't know exactly. You're going into an unknown situation. You're a man who likes control. You like predictability. You don't like surprises. You like routine. You're not gonna bring waffles and bananas?

• 11:36Speaker 01

  No.

• 11:38Speaker 01

  And I'll tell you why.

• 11:39Dan Pashman?

  Please.

• 11:40Speaker 01

  Matzah doesn't rot. You know, banana will rot. Waffle will go bad because it has to be in the freezer. And the matzah will stay for you even you take it to space.

• 11:56Speaker 01

  How about that?

• 11:57Dan Pashman?

  That's a good answer. That's a good answer.

• 12:06Dan Pashman?

  Yehiel, thanks so much for joining me on this borkful.

• 12:08Speaker 01

  Thank you as well. You know, it was a pleasure.

• 12:19Dan Pashman?

  All right, here we are. The Echo Park Time Travel Mart. Whenever you are, we're already then.

• 12:29Dan Pashman?

  All right, it's got a small storefront with big display windows on either side of the door. One of the display windows has a giant caveman statue. Well, I don't know if it's giant, more like life-size, caveman-size, as I would imagine, a caveman or person. A mannequin in the window, dressed like a caveman. It's like a mini convenience store. Metal shelves, just a couple of short aisles. All right, let's go inside.

• 12:58Dan Pashman?

  The slushy machine is out of order. It says, "Come back yesterday." These seem to be some foods from the past. Mammoth chunks, bold mammoth-y flavor. 100% wooly mammoth meat. May contain up to 30% mastodon meat. Well, typical.

• 13:18Dan Pashman?

  Let's see, there are in the cooler here. Oh, this looks like it's for the future. Jupiter Farms Robot Milk, 100% non-organic, fresh and wholesome quality since 2830. Time Travel Sickness Pills.

• 13:31Dan Pashman?

  For prevention and treatment of acute chronic dysphoria, parallel dementia, the shifts, and time tummy. All right, I'm gonna get these. Time Travel Sickness Pills, just in case.

• 13:45Dan Pashman?

  Hi, I'd like these Time Travel Sickness Pills, please.

• 13:47Speaker 02

  Yeah, no problem.

• 13:54Dan Pashman?

  I think I'm gonna attempt to travel through time here in this episode. That's what I'm gonna attempt to do. I have to right a wrong of a time when I I meant to buy a piece of cake at a diner in Toluca Lake and I failed to buy the cake when I should have. And I'm gonna just go back there today and I'm gonna attempt to go, I'm gonna I'm gonna attempt to eat that cake.

• 14:15Dan Pashman?

  That's what time travel is for, right? You go back, you change a mistake. Right? That's what I'm gonna do. All right, well, have a great day.

• 14:21Speaker 02

  Yeah, thanks for coming by.

• 14:22Dan Pashman?

  You probably already know how my day's gonna go.

• 14:25Speaker 02

  Looks really good. This is gonna be a cake, a slice of cake in your near future.

• 14:28Dan Pashman?

  Do people make that joke all the time?

• 14:30Speaker 02

  Even cornier jokes than that.

• 14:32Dan Pashman?

  What's the corniest joke people make when they come in here?

• 14:35Speaker 02

  Uh, they'll like walk in and be like, "Oh, it's nice to see you again." But that's my life.

• 14:43Dan Pashman?

  All right, take care.

• 14:48Dan Pashman?

  All right, that didn't actually take too long. Still pretty early in the day. Let's take another look at this Atlas Obscura list of weird stuff to do in L.A. Next up on the list, Underground Tunnels of Los Angeles. During prohibition, corrupt city officials ran drinking dens under the streets of downtown L.A. These 11 miles of service tunnels became passageways to basement speakeasies with innocuous fronts above ground. King Eddie's Saloon, which has been around since 1906, fronted as a piano store with a secret speakeasy in the basement. Now an official saloon once more. Its basement still remains part of the tunnel system.

• 15:32Dan Pashman?

  I mean, if I can go through some cool tunnels and end up at a saloon, that's pretty good. It says the tunnels have been used by police to transport prisoners, bank security to move large sums of cash safely, and it's been used by both car runners and mobsters to store bodies. Oh, officially, the tunnels are closed to the public.

• 15:58Dan Pashman?

  So I guess I'm gonna have to be a little discreet. But here we go. I'm gonna try to find these tunnels. I'm gonna try to find the entrance to the tunnels and I'm gonna follow them to the King Eddie's Saloon. Now, looking at the map here, it's not too far. I could get a lift. It's about 2 miles, but I think I'm gonna walk it.

• 16:38Dan Pashman?

  Another audio recording tip? Hang out by church bells.

• 16:45Dan Pashman?

  All right, so.

• 16:48Dan Pashman?

  They're done?

• 16:53Dan Pashman?

  I'm walking away from the church bell. Stop!

• 16:58Dan Pashman?

  So, a little update since the last time we spoke. We're on Temple Street in downtown L.A. And I see the Hall of Records building, which looks kind of like a giant fortress. It looks exactly like how they would keep the records, like in Blade Runner.

• 17:15Dan Pashman?

  And I'm gonna, let's see, can we pull out the directions now?

• 17:19Dan Pashman?

  "To explore the former highway of the L.A. Underground, you must slip behind the Hall of Records on Temple Street and locate an easy-to-miss elevator."

• 17:29Dan Pashman?

  I'm heading behind.

• 17:34Dan Pashman?

  Let's look back here.

• 17:41Dan Pashman?

  All right, I'm behind the Hall of Records.

• 17:46Dan Pashman?

  There's some big metal rusted outdoors back here.

• 17:51Dan Pashman?

  Let's see.

• 17:54Dan Pashman?

  This door's locked.

• 17:58Dan Pashman?

  There's a small park back here. There's like some grass and benches and I see, hang on, there's a little structure over there.

• 18:08Dan Pashman?

  Let's check this out.

• 18:11Dan Pashman?

  Okay, I think, as I approach, I think these are looking like elevators. I've never seen elevators that enter directly from the outdoors. But I guess when you live in a place where it never rains, that's something you can do.

• 18:28Dan Pashman?

  Yep, these are elevators.

• 18:32Dan Pashman?

  Let's give this a shot. Let's see where these elevators go.

• 18:37Dan Pashman?

  There's 1, 2, 3, or M. I'm gonna try, I'm gonna hit them all. I'm gonna hit all the buttons. I'm gonna see what we see. This elevator looks like an elevator from a horror movie. It's completely rusted out. There's graffiti everywhere. Not even like nice graffiti, just like vandalism.

• 18:54Dan Pashman?

  Okay, first floor, let's see what we see.

• 19:03Dan Pashman?

  Is this seriously an actual government building? This looks like the hospital from Stranger Things. I'm gonna get back in the elevator.

• 19:26Dan Pashman?

  What the hell is this place? It literally looks like an abandoned hospital. The walls aren't just peeling, like you can see the metal mesh. You can see inside the walls, the walls themselves. There are giant holes in the walls. Restricted area, authorized personnel only. All right, there's like a rope, like those dividers they have like at the airport to like make the lines when you're lining up. And there's a thing barricading this hall, but I'm going to go down here and check it out.

• 19:58Dan Pashman?

  Okay, I just came around the corner and there's a hallway that just like, the hallway just ends with a concrete wall. It's like they sealed it off. I'm gonna try to open this door. Okay.

• 20:15Dan Pashman?

  Coming up, the search for the tunnels continues. Stick around.

• 20:22Speaker 03

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• 20:26Speaker 03

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• 20:28Dan Pashman?

  When you're cooking, ingredients matter, right? You use higher quality ingredients, you usually get better results. And if you're listening to this show, you're probably the kind of person who puts some thought and effort into your ingredients. But ingredients don't just matter with food, they also matter with laundry detergent. Of course, the cleaning job needs to get done, the odors and stains have to be tackled, and I want to feel good about the detergent and the ingredients in it. Because remember, whatever's in your laundry detergent is essentially in your clothes, and then you're putting those clothes on, you want good stuff in there. And All Free Clear uses only essential ingredients. It's 100% free from dyes, perfumes, parabens, and irritating residues. Check out the label and see for yourself, it lists all the ingredients and what they do. We've been using it in my house, we're very happy with it, and let me tell you, family of four, two teenagers, we do a lot of laundry.

• 21:13Dan Pashman?

  So we have put All Free Clear to the test. It's a powerful clean that you can feel good about. All Free Clear is the number one detergent brand recommended by dermatologists for sensitive skin. When it comes to laundry detergent, the choice is clear, All Free Clear. Pick up a bottle for your next laundry day. I grew up on Lando Lakes cheese. I still remember going to the supermarket deli counter with my mom and her ordering Lando Lakes American cheese. And now, Lando Lakes cheese and butter are a huge part of my home. There are so many easy weeknight recipes using Lando Lakes cheese and butter that bring delicious restaurant taste right to your table. From chicken parm to weeknight shrimp pad Thai, Lando Lakes has plenty of quick dishes that'll have the whole dinner table talking. Visit landolakes.com/reцепes/collection for easy weeknight dinners.

• 21:59Dan Pashman?

  Last year, right around this time, I got a new jacket from Quince, a lightweight fall jacket, and it has turned into my favorite jacket. And this is why you need a lightweight jacket, and probably a new one, because it's time to freshen up your look. You need a lightweight jacket from Quince because the beauty of a lightweight jacket is you can wear it in the early fall, you can wear it in the early spring, but also it goes over a sweater, over a sweatshirt, and then suddenly your lightweight jacket is a great accessory for pretty much the whole winter. Bottom line, when the temperatures start to drop, Quince makes it easy to build on those everyday staples with versatile layers designed to keep you warm and comfortable all season long. They make elevated everyday essentials using premium materials and designs that are timeless, thoughtfully crafted, and made to be worn again and again.

• 22:42Dan Pashman?

  So find your next fall favorites at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns, now available in Canada and the UK too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was The Sporkful. It's the best way to support the show.

• 23:08Dan Pashman?

  Welcome back to a Sporkful Reheat. I'm Dan Pashman. Hey, if you're not already following The Sporkful in your podcasting app, what are you waiting for? In Apple Podcasts and Spotify, go to our show page and click Follow. In other apps, it might be like a plus sign, or a subscribe button, or a heart, whatever it is in your podcasting app, please do that thing. It's the best way to ensure you'll never miss an episode, and it's good for our show. So please, go ahead and do it right now while you're listening. Thank you. Now, back to this week's reheat.

• 23:41Dan Pashman?

  I'm gonna try to open this door. Okay.

• 23:54Dan Pashman?

  Where are these tunnels?

• 24:01Dan Pashman?

  I feel like, hang on, I'm gonna, I'm gonna Google.

• 24:09Dan Pashman?

  No service down here, of course. Of course, they shut off service in the haunted building. They don't want you to be able to escape.

• 24:19Dan Pashman?

  I'm going back to the surface. Try to get reception.

• 24:30Dan Pashman?

  All right, all right, I'm on this, I'm reading through this.

• 24:34Dan Pashman?

  Press 2 to go down. Okay, I went down to level 3. I went too far.

• 24:43Dan Pashman?

  Ride an escalator up a level and straight ahead are the tunnels. I'm going back.

• 24:56Dan Pashman?

  I'm turning left.

• 24:59Dan Pashman?

  I found the escalators.

• 25:04Dan Pashman?

  I am so freaking excited right now slash terrified.

• 25:17Dan Pashman?

  I'm in. I'm in the tunnel.

• 25:22Dan Pashman?

  It's just concrete, concrete floors, concrete walls.

• 25:28Dan Pashman?

  You could get seriously lost in here.

• 25:31Dan Pashman?

  It just keeps going.

• 25:34Dan Pashman?

  There's fluorescent lighting ahead and huge pipes above my head, pipes big enough for people to move through, like the infrastructure of a city.

• 25:52Dan Pashman?

  There's some people coming along this way that look like they're law enforcement, so I'm gonna turn around and walk back the other way, because that, I'm gonna try not to get arrested.

• 26:06Dan Pashman?

  Oh my God, you guys, the coolest thing just happened. I turned back the way I came, and I walked away from the cops, and then I turned back, and just as I was coming back, I heard those voices. And it was those two cops that I had walked away from, and they turned and walked in the opposite direction from me, just like in the movies where like I, I walked away from them and I hit around a corner, and then when I turned back, they walked in the opposite direction, they're chatting with each other, they didn't even see me. All right, I'm going back in, back into the bowels.

• 26:40Dan Pashman?

  It's a nice scary sound.

• 26:46Dan Pashman?

  It is really cool to be down here and think about like, they're transporting mobsters, criminals, and giant piles of cash. The mayor is transporting the liquor stashed during prohibition, all happening right underneath the city. I'm like just a few feet underneath the city.

• 27:06Dan Pashman?

  This is actually reminding me of what Yehiel, the Lyft driver, said before. He was saying he went back in time, but he went underground by the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

• 27:17Dan Pashman?

  Like you dig back beneath those sedimentary layers, it's like I'm literally going through the past, walking on these paths that all these secret things happened in Los Angeles, right underneath people's feet.

• 27:42Dan Pashman?

  All right, I'm back above ground. I walked a lot in those tunnels. I went a long ways in one end, it came to a dead end, I went way back, I went back in a whole other direction, I came to some basement record-keeping room that I don't think I was supposed to be in, turned back, walked down another third long tunnel, and I kept, just kept going and going. You thought you were getting to the end, you get to the end, then there's a bend, and it's another long tunnel with no end in sight. And I went for a while, but I finally decided that I should turn back before I went so far that I could not escape. So I am back, I am out, and I've decided to walk to the King Eddie Saloon on street level.

• 28:23Dan Pashman?

  While we walk, let's, let's read up a little bit more on this King Eddie Saloon. Let's see, the interwebs tells me that it opened in 1906, and it's the last of the old bars near LA's Skid Row.

• 28:36Dan Pashman?

  They say writer Charles Bukowski hung out at the King Eddie. It was hugely popular for its first 50 years, it made it through prohibition, and it was a key location, a prime location, because the old streetcar line ran right past it. But then, when LA's streetcar system started dying out, the whole area began to decline.

• 29:11Dan Pashman?

  So I've made it inside the King Eddy. It is, uh, it's a dive bar. And I, I don't mean that term to have judgment or hipster baggage. The walls are black, very little decoration. It's very spare.

• 29:33Dan Pashman?

  They have a few beers in cans, no beers on tap.

• 29:37Dan Pashman?

  Tables are kinda chewed up a little, but fine, perfectly nice. There's an ATM in the corner, couple TVs, some Christmas lights.

• 29:48Dan Pashman?

  I will say, I don't feel like I'm being transported back to 1933. Maybe more like 1983.

• 29:58Dan Pashman?

  Mr. Hayward? Mr. Hayward, this is Dan, nice to meet you, sir.

• 30:02Speaker 04

  What is this?

• 30:04Dan Pashman?

  This is a microphone, is it okay if I use this in your vicinity?

• 30:08Speaker 04

  I guess so, what do you want to know?

• 30:11Dan Pashman?

  How long you been coming to this bar?

• 30:13Speaker 04

  First time, 1967.

• 30:16Dan Pashman?

  1967.

• 30:18Speaker 04

  I first got out of the service, came down, I got a job, with a coat and tie. I walked in the first time, with a coat and tie, everybody looked at me. What are you doing here?

• 30:30Speaker 04

  So I went to other places.

• 30:32Dan Pashman?

  You, and, and until you, until you weren't wearing a coat and tie anymore? And that's when you came back?

• 30:37Speaker 04

  I haven't worn a coat and tie in, well, since, uh, the early 80s.

• 30:42Dan Pashman?

  Okay.

• 30:46Speaker 05

  This is the man you want to talk, I'll do it out of mind, but this guy has way more history.

• 30:50Dan Pashman?

  This is the guy I want to talk to?

• 30:51Speaker 05

  Yeah, this is Pancake.

• 30:53Dan Pashman?

  Pancake?

• 30:53Speaker 05

  Pancake is the, is the, uh, the real mayor of LA.

• 30:57Dan Pashman?

  But you're Pancake?

• 30:58Speaker 06

  I am Mr. Pancake, sir.

• 31:00Dan Pashman?

  Mr. Pancake, sorry.

• 31:01Speaker 06

  Yes, sir.

• 31:01Dan Pashman?

  Dan, it's nice to meet you.

• 31:03Speaker 06

  You too, Dan.

• 31:05Dan Pashman?

  So, uh, how long you been coming to this bar?

• 31:08Speaker 06

  Since the 80s.

• 31:11Dan Pashman?

  And, uh, what drew you to it?

• 31:14Speaker 06

  Well, my dad used to come here in his lifetime, he was, um, born in 1919.

• 31:19Dan Pashman?

  So your dad was a regular in this bar?

• 31:21Speaker 06

  His spirit is still here.

• 31:21Dan Pashman?

  Wow.

• 31:22Speaker 06

  But he knew that.

• 31:23Dan Pashman?

  What are you drinking, Mr. Pancake?

• 31:25Speaker 06

  Well, this H2O, two hydrogen, one oxygen.

• 31:28Dan Pashman?

  Got it.

• 31:29Speaker 06

  For now, but I'm getting ready to, um, getting ready to leave now, but I'm,

• 31:36Speaker 06

  I'm employed right here, I'm like, I'm a community organizer, but I do some accounting in the area also.

• 31:42Dan Pashman?

  So you seem like the kind of guy who likes to be in the center of things?

• 31:44Speaker 06

  Yeah, well, not the center of things, a part of process. I'm an initiator.

• 31:48Dan Pashman?

  Yes.

• 31:49Speaker 06

  Through conversation.

• 31:51Dan Pashman?

  Yeah.

• 31:51Speaker 06

  I would say this in closing, that King Eddy's to me, is not just an organization, a business, it's an organism, because it requires people, it's about the people here.

• 32:05Dan Pashman?

  Well, thank you very much, Mr. Pancake.

• 32:06Speaker 06

  You're quite welcome, Daniel.

• 32:10Dan Pashman?

  What's your name, sir?

• 32:11Speaker 05

  Joel.

• 32:11Dan Pashman?

  You're the bartender?

• 32:12Speaker 05

  Yes.

• 32:13Dan Pashman?

  What can you tell me about the history of this place?

• 32:15Speaker 05

  Um, the building itself goes back to, I believe, 1903, when prohibition kicked in, they turned the bar into a piano store. And through a secret door, you could actually access the basement, where the speakeasy was.

• 32:32Dan Pashman?

  Are the tunnels still underneath this place right now?

• 32:34Speaker 05

  Uh, they are, but everything is blocked now, so there is no access to the tunnels. There is access to the basement, which still has some of the old murals from the, uh, prohibition time.

• 32:47Dan Pashman?

  Is it possible to, can I see the murals?

• 32:49Speaker 05

  Um, sure, yeah.

• 32:53Dan Pashman?

  All right.

• 32:54Speaker 05

  Yeah, man.

• 32:54Dan Pashman?

  Thank you. Do I just, do I need to, can I just go down there and check them out?

• 32:57Speaker 05

  Yeah, let me open for you.

• 32:58Dan Pashman?

  Oh, all right, thank you.

• 33:02Dan Pashman?

  Coming up, bartender Joel leads me down the basement steps to explore the former speakeasy. That's after the break, stick around.

• 33:11Speaker 03

  It's time to open up a can of advertisements.

• 33:17Dan Pashman?

  Boar's Head brings to the deli the taste of deep fried turkey. Look, whether or not you've had deep fried turkey, I think you can probably understand that it's amazing. But making it is also a massive production. That's why Boar's Head now presents the Friar's Turkey Breast. One bite and flavor takes over, perfectly seasoned, deliciously golden fried. A backyard tradition, available at the deli only from Boar's Head. Discover the craftsmanship behind every bite at your local Boar's Head deli. Boar's Head, committed to craft since 1905.

• 33:48Speaker 07

  This podcast is supported by Nurtac ODT, Remedy Pant. We know you didn't ask for an interruption, but migraine doesn't wait for the right moment to interrupt either. It just barges in, takes your time, and throws everything off. So when migraine takes your time, take Nurtac. It's for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Nurtac can provide pain relief in two hours, which can last up to two days. Ask your healthcare provider if Nurtac is right for you, because your time is for you, not migraine. Don't take if allergic to Nurtac ODT. Allergic reactions can occur even days after use. Get help right away for trouble breathing, rash, swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or throat. High blood pressure and Raynaud's syndrome can occur.

• 34:29Speaker 07

  Get help for high blood pressure, numbness, coolness, pain, or color changes in fingers and toes. Common side effect is nausea. For full prescribing information, call 1-833-4-NUR-TAC, or visit Nurtac.com. All right, back to your podcast, playlist, or whatever's keeping you going today.

• 34:47Speaker 03

  Fidelity Active ETFs have the flexibility to shift and transform as markets do the same. So instead of just riding an index, they can seek to outperform it by adapting to market conditions and pursuing new opportunities as they emerge. And while you get the potential outperformance of an actively managed fund, you can still buy and sell it on your terms, just like any other ETF. Markets can change in real time, make sure your ETF can too. Learn more at fidelity.com/activeetfs. Before investing in any exchange traded fund, you should consider its investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus, an offering circular, or if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

• 35:31Speaker 03

  While Active ETFs offer the potential to outperform an index, these products may more significantly trail an index as compared with passive ETFs. ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, member NYSE, SIPC.

• 35:54Dan Pashman?

  Welcome back, let's return now to my LA adventure.

• 35:58Dan Pashman?

  All right, the bartender Joel is leading me to the back of the bar.

• 36:04Speaker 05

  Uh, be careful, because we have no insurance.

• 36:09Dan Pashman?

  We're going down like a dark stairwell.

• 36:14Speaker 05

  This door had a sliding window, and you knock on it, and, uh, we're on, we're not sure if you had to pay to get in, or give the secret password to it.

• 36:25Dan Pashman?

  So this is like, there's like a brick wall here, that's been painted over, but there's still like a, a boarded up little window here. So you bang on this door right here, we're like underground.

• 36:35Speaker 05

  And then the door, the window was like, and then someone was like, through here.

• 36:40Dan Pashman?

  So we're in a room underground, now this is like storage for the bar, basically.

• 36:45Speaker 05

  Yes.

• 36:45Dan Pashman?

  But wait, was this the speakeasy?

• 36:47Speaker 05

  Yes, the stairs that we just walked into, that was one way to come in, and that was through the piano store. That boarded door you see over there, that was the one that led to the tunnels that run along Main Street.

• 37:02Dan Pashman?

  And now, so this is, this basically feels like, uh, the basement of someone's, like an unfinished basement of someone's house. You see the pipes, there's random tables, there's the old bar stools and old sinks and things, but, oh wow, look at this. There's like these paintings of like old stone pillars painted on the walls and all these pictures of, of casks of alcohol pouring out pints of beer and things.

• 37:29Speaker 05

  Yeah, so this was the, uh,

• 37:32Dan Pashman?

  And these paintings, these murals go back to prohibition?

• 37:34Speaker 05

  Yes, correct. You see the little hole in this wall?

• 37:37Dan Pashman?

  Right, there's like a boarded up wooden wall here, but, but there's one hole about the size of a liquor bottle.

• 37:44Speaker 05

  Yeah, so this is, uh, where you will get your drinks from. There, I mean, this was a very high-end speakeasy, you know, so, and it was full service, with waiters and waitresses and major Ds and you name it. So, you know, tables were set up and everything, so, you know, once the waiter had your drink order, uh, the waiter will come in and request a drink.

• 38:08Dan Pashman?

  So we're right underneath, I mean, this is like downtown LA is right over our heads.

• 38:12Speaker 05

  Yeah, pretty much. And, uh, there is a really cool thing that I learned when I went on, on a tour, there is a, uh, a company that does a tour of underground LA. On that wall, you see that tree over there?

• 38:24Dan Pashman?

  Yeah, it's like a painting of a tree, like where the Smurfs would live, or like the Keebler Elves tree, except sort of dark and demented, all the branches are kind of like gnarled and twisted.

• 38:35Speaker 05

  So apparently the branches are actually, I mean, the tree itself is a map. So the branches are the, you know, ways for you to navigate underground. So those are supposedly tunnels.

• 38:48Dan Pashman?

  So it's like a secret map?

• 38:49Speaker 05

  Yeah, pretty much. I'm assuming that it will actually probably help them to, in case the place got raided, you know, and you needed to leave right away, just try to not get stuck.

• 39:06Dan Pashman?

  All right, Joel had to go back upstairs, he's got to work the bar. But I'm just down here, still in the basement.

• 39:15Dan Pashman?

  It's just amazing to stand in this room, to see these murals. I sort of picture, the map is over like in a little kind of corner area, like a little alcove in the basement, and I kind of imagine like some couches and tables there.

• 39:28Dan Pashman?

  You can kind of feel it. Like I can picture the people in here, I can picture them dressed really nicely, sneaking in, a little music playing.

• 40:03Dan Pashman?

  All right, I think it's time for coconut kink.

• 40:19Dan Pashman?

  Thank you, that was great. That was super cool.

• 40:32Dan Pashman?

  All right, I'm outside Patty's, I am here. I'm here for the first time in years. I am actually like truly nervous, like what if, what if they don't have it again? You know, like I figured that it was just bad luck that one day they didn't have it, but what if it was good luck the day they did have it? And I'm gonna know the second I walk in, because I remember exactly where it was displayed, right on the counter, right next to the register, right when you walk in. It was, that first time I came in, it was the first thing I saw when I walked in the door.

• 41:08Dan Pashman?

  All right. I'm going in.

• 41:15Dan Pashman?

  Oh my God, they have it. They have the coconut cake. Holy smokes.

• 41:22Dan Pashman?

  It looks just the way I remember it. Bright white, huge, it's not triple decker, it's double decker, but each, each deck is like a cake, it's like a double cake. It's at least six inches high, covered in frosting, you see the coconut flakes? Uh, you need a menu? I do not need a menu, thank you, because I know exactly what I want, I've come a long ways for a slice of that coconut cake. Slice of coconut cake? And you want some coffee, iced tea? Coffee would be great. Oh, okay. That'll go well, right? Okay, thank you. Could I get, well, I'm gonna, can I get a second slice of coconut cake to go, please? Okay, so one for here and one to go? That's right. Oh, okay. Thank you.

• 42:05Dan Pashman?

  All right, oh my God, it's cut, oh, it looks even better than I imagined. Enjoy. Thank you. I'm gonna go with a sip of coffee first.

• 42:19Dan Pashman?

  Something a little hot and bitter, I think that's going to accentuate the creamy coconut sweetness. Uh, just look at it, there, there are flakes of coconut all over it. Oh, thank you, the slice to go is here, thank you.

• 42:35Dan Pashman?

  Oh wait, it's my wife, Janie, hold on. Hello?

• 42:38Speaker 04

  Hi.

• 42:39Dan Pashman?

  Hey, you're on speakerphone at Patty's Restaurant in Burbank, California.

• 42:44Dan Pashman?

  Remember when we came to visit Missy and Kenny?

• 42:46Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 42:47Dan Pashman?

  And I was like, oh, you live right near Patty's Restaurant, I just was there the other day and I didn't get the slice of coconut cake that I meant to get, and then I felt very upset, so can I walk down the street and get it? And Kenny and I walked down here and...

• 42:58Speaker 04

  They were out, I think?

• 43:00Dan Pashman?

  Yeah, and how did I feel about that?

• 43:02Speaker 04

  Like in tears.

• 43:06Dan Pashman?

  Well, guess what I'm doing right now?

• 43:10Speaker 04

  You're eating the coconut cake?

• 43:12Dan Pashman?

  Yes, and I, I am about to take my first bite, hold on, please, stay right there on the phone, I'm gonna take my first bite right now, hold on.

• 43:23Dan Pashman?

  Mmm.

• 43:25Dan Pashman?

  It is so good. You'll be happy to know that I ordered a second slice of coconut cake to bring home to you.

• 43:32Speaker 04

  Okay, great. Are you by yourself?

• 43:35Dan Pashman?

  Not now that you're here.

• 43:38Speaker 04

  Why don't you call Kenny, he's like three blocks away?

• 43:41Dan Pashman?

  I was going to, but I didn't know when I'd be arriving and the whole thing's been kind of last minute, I'm just running around LA like a madman. I've traveled through time, I've been righting wrongs from my past, it's been really great.

• 43:50Speaker 04

  Okay, great.

• 43:51Dan Pashman?

  If you could travel through time and right a wrong or do something differently, what would it be?

• 43:56Speaker 04

  I don't know, I think I need a little more time to think about it.

• 44:00Dan Pashman?

  Okay.

• 44:00Speaker 04

  It probably would be like a food day.

• 44:02Dan Pashman?

  No, probably not, you'd probably like kill Hitler or something?

• 44:07Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 44:11Dan Pashman?

  All right, well, you go kill Hitler, I'm here with my cake.

• 44:14Speaker 04

  Okay.

• 44:15Dan Pashman?

  All right, well, I'm, I'm getting on a plane in 12 hours, I'll be home soon with cake, love you.

• 44:20Speaker 04

  Okay, love you, bye.

• 44:27Dan Pashman?

  The cake is so light. Woo, this was worth the wait.

• 44:33Dan Pashman?

  And you know what I'm realizing as I sit here? Time travel's a bad idea.

• 44:38Dan Pashman?

  You shouldn't go back in time and change the past, because this cake tastes better, because I waited so long. I had to go through that experience, I had to feel that heartbreak for this to feel so victorious.

• 45:07Dan Pashman?

  One final note, when I got back to my hotel after the adventure, I was really drained and full. I didn't really feel my best, and then I remembered my time travel sickness pills.

• 45:22Dan Pashman?

  Oh, they're like gummy mints with a hard shell, hard shell gummy mints. The mint is soothing to my stomach, I do feel better already. What do you know? It worked.

• 45:44Dan Pashman?

  If you want your own time travel sickness pills, the Time Travel Mart has an online store. And actually, the whole place is a fundraising front for a great nonprofit called 826, which is national and offers free writing programs for students. So go buy something and support their work at timetravelmart.com. This show was originally produced by me along with Anne Sannie and Aviva DeKornfeld, it was edited by Rob McGinley Myers and mixed by the Reverend John Delore. Until next time, I'm Dan Pashman. And I'm Patty from South Pasadena. And I'm Hannah from South Pasadena, reminding you to eat more, eat better, and eat more better.

• 46:36Dan Pashman?

  This reheat was produced by... Gianna Palmer. The team that produces The Sporkful today includes me along with managing producer... Emma Morgenstern. And senior producer... Andres O'Hara. Our engineer is... Jared O'Connell. Music help from Black Label Music. The Sporkful is a production of Sirius XM Podcasts, our executive producer is Camila Stanley. And hey, if you want to hear new episodes of The Sporkful ad-free, subscribe to Sirius XM Podcast Plus on Apple Podcasts, or visit siriusxm.com/podcastsplus to listen with Spotify or another app of your choice. Until next time, I'm Dan Pashman.

• 47:15Speaker 03

  Fidelity Active ETFs have the flexibility to shift and transform as markets do the same. So instead of just riding an index, they can seek to outperform it by adapting to market conditions and pursuing new opportunities as they emerge. And while you get the potential outperformance of an actively managed fund, you can still buy and sell it on your terms, just like any other ETF. Markets can change in real time, make sure your ETF can too. Learn more at fidelity.com/activeetfs. Before investing in any exchange traded fund, you should consider its investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus, an offering circular, or if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

• 47:58Speaker 03

  While Active ETFs offer the potential to outperform an index, these products may more significantly trail an index as compared with passive ETFs. ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. Fidelity Broker Services LLC, member NYSE, SIPC.

• 48:16Speaker 07

  This podcast is supported by Nurtac ODT. Remedy Pant. We know you didn't ask for an interruption, but migraine doesn't wait for the right moment to interrupt either. It just barges in, takes your time, and throws everything off. So when migraine takes your time, take Nurtac. It's for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Nurtac can provide pain relief in two hours, which can last up to two days. Ask your healthcare provider if Nurtac is right for you, because your time is for you, not migraine. Don't take if allergic to Nurtac ODT. Allergic reactions can occur even days after use. Get help right away for trouble breathing, rash, swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or throat. High blood pressure and Raynaud's Syndrome can occur. Get help for high blood pressure, numbness, coolness, pain, or color changes in fingers

• 49:01Speaker 07

  and toes. Common side effect is nausea. For full prescribing information, call 1-833-4-NUR-TAC or visit nurtec.com. All right, back to your podcast, playlist, or whatever's keeping you going today.