Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - LAPD do not suspect fowl play

Elina and I used to go to a place called Zankou chicken some years ago, usually while visiting freinds in the San Fernando Valley. Our freinds no longer live there, so we haven't been to Zankou for years. We recently discovered they opened a new restaurant in West LA which is only a couple of miles from where we live, so last night I went to the new location to pick the Chicken Tarna plate up;

http://www.zankouchicken.com/chicken_zankou_ourmenu.html

I reached the intersection of Sepulveda/Santa Monica Blvd, however I could not see the restaurant, I decided to pull into a mini-mall on the corner in order to turn around and get back onto Sepulveda, where Zankou was located according to the website.

Driving through the mini-mall I saw one of LA's finest( a policeman) standing on the sidewalk.

 I know, I'll apply the old 'Ask a policeman' maxim, they know where everything is, so I pulled alongside him and politely greeted him asking him if he knew where Zankou was?

In an annoyed, unfreindly manner, he first asked what it was called, then said he had no idea, gruffly explaining he was waiting for someone, making no eye contact and completely acting  as if I was a pain in his ass, instead of a citizen asking for directions from those that have pledged to 'Protect and Serve', which is LAPD's motto.

 The cop then said that he thought there was something around the corner, I thanked him and drove to the end of the mini-mall parking lot to get a better view.

Eureka!, sure enough Zankou's new location was around the corner about 50 yards from where I had the discussion with the policeman. Oh well, I thought. I guess he just doesn't know that there is a new chicken place there, still a little dismayed by his bad attitude.

 I parked the car and proceeded to the restaurant, as Elina was at home patiently waiting for her Zankou chicken dinner, which we had not had for many years.

In the line inside the restaurant just right in front of me was........................ the same God damn cop I had just asked for directions. He ordered turned around and did not even acknowledge me. No freindly smile, no inquiry such as "Did you find it okay?" -  nothing, zip, zilch, nada. Very rude and strange. I just hope he is not applying for promotion to detective anytime soon.

 Finally my turn to order, I immediately recognized the middle-eastern lady from the previous location in the Valley and said hello, she acknowledged that she had worked there but left 7 years ago to work at the Pasadena restaurant, recently transferring to the West LA location. She was very surprised that I recognized her after all those years............... I didn't have the heart to tell her that I recognized her due to the fact that she has a monstrous black pimple-like mole on the end of her nose!