On the Line: Chuy Vidales of Avocado Café, Part 2

Restauranteur. Surfer. Drummer. Chuy Vidales' love of food, sports and music makes for one well-rounded individual. We help him check something off his to-do list as he responds to our line of questioning. Glad we could help, Chuy!

Read our interview with Chuy Vidales of Avocado Café, Part One.
And now, on to Part Two . . . .

Do you have any skills that are non-food-related? What are they?
I have been playing drums for about 18 years now. I still play and perform all over Southern California. Check out my band, The Natural Thrill! You can catch us every last weekend of the month at Gallagher's Pub & Grill in downtown HB and Hurricanes Bar & Grill on Sundays over the summer.

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What's your favorite childhood memory?
Family gatherings at my Uncle Frank's house. Carne asada on the grill, guitars, singing and Super Nintendo with my cousins. My dad and his brother bought houses in HB when they were first being built, and my uncle purchased right across the street from us. Those were magical and unforgettable times.

When you're not in the kitchen cooking, what are you doing?
Listening to music and enjoying a glass of wine.

Last song playing on your radio/smart phone/iPod:
“One Love” by Bob Marley.

Where did you grow up?
Born and raised in Huntington Beach, California.

Hardest lesson you've learned:
This one still hurts. There was confusion on a catering-order date that I didn't follow up on. It was a really big order that was made on the wrong date. I'm not going to point fingers, just implement the “follow-up call” system in big bold letters on the catering portion of the training manual. The food went to businesses in the area and ended up generating a lot of revenue, but it still stung.

Are you superstitious? If so, about what?
I just believe that things that sound too good to be true usually are. Does that answer the question?

What were you up to five years ago?
I was touring with a band called Quiksand, playing drums. I toured 9,500 miles in two years.

Last book you read or last movie watched:
Last book was The E-Myth, a must-read for any up-and-coming business owner and a life changer for me. I'd like to thank Travis Weaver for that one. Last movie was Hunger Games; it was pretty good.

How was your vacation?
My vacation was much-needed and amazing. I spent six days in Cancun, and then two weeks in Costa Rica. There was a lot of surfing, golfing and relaxing.

What would you be doing if you weren't in this business?
Something hospitality- and customer-service-related. It has always been a natural passion of mine. Music is the balance in my life–and always will be.

Is there anything you'd like readers to know that we haven't already asked?
I have to thank my brother Jon, as well as my partners, Josh Gingrich and chef Matt Perez; my girl, Jenna; and all the staff at Avocado Café for everything we have accomplished together. Without these people in my life, I would not be where I am today, doing this interview and sharing amazing food with amazing people in Orange County.

Another one of my goals when starting this business was to do an interview with OC Weekly. It is so great I get to check this one off the list. It's such a great publication, always supporting local music and food. THANK YOU!

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