Ruben V. Nepales: Farewell and thanks for the delicious Filipino food and best of all, for the scintillating conversations, Lem Balagot!
Lemuel “Lem” Lorenzana Balagot
May 3, 1951 - October 17, 2024
We lost a Filipino cuisine pioneer in America and owner of the long-running and everyone's favorite, L A Rose Cafe.
So many memories.
When Darren Criss and his mom organized an intimate breakfast gathering the morning after the 2019 Golden Globes, where else did the mother-son have it but at Darren's favorite LA Pinoy restaurant?
Serendipitously, Darren won the Globe for "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" the night before (becoming the first Filipino American to win a Golden Globe) so it was an extra special celebration over Lem's yummy Pinoy breakfast fare.
When the Globes held a press conference with Paris Hilton, we heard that she loved Filipino food in her Manila visits. So we thought of Lem to cater the event. Paris loved the food so much that she asked to have photos with Lem and his staff.
Janet Susan Rodriguez Nepales and I are also glad that our girls got to know Lem this year. Nikki Bianca Nicole and Ella Rafaella Angelica met Lem when he catered our housewarming in the Valley but they were too young to remember him.
In more recent times, Nikki and Ella got to know Lem as they dined at LA Rose Cafe. Lem sat down with our family when we had lunch at LA Rose before we headed to a wedding mass in summer this year.
Some of Lem's endearing qualities were his affability, wit, humor and intelligence. Our conversations with him were as satisfying as his lunch and dinner staples. We brought Hollywood friends and colleagues to his Fountain Ave. cafe.
Last time we ate at LA Rose, we brought a visiting friend Evita Wise to dinner with our family. Janet and I just told the staff to give our love and hugs to him since he was upstairs, resting from a treatment. The day after, he called to say thanks and ask how the food and service was.
About three weeks before Lem passed away, we had a long phone conversation about many topics, from the recent earthquakes to his health condition. From out of the blue, he spontaneously said some very kind words to Janet and me which we will always treasure.
Paalam, Lem. We will miss you. We will always remember you. Hugs and sincerest sympathies to Lem's partner, Rai, and Lem's family.
LA Rose Cafe will remain open -- if you have not been there, try it one of these days. And to all of Lem's regular patrons and friends, let's keep LA Rose Cafe jumping in loving memory of and in tribute to the wonderful human being Len was.
******
From the family:
An open casket viewing will be held on November 6 from 10 am to 8 pm, followed by a closed casket visitation on November 7 from 10 am to 8 pm at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 9:00 am at the Church of the Recessional, also at Forest Lawn Glendale with a reception at LA Rose to follow at 12 pm. The family requests that flowers be delivered to Forest Lawn Glendale, located at 1712 S. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, California 91205.
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