by Mike Sanchez, Photos by Mike & Debbi Sanchez

Rolling in we were greeted by Owner Janice Albright and our server extraordinaire, Kaylah. They helped set a great tone for the night with their joyful welcome and introductions. Kaylah guided us to our table and, in a blink, we had water and our food and drink menus, and Kaylah shared the specials of the evening. It’ s been a while since we’ ve had a chance to connect with the Goldsmiths, so we got right into talking about everything under the sun as we went over our options.

Paula and Joel are models of community leadership through volunteerism and their support of countless nonprofit organizations. Over several decades, their individual and combined efforts have impacted thousands of local families for good. For the Goldsmith family, community service has been a legacy for two generations and counting. Joel’ s parents Jane and Glenn founded Gilroy’ s Goldsmith Seeds— now Syngenta— in 1962. While at an industry event at a castle in France, Joel and his dad were inspired by the lavish grounds and colorful gardens, leading them to build the observation deck and flower beds on the Hecker Pass property. Over the years, their grounds became a well-known spot for locals and travelers along Hwy 152, who would take much-needed breaks to use the public restrooms and enjoy the observation deck overlooking the colorful mosaic of flower beds. to Guatemala and Costa Rica at the age of eleven to survey properties and meet with lawyers. One of his first business transactions abroad was purchasing a pink pinata in an openair market. He paid. 75 cents.

“ Back then in Gilroy, they taught beginner Spanish in every grade. I knew enough to ask,“ What does that cost?” Joel shared. Like Joel, the pinata became a world traveler, accompanying Joel and his dad to Costa Rica for the next leg of the trip then back to the States.“ I somehow got it onto the plane in the overhead compartment and it made it home. I kept that thing in my room for years.”

Hilarious anecdotes like this are a huge part of what makes Paula and Joel very special people. Joel lights up when telling a story, and Paula delightfully brings the“ real deal” from her Wisconsin upbringing. While pursuing the entree menu, we noticed fish & chips. Cue Paula...

“ On Friday night, it ' s fish fry night and every single restaurant, small, medium and large in Wisconsin serves fish fry. It can be as common as cod, but if you ' re on one of the freshwater lakes, it can be perch, Walleyed Pike, or whatever they’ ve got.”

Joel adds,“ It’ s whatever they ' ve got, breaded and fried. Whatever they pull out of the lake.”

Paula goes on to share that her favorite way to have fish fry is not with chips( or fries), it ' s with potato pancakes.“ I get my potato pancake with applesauce and sour cream. And that ' s a thing, and it ' s really good.”

In my seldom traveled, small town California mind, I felt a connection to my kindred spirits in Wisconsin and asked,“ So, it ' s like your own little Wisconsin taco, then?”

“ It was so colorful and full it looked like a beautiful quilt.” Paula reminded us. A walking path and Japanese bridge overlooked a fully stocked koi pond that was open to the public every day. Within a few short years of establishing Goldsmith Seeds in Gilroy, the family built seed production facilities in Guatemala and Kenya, employing thousands of people. At each facility, they provided childcare, healthcare and wellness. Joel got his start in the family business early, accompanying his dad

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Paula’ s response was a clue to world peace,“ Yep.”

What followed was a short but lively conversation about applesauce and sour cream, ending in an informal vote with one“ for” and three“ against” the combination. Paula, myself, and my Wisconsin brethren also connected on the Old Fashioned, a wonderful concoction we mastered over at Casa Sanchez during the global timeout of 2020. Ever since, our dedication

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