Free to say thanks

Mike Sciacca, Independent

He works long hours throughout the year, but today Frank Tahvildari

will give his thanks by working for free on one of his busiest days.

And he’ll do it joyfully, too.

The owner of Tumbleweed’s Saloon and Eatery restaurant in Huntington

Beach is cooking up Thanksgiving meals for the benefit of loyal customers

and newcomers alike, free of charge. It is Tahvildari’s way of saying,

“thank you,” to those who patronize his establishment.

“Once a year we give back to our customers, and that day is

Thanksgiving,” said Tahvildari. “Some of these people don’t have places

to go for Thanksgiving dinner, and we will provide a nice, holiday meal

for them. Our doors are open to everyone, and we’re looking forward to

having a real nice crowd.”

Tahvildari has been in the restaurant business for 30 years, and

Tumbleweed’s is his first dining/entertainment establishment in

Huntington Beach.

The saloon and eatery is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a

week, and 9 a.m. on weekends to accommodate a breakfast crowd. The menu

includes steaks, ribs, seafood, pasta, sandwiches and salads. The saloon

features a full bar, and entertainment consists of a dance floor and live

bands nightly.

But today is all about the traditional turkey dinner, complete with

all the trimmings.

This will be the seventh year that Tahvildari has staged the

Thanksgiving Day event, which runs between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., or, as he

put it, “until no one else comes through our doors.”

Tahvildari, along with his staff and volunteers, began preparations

earlier in the week and meal preparation began Wednesday night. He said

that at least 50 turkeys will be prepared and expects to feed at least

500 people, but says that he has enough food to feed 1,000.

And everything is homemade.

“There is a lot of work that goes into staging something like this,

but it is well worth the time and effort,” Tahvildari said. “We get a

good, local crowd of all ages in the restaurant throughout the year and

Thanksgiving day is a day that we are here to serve them a free meal as a

personal “thank you.” I am very thankful for the business they have given

me.”

Tahvildari says that the day couldn’t come off without the help of his

employees and several customers who volunteer for the event by providing

hosting services and cleanup after the event.

“We have a family-type atmosphere here and it really shows by the way

people help in making this day a success,” Tahvildari said. “We will be

busy, but a day like this puts a smile on everybody’s face.”

FYI

Tumbleweed’s Saloon and Eatery is at 21094 Beach. Blvd. in the Rite

Aid shopping center. Tahvildari’s doors are open to all who have nowhere

to go for a Thanksgiving meal.