Arthur

*Arthur grew up in a large Belgian house alongside his two sisters in the late ‘50s with what he describes as a happy childhood as the son of a successful printing company owner involved in local politics. His family lived in Belgium for about fifteen years, sharing the plot of land with the factory until his parents came to America in search of a new life, making use of his father’s connections in New York from his business trips. Arthur’s parents gave him a plane ticket and said that he could come to the U.S. when he was ready.

He came to America two months later, suitcase in hand and freshly graduated from his job as a pastry chef, attending high school in Mamaroneck, New York while working in a restaurant at night and graduating in ‘79. He would ski three months out of the year in Switzerland and France and practice judo, a form of martial arts.

As Arthur spent more time at the restaurant, he got an opportunity to take up more work with one of his employers and learn how to cook. Within two months, he had developed impressive skills in the kitchen, and those around him tried to convince him to enroll in culinary school, but he didn’t want to, hating school for most of his life. Eventually, he gave in and attended the Culinary Institute of America in January. To this day, he carries around a metal plaque certifying that he graduated in ‘82.

“What I love most about cooking is the freedom in creating,” Arthur explains, saying that he loves deviating from recipes and making dishes of his own, even though he was hot-tempered when working in the kitchen with others.

"I was the king of the hill when I was working, and then, of course, it had to come to an end, I had a heart attack."

After he gained more technical experience in the field through his education, he was given an opportunity to work as a private chef in the home of the ambassador of Brazil. From there, he worked for restaurants throughout Monterey, California, discovering the area through his college roommate.

His experience in Monterey and Carmel included working at Covey Grill in Quail Lodge, Collage, a successful international cuisine restaurant in Carmel, Casanova, Bon Appetít, Club XIX and more over the span of his twelve years in the area, leaving in 2002. In many of the restaurants, Arthur was a leader in the kitchen. And when he wasn’t working at a restaurant, he was a private chef in people’s homes in Manhattan and throughout California. Everything was running smoothly until it wasn’t.

“I was the king of the hill when I was working, and then, of course, it had to come to an end, I had a heart attack,” he says, explaining that his long hours and high stress in the culinary industry finally took its toll, and he didn’t know he had a heart attack until days later.

He had another heart attack on Christmas day. He returned to work after seemingly recovering, but about three days later, he had the most intense attack yet. After that, he could not work at the same frequency or pace anymore.

Looking for a change of environment, Arthur moved to La Verkin, Utah. He worked as a cook and was successful until the stress started building again. The catering work he did there demanded food for more people, and his wife got sick, passing away in 2013.

Arthur’s living situation hit the rocks in 2019 when his house in Idaho burned down and he lost everything. He had a pen, a corkscrew, a can opener, a pair of boots, one hat and one shirt left to his name. Arthur left Idaho in pursuit of California and a fresh, less burnt start.

But when he returned to California, his friends were either dead, heavily under the influence of drugs, or married off and moving. He took his Subaru Legacy and set off for Carmel Valley, working at a gas station for about two and a half years. He found Dorothy’s Kitchen in Salinas, down the street from the Navigation Center, and tried to find work cooking there, but wasn’t successful.

He has now been at the Navigation Center for about six months, and before that, he had been living in his car for about three and a half years. Arthur explains that people misunderstand how people generally become homeless.

“Some are here by accident, some are probably here from addiction having nowhere else to go,” he says.

*For privacy Arthur preferred that his real name and photo were not used.