40 Years of Boccali’s: Farming, Family & Strawberry Shortcake

DeWayne Boccali says he picked the three worst areas in which to make a living; music, farming and restaurants. But somehow he and wife Marilyn are still here, plugging along with all three for 40 years.On May 16, Boccali's Pizza & Pasta celebrates 40 years in business — a milestone few independent restaurants ever reach.In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, DeWayne and Marilyn Boccali reflect on four decades of farming, feeding Ojai, and adapting to everything from droughts and freezes to shifting food trends and economic swings.We talk about:• The financial and farming hardships that led them to open the restaurant• The evolution of Ojai agriculture over 40 years• Winemaking in the valley• Their iconic strawberry shortcake and tomato salads• Pumpkin patches, haunted hayrides, and building traditions that span generationsThis is more than a restaurant anniversary. It’s a story about land stewardship, resilience, and what it takes to stay rooted in one valley for four decades. We did not talk about spud bars for ice fishing, batter's glove designs or the latest Tyler the Creator album drop.If you’ve ever lined up for strawberry shortcake in May, this episode is for you. Check out Boccali's at https://boccalis.com/