The Story behind ZORRO's Restaurant

The Story of ZORRO was created in 1919 by the writer Johnston McCulley for his serialized novel “THE CURSE OF CAPISTRANO”.

ZORRO personifies action, romance, humor, and heroism. An ethnic hero, he is simultaneously wise, brave, charming, cunning, and romantic. Dressed in black, disguised by a mask over his eyes, the adventurer was a master horseman and an expert swordsman who moved swiftly and silently by night. He left a unique calling card, a “Z” slashed into the clothing or the flesh of his adversaries. The identity of this masked man remained a mystery to his enemies: He was known only as ZORRO, Spanish for FOX.

In 2005, the eagerly awaited sequel to “THE MASK OF ZORRO”, entitled “The LEGEND OF ZORRO” premiered starring ANTONIA BANDERAS as Alejandro de la Vega, and CATHERINE ZETA-JONES as his wife, Elena. The Legend of Zorro was produced by South African born Lloyd Phillips. His impressive Filmography as Executive Producer includes “Inglorious Bastards”, “The International”, and “The Tourist”. Unfortunately, in 2013, Lloyd Phillips suddenly passed away in the middle of producing Superman’s “Man of Steel”.

Sadly enough, Lloyd’s wife and fellow movie producer, Beau fell terminally ill in 2014, and was cared for in her California home until her untimely passing in 2016 by our daughter Carolina Knab.

The photographs that are displayed in our Restaurant are all from Lloyd and Beau’s private collection. Whenever Lloyd was producing a movie, he indulged in his passion of Photography by taking B/W still pictures from movie scenes. These original photographs are the true essence of “behind the scenes”.

The photos, some of which are hand-signed, as well as paraphernalia like the Original Spurs and Whip that Antonia Banderas used while shooting “THE LEGEND OF ZORRO” were given to Carolina as a keepsake after Beau’s passing. We thank her for sharing these one of a kind pieces with us.

It is for that sentimental connection to the Character of ZORRO that we welcome you into our restaurant under the inspiration of the FOX and his horse, TORNADO.

Heiner & Heidi Knab