By Miriam Raftery

May 16, 2025 (Descanso, CA) – Tammy and Brett Cooker opened their Descanso Junction Restaurant in 2003, in a century-old building on State Route 79.  Days later, the Cedar Fire roared through the region, destroying many homes and closing down I-8.   But the Cookers swiftly earned the community’s loyalty, keeping their doors open to serve up displaced community members, stranded motorists, and firefighters.

During the COVID pandemic, they weathered forced shutdowns of indoor dining, surviving winter's frigid mountain temperatures by investing in plastic bubbles for outdoor diners under oak trees out back. 

But now their business faces a new threat—this time, from Caltrans. Citing safety concerns, the state transportation agency wants to eliminate the20 perpendicular parking spaces in front of Descanso Junction and nearby businesses, replacing them with only six horizontal parking spots.

By Miriam Raftery

October  6, 2013 (Descanso) –The aroma of burning wood filled the air as ranchers pulled their iron brands out of a flaming pit at the Buckel Ranch in Descanso. Old-timers said it was the only time ever that ranchers from all of East County’s historic ranches gathered  in one place. The occasion?  Tammy Cooker, owner of the Descanso Junction Restaurant, invited these seasoned cowhands to burn their brands into tabletops for her popular eatery now undergoing a remodel. 

Cooker has earned the community’s loyalty, having opened her restaurant just before the Cedar Fire, then keeping it open to serve up firefighters, displaced residents and stranded motorists.  Located in a century-old building, her restaurant closes down tomorrow and will hold a grand reopening celebration October 10-12. The revamped interior will celebrate our region’s historic roots.

By Ariele Johannson

July 21, 2013 (Descanso) Efforts of the Mountain Empire Men’s Club culminated in a demonstration of the maxim “It takes a village to raise a child.”

An outpouring of volunteer effort, donations, and pitching-in from the mountain community of Descanso made this year’s scholarship fundraiser on June 28 event another success. Tammy Cooker and her crew from Descanso Junction and Catering served up a fabulous barbecue dinner of Jack Daniels tri-tip and chicken, while the Blue Mountain Band performed live music onstage at the historic Descanso Town Hall.

An East County Eater Review

By Ariele Johannson