10.14.04
cast your vote for soul
Jen and I end up eating out more than we should probably admit. With Jen working full time AND taking grad classes in addition to making sure that I don’t embarrass the family, she’s pretty busy. Too busy to be cooking all the time, and my life is about the same. (Except that I worry less about embarrassing the family.)
At any rate, at least two nights a week find us out trying to find a good and cheap meal. About a year or so ago a new Mexican restaurant named Caramba opened up about a mile and a half south of our house. (For all you Grand Rapidians, it’s located on the corner of Leonard and Fuller.)
I want to share a little about this restaurant with you. Not long after it opened, a Taco Bell knock-off named Adobe mexican restaurant opened up directly across the street. Carambas serves REAL mexican food. Adobe is basically MacDonalds on a tortilla. At first, I was infuriated–truth be told, I still am a little. You see, Adobe is a chain restaurant. They could’ve opened a restaurant anywhere around the Northeast side of Grand Rapids. But they didn’t. They opened their store almost directly adjacent to Caramba’s.
It’s only business, right? It’s not personal. Tell yourself that if you think it will allow you to sleep a little better at night, but for Jose Esquivel and his family, this business is quite personal, in fact, (though I don’t know much about his personal finances) it seems logical to believe that this business is his livelihood. Each time I walk through those doors, Jose welcomes me. What? Jose? The owner?
You heard it right folks. There’s no pimply faced 18 year old from Forest Hills just dying to botch my order. Jose runs the counter, and let me tell you, he does it right. Jose’s mother Julia (and please have the linguistic courtesy to read that with an aspirated ‘j’) is the mastermind of the kitchen–or as Jose puts it “the soul of the restaurant.” A good ole’ family run business.
For the Grand Rapids community, Caramba is a reprieve. A haven from the drive-throughs and faux mexican delicacies found on the menu at Taco Bell, Taco Johns, Adobes, and dare I say it, even the La Cantinas (the cans) of the world. A place where the food is good, and I mean really good. You see, some of these places cater to the stomach, but there’s something about Caramba that caters to the soul.
There’s love poured into the food there. Love, and a little bit of justice. Justice because for once someone cares about the meal I get, for once, heart and soul is poured into that food. Justice because a place that pours that much love into food–and therefore its customers–deserves to succeed.
But, there’s a hitch. Caramba isn’t busy. That means no lines, yes. But it also means that if we don’t do something about that patronage problem, there may be no Caramba someday. If folks keep heading across the street, we may lose a little hot-habanero magic.
I have a hierarchy, I admit it. I’m far less sad to see a K-mart, or a Wal-mart go under. It sounds heartless, I know. All those people without jobs (even though their working conditions were deplorable and their pay minimal.) But, if we lose Caramba, we lose a little bit of soul, a little bit of heart, a little bit of magic, a little bit of culture dies.
In an election year, we need to think about our votes. I know that I’ve thought about mine. I’m voting for Kerry. But, just once, twice at most (I always say, vote early, vote often!) But I have a choice, many times a year. How will I spend my dollar votes? Those few dollars set aside to feed me; where will they go?
I propose we vote for Caramba, and places like it. Remember, your dollar is your vote. There are thousands of ballot boxes all over this fair country. So get out there and vote. And, when you do, consider a vote for pro-culture, pro-soul, pro-homemade refried beans, pro-stuffed poblano peppers, and pro-habanero sauce. But most of all, vote for justice.
Wow said,
October 14, 2004 at 12:18 pm
I hear they are busy at lunch? Will certainly go do my duty and VOTE SOON! Thanks for the post. Ate at Little Mexico last night….Does Caramba have Margaritas?
Matt Visser said,
October 14, 2004 at 12:26 pm
Brandon, I hear you through and through…just so you know, there are plenty “true” mexican restaurants in Southern California.
Brandon said,
October 14, 2004 at 12:28 pm
Sorry, WOW. No liquor license. Jarritos mexican pop though!
And, Matt, I think you’ve got the mexican restaurant market going in your favor out there in SoCal.
Wow said,
October 14, 2004 at 1:17 pm
dang. Oh Well. Across the street from Caramba there is a chicken/fish place… (crusty’s? crispy’s? crunchy’s??) can’t remember what it’s called. Good stuff though.
Brandon said,
October 14, 2004 at 1:48 pm
Cousin;s Tasty Chicken is the place…maybe I can go there tonight.
Resident Atheist said,
October 14, 2004 at 2:31 pm
In general, I think it makes good economic sense to patronize local companies whose revenues go back into the community rather than into the coffers of some corporation’s headquarters, SEC only knows how far away. This holds not just for restaurants, but for grocery stores, gas stations, car dealerships, used bookstores…you name it. It’s not just good for them, it’s good for you too.
Benjamin said,
October 14, 2004 at 4:25 pm
You’ve inspired me to patronize the taco-truck down the street. Lingua and Tripa tacos for a buck….
Brandon said,
October 14, 2004 at 4:29 pm
Maybe we can meet there instead of the Kansas Hooters. How’s the waitstaff?
Just Pat said,
October 14, 2004 at 4:30 pm
I love Carambas. A lot of my coworkers eat there at least once a week, and they’ve catered for us.
I don’t think Adobe is a big chain. They used to have a restaurant on the 600 block of West Fulton; it was that funky red building with the yellow trim that you could see from south bound 131. They opened a drive thru across the street and tore down the old building, and then recently opened this second one by Carambas. My boss asked Jose how he felt about it, and he graciously replied that having another Mexican restaurant on that corner would draw more customers looking for Mexican cuisine.
I also understand that he started the business when he learned that he would be losing his job within the year - he took the proactive approach and started his own family business.
I like him.
Brandon said,
October 14, 2004 at 4:36 pm
I think you’re right, Adobe isn’t a huge chain. But they’re not local either. I saw some restaurants when we were in Iowa.
I’ve chatted briefly with Jose about Adobe, too. He was very gracious. (He can even one up me and say that he’s eaten there…I walked out before ordering.) But…(just an interesting tidbit)…he wouldn’t say that he liked the food (and why would he!)
Anyway, the point is, I’m glad you’re enjoying Caramba! I think more of us should enjoy it!
Streak said,
October 14, 2004 at 4:41 pm
I would go if I was in the area. But I did forward this post to a friend of mine. She lives real close and will be visiting Caramba this weekend!
kate said,
October 14, 2004 at 4:55 pm
caramba’s is a short ride from my house (i can’t say i’d brave fuller ave on my bike at dinnertime, but…) and nathan and i will be patronizing it in the near future thanks to this post!
by the way, upon his visit to the place across the street: nathan, who is a fan of such fine establishments as taco bell, even thought adobe was gross.
Brandon said,
October 14, 2004 at 5:04 pm
I know it’s shameful, but truth needs be told: I have made “a run for the border” mostly for the speed factor. And, I’m not sure, but I may have been under the influence of a talking dog.
Benjamin said,
October 14, 2004 at 6:28 pm
Two words: Taco Johns
There’s nothing to top off a night of drinking (right before you drive yourself home) than a pair of Super Burritos and a big box of Potato Ole’s
Black Sheep - (iMaz) said,
October 14, 2004 at 6:39 pm
Brandon,
Have you ever tried Fat Boy’s on Plainfield?? Great LOCAL greasy spoon. I couldn’t agree with you more about this topic. My wife and I were just commenting on how we are sick of the “Applebee -inization” of the restaurants. Give me the local flavor (and soul) anytime. Another good burger joint is Choo Choo Grill on Leonard and Plainfield.
Mainsheet said,
October 18, 2004 at 11:32 am
The thing to remember about chains is that they are not selling cuisine (fine food), they are selling consistency. When you go into McDingbat’s or Taco Hell, you know precisely what you’re going to get.
Just don’t confuse Taco Hell with Mexican cuisine (either the food of the lower class or of the upper class). The reason chains thrive is this: if you’re traveling and there’s a Burger King and a Paradise Burgers side by side, you know exactly what you’ll get at BK. PB is a gamble. BTW, many franchise restaurants are locally (or sorta locally) owned, although they send franchise fees out of the area, and they also often have to purchase supplies from out-of-area.
When traveling, I often patronize franchise joints. At home, if I don’t cook it myself, I have a few favored places (locally owned and operated) that I know serve good food. BTW, with winter coming on, ask Caramba’s if they’ll add posole (hominy stew) to their menu. It’s a wonderful dish and I can guarantee Adobe’s won’t have it.