Sunday, October 19, 2008
Interview Reflection
In thinking about my Interviews and how thy will happen I decided to try and interview a male and a female from the Mexican culture. In fact I already kind of interviewed the male. I would like to ask him more family tradition questions. I asked him about the restaurant traditions, but I would like to know if he grew up with others. I went to a Hispanic church and did some more observing. It was really cool,I ran into an old friend that I worked with before. So she has agreed to give me an interview. She is really nice and I know she is very loyal to her family. And we live real close to each other. One of the teachers I work with gave me the name of a website of an author who talks about family loyalty. She said he explains it real well. I hope to find more information on the web. I do have my memories of when I went to Belize and Guatemala to reflect on too. The church was such a friendly, caring place. I am sure if I need more help someone there will help me. And at my church we have a team that goes to Mexico each year to build houses maybe they have noticed the loyalty there amongst families as I have already here. I know for certain that cooking is passed down in this culture. That is why I picked the restaurant that I did for my community. I knew this one would have authentic cooking not commercialized. The older people or might we call them elders, help teach the younger people. The elders are good at observing the younger family members. They watch to see what the child enjoys doing or has a heart for. Then they teach them a related tradition knowing if their heart is in it they will do it better. Hispanic cultures are one of many that bring family together with food. I understand this because I grew up that way also. Perhaps that is why I am so interested in this. The people I will be interviewing are definitely to be considered insiders. They are very involved with Family Loyalty or Family Traditions. Both seem to be very passionate individuals,willing to help and are caring to others. Mustang Sally
Research Focus Proposal
For October 14th, 2008
In explaining my focus for my essay paper,well it did not become totally clear to me until after today. For years and especially now I have noticed how dedicated to family the hispanic culture is. And I have to say I am drawn to this. My focus is on Family Loyalty or Family Traditions. How for years these traditions of caring for one another and for caring that their heritage is passed down from generation to generation is so precious to me. They care that people cared and chose to remember and learn. I plan to answer and give examples of what makes this cultuure stay so loyal and remain so family oriented. I know some of the reasons from the Spanish classes that I have taken, but I am so interested to find out more. It will be fun to find out the ways this culture stays so tight. Mustang Sally
In explaining my focus for my essay paper,well it did not become totally clear to me until after today. For years and especially now I have noticed how dedicated to family the hispanic culture is. And I have to say I am drawn to this. My focus is on Family Loyalty or Family Traditions. How for years these traditions of caring for one another and for caring that their heritage is passed down from generation to generation is so precious to me. They care that people cared and chose to remember and learn. I plan to answer and give examples of what makes this cultuure stay so loyal and remain so family oriented. I know some of the reasons from the Spanish classes that I have taken, but I am so interested to find out more. It will be fun to find out the ways this culture stays so tight. Mustang Sally
Community Fieldnotes - 2
October 14, 2008
Fieldnotes - 2
5:15 p.m. : I arrive at my community the restaurant El Compa. I park in the rear, walk around to the front and enter. I am greeted by a beautiful young girl with a pleasant smile. The girl tells me her name is Karen and asks me if I would like to dine or did I come for the store. She is speaking English so she too is bilingual. I tell Karen there is a picture in the store I would like to purchase that I saw when my husband and I were here last week. I get the picture and I was really glad it was still there. The same woman was behind the counter running the cash register as last week. I ask Karen if she will help me through the purchase? She is very helpful and the purchase goes smoothly. During the transaction I try to talk with the woman with my broken Spanish so after the transaction I tell the woman my name and ask hers. It is Sopia, and she too owns the restaurant. It appears she is Rudy's aunt.
5:35 p.m. : I am seated now in my sturdy booth by the window with the red cushioned seat and back. Karen my waitress brings out my diet Coke and wonderful homemade tortillas. Again I get to enjoy the great sauce that comes with them. Karen takes my order.
5:39 p.m. : Karen brings out warm tortillas that are wrapped in foil that go with my meal. We chat for a moment.
5:41 p.m. : Karen brings out the veggies part of my ordered Veggie Fajita. And yes it has Nopales cactus in it. The veggies are sizzling on a platter. Along with this I also received what is called a salad. It consists of a row of cut up lettuce , some sliced tomato, homemade guacamole, refried beans and sour cream. It looks really nice how it is arranged.
5:45 p.m. : While I am eating I watch a guy pass by the restaurant on his bike. Rudy comes in the back door, singing and lively as ever.
5:47 p.m. : Still enjoying my very delicious meal. As I said last week it is hard to eat and take notes, but it is exciting. I notice a picture I missed on the wall of a man at a street market washing big clay pots. He is off to the side and there is a water fountain with it's foundation painted with rainbow like colors in the center of the picture. There appears to be a cute house in the background.
5:49 p.m. : I hear conversation coming from the back area of the restaurant, two of the workers seem to be having separate conversations on the phone. Karen comes to check on me and make sure everything is okay. I tell her things are just perfect.
5:50 p.m. : The phone rings and then I hear Karen's voice, she is conversing in Spanish it sounds so pretty. I look at the woven square shapes on the wall and remember that earlier I had asked Rudy what they were and he told me they were fans.
5:51 p.m. : Outside a man walks by dressed in white clothes walking a black dog which looks like a pit bull mix. The beautiful singing and music combo coming from a program on the T.V. tonight draws my attention back in.
5:54 p.m. : The sun is shinning so bright outside right now it is so pretty. I hear a beautiful voice singing along with the woman on the T.V., I discover it is Karen. She then comes by and checks on me again.
6:03 p.m. : I get a phone call from one of my sons. It is about his health . I am surprised I can stay focused at all.
6:10 p.m. : Karen comes over and asks me if she can take any of my plates. We chat a little. I find out she moved to Jackson when she was five years old. Before that she was born and lived in a place called Jalisco, Mexico. I mentioned the cactus in my dish and she said she knew how to clean the cactus and she shared how she was taught. It sounded pretty much the same way I described how in one of my source reports. She said it is easy to do. I mentioned the sauce that tasted like it had cinnamon and nutmeg in it to Karen. She asked me to show her what I ordered last week in the menu. She said they have three types of Mole and it was probably one of them. We chatted a little more and she shared with me about a Spanish speaking church and the time of the service.
6:15 p.m. : My cell rings again, it is one of my daughter - in - laws. She is the wife to the son who just called. I hear Karen telling someone that she graduates in 2010.
6:25 p.m. : I notice that behind some of that white lattice work on the walls is gunny sack. I mentioned the lattice work decor last week. Workers are talking in the back ground and someone just put a lot of ice in a machine. The T.V. is showing another show with a Mariachi Band playing. I like this part of the show better it is more lively than the other show. It is called: Rocio Durcal.
6:35 p.m. : Rudy talks with a guest who entered in through the back entrance. The guest is asking questions about what is on the menu. They were speaking in Spanish but I understood most of what they were saying. One of the guests questions was about one of the dishes they serve with eggs in it.
6:40 p.m. : My cell phone rings, it is my oldest son. We chat about his birthday party coming up. As we are chatting three women come in, they are a mixture of races. They are laughing and talking loud. I smell expensive perfume. It smells good, I have smelled it before and I am trying to figure out what it is.
6:42 p.m. : Rudy comes over and introduces himself and asks them what they would like to drink. Rudy leaves to fill their drink order. The woman are looking at the menu and discussing what they will order. One woman keeps saying she wants something with steak in it.
6:47 p.m. : Rudy comes back with the drink orders and the homemade tortillas and sauce. Getting their order takes awhile as one of the women is being fussy. Some how during the order taking food stamps are mentioned. I notice out the window there is a steady flow of traffic going by.
6:52 p.m. : At the Crank - n - Go across the street the garage door is still open. It did not open at all last week. I can see inside. It looks well kept.
6:53 p.m. : Karen comes and I pay for my bill and include her tip, she shares it is time for her to go home. I have her ask Rudy if there is a way for a wheel chair to come in to the restaurant? He says yes, we have a very nice entry way from the rear entrance. Then I said good because I have a friend that loves Sopapilla's ( a really good puffy pastry dessert). He says good bring her in we will take care of her. I tell Karen thank you for all of her help and what a good job she has done. She says good bye. I hear her say Adios as she goes out the door to her co-workers.
6:55 p.m. : Outside two teenage girls are walking down the sidewalk, one is with child. Back inside a singer is on the T.V. singing this singer has blonde hair.
6:57 p.m. : I hear first a worker that is putting supplies in a refrigerator. Then I watch him for a moment it does not take him long.
7:00 p.m. : Yet another couple comes in to dine. They seem to be a middle aged couple. They sit in some of the seats that are along the wall to the right of where I am seated. Rudy talks with them and takes care of them. My cell phone rings again, it is my other daughter -in - law. We discuss the time my granddaughter will come over the next day.
7:01 p.m. : Across the street again at the Crank - n - Go a car pulls in. It is a flashy black Corvette! One of the workers is sweeping the pavement in front of the garage doors. It is nice they keep things clean.
7:05 p.m. : I have been picking at my meal all this time. Now I ask for a box for my food I could not finish. They give you generous portions of food here.
7:07 p.m. : I hear honking in the street. I look out the window and there is a car stopped in the road with a lady hanging out the window waving. While I am just beginning to look, the table behind me gets loud as all the women notice the lady in her car. But they start waving back and talking about their friend and are wondering what she is doing. Cars come so the lady in the car drives away.
7:10 p.m. : A woman and a child that is a girl come in to get something to eat. The woman is blonde and the girl has pretty red hair. Rudy waits on them. They order taco's and pops.
7:12 p.m. : Lovie, my daughter calls me to see if I am coming. I am supposed to meet her when I am done taking observation notes. One of the women eating behind me is talking but it catches your ear, she has been whining on and off since they sat down.
7:13 p.m. : The woman, I think mother of the girl with red hair just yelled at her, "Get out of there!" And something about you are not a pig. The other guests along the wall laughed. I can hear food frying loudly in the kitchen and it smells very good too. Rudy just mentioned to one of the guests in Spanish about needing more cream (creama). I just picked that out of all that is going on. I am so full.
7:15 p.m. : The woman that was in her car that was parked in the street and she was hanging out the window waving just came in. All the women are talking to her. They seem to be having a good time and appear happy. This is for the most part a happy, busy, lively place. I like it here, but I have to leave now. The man who knows the price of the figurines is here now so I go to purchase them. He is running the counter in the store part of the business. He is so kind, Rudy had grabbed the figurines for me from behind the check out cash register for the restaurant. The man takes extra care to dust off and package the figurines. Rudy stood by to help interpret just in case. I tell all Adios as I am leaving. They say Adios and to come back soon! Adios! Mustang Sally
Fieldnotes - 2
5:15 p.m. : I arrive at my community the restaurant El Compa. I park in the rear, walk around to the front and enter. I am greeted by a beautiful young girl with a pleasant smile. The girl tells me her name is Karen and asks me if I would like to dine or did I come for the store. She is speaking English so she too is bilingual. I tell Karen there is a picture in the store I would like to purchase that I saw when my husband and I were here last week. I get the picture and I was really glad it was still there. The same woman was behind the counter running the cash register as last week. I ask Karen if she will help me through the purchase? She is very helpful and the purchase goes smoothly. During the transaction I try to talk with the woman with my broken Spanish so after the transaction I tell the woman my name and ask hers. It is Sopia, and she too owns the restaurant. It appears she is Rudy's aunt.
5:35 p.m. : I am seated now in my sturdy booth by the window with the red cushioned seat and back. Karen my waitress brings out my diet Coke and wonderful homemade tortillas. Again I get to enjoy the great sauce that comes with them. Karen takes my order.
5:39 p.m. : Karen brings out warm tortillas that are wrapped in foil that go with my meal. We chat for a moment.
5:41 p.m. : Karen brings out the veggies part of my ordered Veggie Fajita. And yes it has Nopales cactus in it. The veggies are sizzling on a platter. Along with this I also received what is called a salad. It consists of a row of cut up lettuce , some sliced tomato, homemade guacamole, refried beans and sour cream. It looks really nice how it is arranged.
5:45 p.m. : While I am eating I watch a guy pass by the restaurant on his bike. Rudy comes in the back door, singing and lively as ever.
5:47 p.m. : Still enjoying my very delicious meal. As I said last week it is hard to eat and take notes, but it is exciting. I notice a picture I missed on the wall of a man at a street market washing big clay pots. He is off to the side and there is a water fountain with it's foundation painted with rainbow like colors in the center of the picture. There appears to be a cute house in the background.
5:49 p.m. : I hear conversation coming from the back area of the restaurant, two of the workers seem to be having separate conversations on the phone. Karen comes to check on me and make sure everything is okay. I tell her things are just perfect.
5:50 p.m. : The phone rings and then I hear Karen's voice, she is conversing in Spanish it sounds so pretty. I look at the woven square shapes on the wall and remember that earlier I had asked Rudy what they were and he told me they were fans.
5:51 p.m. : Outside a man walks by dressed in white clothes walking a black dog which looks like a pit bull mix. The beautiful singing and music combo coming from a program on the T.V. tonight draws my attention back in.
5:54 p.m. : The sun is shinning so bright outside right now it is so pretty. I hear a beautiful voice singing along with the woman on the T.V., I discover it is Karen. She then comes by and checks on me again.
6:03 p.m. : I get a phone call from one of my sons. It is about his health . I am surprised I can stay focused at all.
6:10 p.m. : Karen comes over and asks me if she can take any of my plates. We chat a little. I find out she moved to Jackson when she was five years old. Before that she was born and lived in a place called Jalisco, Mexico. I mentioned the cactus in my dish and she said she knew how to clean the cactus and she shared how she was taught. It sounded pretty much the same way I described how in one of my source reports. She said it is easy to do. I mentioned the sauce that tasted like it had cinnamon and nutmeg in it to Karen. She asked me to show her what I ordered last week in the menu. She said they have three types of Mole and it was probably one of them. We chatted a little more and she shared with me about a Spanish speaking church and the time of the service.
6:15 p.m. : My cell rings again, it is one of my daughter - in - laws. She is the wife to the son who just called. I hear Karen telling someone that she graduates in 2010.
6:25 p.m. : I notice that behind some of that white lattice work on the walls is gunny sack. I mentioned the lattice work decor last week. Workers are talking in the back ground and someone just put a lot of ice in a machine. The T.V. is showing another show with a Mariachi Band playing. I like this part of the show better it is more lively than the other show. It is called: Rocio Durcal.
6:35 p.m. : Rudy talks with a guest who entered in through the back entrance. The guest is asking questions about what is on the menu. They were speaking in Spanish but I understood most of what they were saying. One of the guests questions was about one of the dishes they serve with eggs in it.
6:40 p.m. : My cell phone rings, it is my oldest son. We chat about his birthday party coming up. As we are chatting three women come in, they are a mixture of races. They are laughing and talking loud. I smell expensive perfume. It smells good, I have smelled it before and I am trying to figure out what it is.
6:42 p.m. : Rudy comes over and introduces himself and asks them what they would like to drink. Rudy leaves to fill their drink order. The woman are looking at the menu and discussing what they will order. One woman keeps saying she wants something with steak in it.
6:47 p.m. : Rudy comes back with the drink orders and the homemade tortillas and sauce. Getting their order takes awhile as one of the women is being fussy. Some how during the order taking food stamps are mentioned. I notice out the window there is a steady flow of traffic going by.
6:52 p.m. : At the Crank - n - Go across the street the garage door is still open. It did not open at all last week. I can see inside. It looks well kept.
6:53 p.m. : Karen comes and I pay for my bill and include her tip, she shares it is time for her to go home. I have her ask Rudy if there is a way for a wheel chair to come in to the restaurant? He says yes, we have a very nice entry way from the rear entrance. Then I said good because I have a friend that loves Sopapilla's ( a really good puffy pastry dessert). He says good bring her in we will take care of her. I tell Karen thank you for all of her help and what a good job she has done. She says good bye. I hear her say Adios as she goes out the door to her co-workers.
6:55 p.m. : Outside two teenage girls are walking down the sidewalk, one is with child. Back inside a singer is on the T.V. singing this singer has blonde hair.
6:57 p.m. : I hear first a worker that is putting supplies in a refrigerator. Then I watch him for a moment it does not take him long.
7:00 p.m. : Yet another couple comes in to dine. They seem to be a middle aged couple. They sit in some of the seats that are along the wall to the right of where I am seated. Rudy talks with them and takes care of them. My cell phone rings again, it is my other daughter -in - law. We discuss the time my granddaughter will come over the next day.
7:01 p.m. : Across the street again at the Crank - n - Go a car pulls in. It is a flashy black Corvette! One of the workers is sweeping the pavement in front of the garage doors. It is nice they keep things clean.
7:05 p.m. : I have been picking at my meal all this time. Now I ask for a box for my food I could not finish. They give you generous portions of food here.
7:07 p.m. : I hear honking in the street. I look out the window and there is a car stopped in the road with a lady hanging out the window waving. While I am just beginning to look, the table behind me gets loud as all the women notice the lady in her car. But they start waving back and talking about their friend and are wondering what she is doing. Cars come so the lady in the car drives away.
7:10 p.m. : A woman and a child that is a girl come in to get something to eat. The woman is blonde and the girl has pretty red hair. Rudy waits on them. They order taco's and pops.
7:12 p.m. : Lovie, my daughter calls me to see if I am coming. I am supposed to meet her when I am done taking observation notes. One of the women eating behind me is talking but it catches your ear, she has been whining on and off since they sat down.
7:13 p.m. : The woman, I think mother of the girl with red hair just yelled at her, "Get out of there!" And something about you are not a pig. The other guests along the wall laughed. I can hear food frying loudly in the kitchen and it smells very good too. Rudy just mentioned to one of the guests in Spanish about needing more cream (creama). I just picked that out of all that is going on. I am so full.
7:15 p.m. : The woman that was in her car that was parked in the street and she was hanging out the window waving just came in. All the women are talking to her. They seem to be having a good time and appear happy. This is for the most part a happy, busy, lively place. I like it here, but I have to leave now. The man who knows the price of the figurines is here now so I go to purchase them. He is running the counter in the store part of the business. He is so kind, Rudy had grabbed the figurines for me from behind the check out cash register for the restaurant. The man takes extra care to dust off and package the figurines. Rudy stood by to help interpret just in case. I tell all Adios as I am leaving. They say Adios and to come back soon! Adios! Mustang Sally
Friday, October 10, 2008
First Fieldnotes: El Compa
6:30 p.m.: As we drive past the restaurant "El Compa" to park in the rear, I notice a young Hispanic man standing out in front with an apron on he must be one of the workers.
As I get out of my car I greet another young Hispanic man and his two small daughters as they were getting into their car. I said,"Hola!" he responded back with the same greeting and we parted ways.
6:35 p.m.: We walk around to the front of the building to enter the restaurant. As my husband and I enter wonderful smells permeate my nose. Lively Latin music is playing to welcome us in. I notice splashes of color here and there. A young man starts to come out to greet us and stops then turns and says something in Spanish, out comes another man to greet us. We sit down in one of the very sturdy boothes by the window. They have pretty red leather on them. I notice the carpet on the floor is new, the color grey and is indoor/outdoor carpet. Our waiter gives us menus and asks in English what we would like to drink? I order Diet Coke and My husband orders Iced tea.
6:45 p.m.: I am trying to look at the menu but I can't stop looking at all of my surroundings. Along one of the walls are two bistro tables with high back stools up to them, how quaint. White lattice work is on the walls above them. There is a picture of a Mexican man holding a guitar in his hands. He has a poncho draped over his shoulder. The whole picture looks like it would light up if it were plugged in. A couple more brightly colored picture of families join him on that wall. Down farther is a picture of an old blue 1953 Dodge truck parked in a yard,cool. Our waiter comes back to take my order, he brings our drinks and some homemade tortilla chips along with some red dipping sauce. He asks if the music is to loud, we reply," No it is just fine". I order a combination meal. It comes with a Taco, Burrito and Enchilada made with beef. At that time I ask the waiter if he is the owner and he says he is and that he owns the store in the other room too. I ask his permission to observe his place, take notes so I can write a paper for an English class I am taking. He invites me to look around all I want and to ask as many questions as I want. I hope he will let me watch them clean some cactus!
6:50 p.m.: As I wait for my food I hear joyous laughter and workers talking in Spanish. I look around some more and notice that there is a string of colorful "Papel Picato" strung from one wall to the other. This tissue paper is beautiful and has very intricate diamond cuts with pictures in the middle. Some have a bull or a guitar, cactus,sombrero or a parrot bird. Some have the words along the top of them that say Bienvenidos (Welcome) and Fiesta ( Party) or Happy Fiesta. I begin to eat the tortillas and sauce,they are delicious! The sauce is very light and has a wonderful taste of garlic and just spicy hot enough.
6:55 p.m.: Another young waiter brings out my food. Boy, that was fast! The food looks and smells great! I ask the waiter if he knows who made the "Papel Picado" he tells me his Grandmother made them. I tell him they are beautiful. I explain to him that my granddaughter and I have made some, but they are of flowers and diamonds not as detailed. He did not speak hardly any English, but he seemed to understand what I said.
7:05 p.m.: The owner came back out and he asked how the food is? I tell him just simply delicious. I ask him what is in this red sauce over my enchilada and burrito? He grins and says, "Its a secret". I could taste cinnamon and nutmeg, it was great. I found out the owner is a different owner than the first one I had met years ago named Mario. This owner is Arthur ( Rudy), he and family moved here after he was raised in San Antonio,Texas. His Aunt owned a Mexican restaurant over across from Loomis Park here in Jackson for awhile. It is closed now. So owning and running restaurants does run in his family. This is his first time running his own restaurant and store. He is the only one that is bilingual that works there. They do use Nopales cactus in a couple of their dishes.
7:10 p.m.: A Caucasian couple comes in and they sit in a booth along the outer wall. They order and sit conversing back and forth. My husband has already eaten so he sat correcting his papers from work. A pop machine rattles ice as the waiter/owner brings the other couple their pop and tortilla chips.
7:15 p.m.: I look outside, the cars are passing at a good pace. There is a Mexican take - out place that says it will open soon across the street. I hear a refrigerator opening and closing alot. It's starting to get dark outside. It is hard to eat and write, because there is so much to take in!
7:20 p.m.: Different shapes of soda bottles line a half wall dividing part of the room from the kitchen. The music gets stuck several times, they fix it. It does it again so they turn it off. The other table of guests has a cell phone ring. The woman answers it, she talks for some time.
7:30 p.m.: I hear Spanish banter coming from the kitchen. Someone changes their voice pitch to sound like a girl. Then comes an out burst of laughter. I notice Sombreros hanging on the walls. Wood parrots are hanging from the ceiling here and there with their vivid colors. There are banners proclaiming, "Viva Mexico" which means, Long live Mexico!
7:45 p.m.: It is dark outside now. The neon " open" sign is easy to read with it's red letters. The phone rings several times. It is answered in Spanish. I can still see the "Schlinkers" restaurant across the street. The owner of El Compa comes out and talks with the other couple. I hear him share that he and his girlfriend were together for a long time and that they have two children. Then he shares that they are now broke up. There is a beautiful Azteca Calendaria on the outer wall. As the owner walks back towards the kitchen he stops in front of the CD player that is now playing again and begins to dance with his back to us. As he starts to walk again he looks over his shoulder. I give him a thumbs up and he throws his head back and laughs as he walks to the kitchen. So full of life.
8:00 p.m. : As I am studying the menu I notice a worker peeks around the corner to see how things are going. The menu has a picture of an animated cactus wearing a sombrero and he has a mustache as he smiles chagrined. On one of his arms hangs a colorful blanket. It says El Compa on his hat.
8:15 p.m.: We pay for our bill and decide to visit the store. I ask the workers several questions as we pass through. I speak my broken Spanish but they seem to understand. The store is wonderful! It is like a replica of being in a store in Mexico. They have a variety of everything. They have a fresh meat counter, many types of spices in bags. I turn a little and see bagged nuts, cold pops, juices, eggs, cheeses. There were bags of fried potatoes ( potato chips). Lots of CD's and video movies to purchase and to rent. You could choose from figurines,utensils,wallets,sandals, watches,shirts,cowboy hats,belt buckles. Also a wide variety of cookies,nectar's,cotton candy,a candy type fruit on a straw type stick that Rudy gave my husband and I to try. It was a sweet sour taste and picante! He also gave us a piece of peanut flavored confectionery. It was kind of like fudge only not real sweet.
8:40 p.m.: I decide to buy a fruit type roll up for my family to try. The older woman running the cash register and I were doing pretty well talking even with my broken Spanish. The woman seems so wise, strong and kind. I found a picture I liked and I tried to ask her how much? She did not understand, so she leans over and just yells to the others. One of the workers came right away to her aide. You could tell they had respect for her. I told Rudy thanks so much for everything. I told him we would be back. He gave me a couple of "take out" menus for one of my artifacts. I plan to buy that picture for $5.99 it was neat. I also spied some figurines. They all gave us " goodbyes" as we left and waved. What a fun night! Mustang Sally
As I get out of my car I greet another young Hispanic man and his two small daughters as they were getting into their car. I said,"Hola!" he responded back with the same greeting and we parted ways.
6:35 p.m.: We walk around to the front of the building to enter the restaurant. As my husband and I enter wonderful smells permeate my nose. Lively Latin music is playing to welcome us in. I notice splashes of color here and there. A young man starts to come out to greet us and stops then turns and says something in Spanish, out comes another man to greet us. We sit down in one of the very sturdy boothes by the window. They have pretty red leather on them. I notice the carpet on the floor is new, the color grey and is indoor/outdoor carpet. Our waiter gives us menus and asks in English what we would like to drink? I order Diet Coke and My husband orders Iced tea.
6:45 p.m.: I am trying to look at the menu but I can't stop looking at all of my surroundings. Along one of the walls are two bistro tables with high back stools up to them, how quaint. White lattice work is on the walls above them. There is a picture of a Mexican man holding a guitar in his hands. He has a poncho draped over his shoulder. The whole picture looks like it would light up if it were plugged in. A couple more brightly colored picture of families join him on that wall. Down farther is a picture of an old blue 1953 Dodge truck parked in a yard,cool. Our waiter comes back to take my order, he brings our drinks and some homemade tortilla chips along with some red dipping sauce. He asks if the music is to loud, we reply," No it is just fine". I order a combination meal. It comes with a Taco, Burrito and Enchilada made with beef. At that time I ask the waiter if he is the owner and he says he is and that he owns the store in the other room too. I ask his permission to observe his place, take notes so I can write a paper for an English class I am taking. He invites me to look around all I want and to ask as many questions as I want. I hope he will let me watch them clean some cactus!
6:50 p.m.: As I wait for my food I hear joyous laughter and workers talking in Spanish. I look around some more and notice that there is a string of colorful "Papel Picato" strung from one wall to the other. This tissue paper is beautiful and has very intricate diamond cuts with pictures in the middle. Some have a bull or a guitar, cactus,sombrero or a parrot bird. Some have the words along the top of them that say Bienvenidos (Welcome) and Fiesta ( Party) or Happy Fiesta. I begin to eat the tortillas and sauce,they are delicious! The sauce is very light and has a wonderful taste of garlic and just spicy hot enough.
6:55 p.m.: Another young waiter brings out my food. Boy, that was fast! The food looks and smells great! I ask the waiter if he knows who made the "Papel Picado" he tells me his Grandmother made them. I tell him they are beautiful. I explain to him that my granddaughter and I have made some, but they are of flowers and diamonds not as detailed. He did not speak hardly any English, but he seemed to understand what I said.
7:05 p.m.: The owner came back out and he asked how the food is? I tell him just simply delicious. I ask him what is in this red sauce over my enchilada and burrito? He grins and says, "Its a secret". I could taste cinnamon and nutmeg, it was great. I found out the owner is a different owner than the first one I had met years ago named Mario. This owner is Arthur ( Rudy), he and family moved here after he was raised in San Antonio,Texas. His Aunt owned a Mexican restaurant over across from Loomis Park here in Jackson for awhile. It is closed now. So owning and running restaurants does run in his family. This is his first time running his own restaurant and store. He is the only one that is bilingual that works there. They do use Nopales cactus in a couple of their dishes.
7:10 p.m.: A Caucasian couple comes in and they sit in a booth along the outer wall. They order and sit conversing back and forth. My husband has already eaten so he sat correcting his papers from work. A pop machine rattles ice as the waiter/owner brings the other couple their pop and tortilla chips.
7:15 p.m.: I look outside, the cars are passing at a good pace. There is a Mexican take - out place that says it will open soon across the street. I hear a refrigerator opening and closing alot. It's starting to get dark outside. It is hard to eat and write, because there is so much to take in!
7:20 p.m.: Different shapes of soda bottles line a half wall dividing part of the room from the kitchen. The music gets stuck several times, they fix it. It does it again so they turn it off. The other table of guests has a cell phone ring. The woman answers it, she talks for some time.
7:30 p.m.: I hear Spanish banter coming from the kitchen. Someone changes their voice pitch to sound like a girl. Then comes an out burst of laughter. I notice Sombreros hanging on the walls. Wood parrots are hanging from the ceiling here and there with their vivid colors. There are banners proclaiming, "Viva Mexico" which means, Long live Mexico!
7:45 p.m.: It is dark outside now. The neon " open" sign is easy to read with it's red letters. The phone rings several times. It is answered in Spanish. I can still see the "Schlinkers" restaurant across the street. The owner of El Compa comes out and talks with the other couple. I hear him share that he and his girlfriend were together for a long time and that they have two children. Then he shares that they are now broke up. There is a beautiful Azteca Calendaria on the outer wall. As the owner walks back towards the kitchen he stops in front of the CD player that is now playing again and begins to dance with his back to us. As he starts to walk again he looks over his shoulder. I give him a thumbs up and he throws his head back and laughs as he walks to the kitchen. So full of life.
8:00 p.m. : As I am studying the menu I notice a worker peeks around the corner to see how things are going. The menu has a picture of an animated cactus wearing a sombrero and he has a mustache as he smiles chagrined. On one of his arms hangs a colorful blanket. It says El Compa on his hat.
8:15 p.m.: We pay for our bill and decide to visit the store. I ask the workers several questions as we pass through. I speak my broken Spanish but they seem to understand. The store is wonderful! It is like a replica of being in a store in Mexico. They have a variety of everything. They have a fresh meat counter, many types of spices in bags. I turn a little and see bagged nuts, cold pops, juices, eggs, cheeses. There were bags of fried potatoes ( potato chips). Lots of CD's and video movies to purchase and to rent. You could choose from figurines,utensils,wallets,sandals, watches,shirts,cowboy hats,belt buckles. Also a wide variety of cookies,nectar's,cotton candy,a candy type fruit on a straw type stick that Rudy gave my husband and I to try. It was a sweet sour taste and picante! He also gave us a piece of peanut flavored confectionery. It was kind of like fudge only not real sweet.
8:40 p.m.: I decide to buy a fruit type roll up for my family to try. The older woman running the cash register and I were doing pretty well talking even with my broken Spanish. The woman seems so wise, strong and kind. I found a picture I liked and I tried to ask her how much? She did not understand, so she leans over and just yells to the others. One of the workers came right away to her aide. You could tell they had respect for her. I told Rudy thanks so much for everything. I told him we would be back. He gave me a couple of "take out" menus for one of my artifacts. I plan to buy that picture for $5.99 it was neat. I also spied some figurines. They all gave us " goodbyes" as we left and waved. What a fun night! Mustang Sally
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Community 1 Source Report
Sally's Place - "Ethnic Cuisine: Guatemala"
http://www.sallysplace.com/food/cuisines/guatemala.htm visited on 10/07/08
This website was wonderful, it was full of information about Guatemala. The article focused mainly on the Central American Yucatan Peninsula. It said Guatemala covers 42,000 square miles, an area that is comparable to the state of Ohio. This area is home to 9 million people. Two - thirds of the country is mountainous, with the main mountain chains in the Southwest forming a string of volcanoes, many exceeding 11,000 feet. This cite also had some really cool recipes that sounded delicious. After looking at the recipes I can see if there is any thing like this on my communities menu. One recipe had a lot of seafood in it. It was called "Paella Marinera." The recipe called for clams, mussels, medium - sized shrimp and Spanish sausage. Plus the recipe called for artichoke hearts, green olives and red and green peppers. There were more ingredients like rice and some interesting spices. One of the spices that was listed was saffron. If I remember right that is a spice that is very expensive. It only called for a pinch which I found to be very quaint. That will give me something else to look up on the Internet and learn more. Of coarse for a dessert recipe they had one for one of my favorites, Flan. Flan is a caramel custard dish and this one included being topped with toasted chopped almonds or berries for garnish. I look forward to asking my communities owner if he is from this area of Guatemala or some where near. Mustang Sally
http://www.sallysplace.com/food/cuisines/guatemala.htm visited on 10/07/08
This website was wonderful, it was full of information about Guatemala. The article focused mainly on the Central American Yucatan Peninsula. It said Guatemala covers 42,000 square miles, an area that is comparable to the state of Ohio. This area is home to 9 million people. Two - thirds of the country is mountainous, with the main mountain chains in the Southwest forming a string of volcanoes, many exceeding 11,000 feet. This cite also had some really cool recipes that sounded delicious. After looking at the recipes I can see if there is any thing like this on my communities menu. One recipe had a lot of seafood in it. It was called "Paella Marinera." The recipe called for clams, mussels, medium - sized shrimp and Spanish sausage. Plus the recipe called for artichoke hearts, green olives and red and green peppers. There were more ingredients like rice and some interesting spices. One of the spices that was listed was saffron. If I remember right that is a spice that is very expensive. It only called for a pinch which I found to be very quaint. That will give me something else to look up on the Internet and learn more. Of coarse for a dessert recipe they had one for one of my favorites, Flan. Flan is a caramel custard dish and this one included being topped with toasted chopped almonds or berries for garnish. I look forward to asking my communities owner if he is from this area of Guatemala or some where near. Mustang Sally
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