I Shell Out for Tacos
...written on 07.25.02, @ 11:02 a.m.
Thu July 25, 2002
The other day I wrote about how I missed Mexican food and that some friends and I went to Gifu city to get some. At that time, Toshiyasu-san (Papa), the owner of Bagus and Buran-Bintan, said that he was going to start serving tacos at one of his bars.
I arrived at Buran-Bintan at 8 pm. The bar opened at 6 pm. Until 10 pm, when John arrived, I was the only customer. True, this is Papa's newest bar and he doesn't like to rely on advertising, but rather word of mouth, and believe me, the way his food can make your mouth happy, I'm sure there's a lot of talking going on.
Taka-san & Papa at Buran-Bintan
Me & Papa
Bars in Japan can be rather tricky. Many have a seating charge from 500 -1000 yen (US$5-10). When you sit down, you are also served a "charm" or an appetizer (ChaChing: $5). Taka-san put down a burnished copper colored ceramic plate in front of me that had small servings of grilled salmon with sauteed mushrooms, srcambled egg roll, slivers of fried pork and a cherry tomato. It all was extremely delicious and well presented, as Japanese food usually is.
I then ordered hard shelled tacos. They were YUMMY! Papa had made the guacamole and the salsa and said that next time the sour cream would be "handmade" as well. I shortmailed John and told him to hurry on over after work.
Like I said before, I knew they wouldn't be Taco Bell cheap. My total tab for 3 tacos, a coke, a virgin Pina Colada and the unasked for, but always served "charm" was 2500 yen, which is about US$22. John had the charm, tacos and 2-3 dark Guiness drafts for 2700 yen. I don't know if we are charged the seating fee. Bar owners or waiters usually come over with a little slip of paper with your total written on it. This gives them the opportunity to give their regular customers a break . . . sometimes.
As an incentive to come to his bars, Papa has started a stamp card program. With each visit to one of his bars, you get a stamp. If you get 400 stamps, you will win a round trip ticket to Bali. There are many people at our company who go to Papa's bars nightly after work. In a year and a half, they will all be planning their trips to Bali, I'm sure. You may think it is a rich prize, but the hardcore customers spend at least $1000 a month at these places. Papa told me that after 10 stamps I could have some free tacos. Hmm, so 3 free tacos will cost me at the minimum about US$150.
Man, sometimes I really miss Taco Bell.