1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, from aggressive acts in war through aggressive acts. 2 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 2: In a tex mex restaurant. We pivot first. A few 3 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 2: days ago. Michael t and his female friend from the 4 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: University of Texas joined us this past weekend and Russell 5 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: Lebara invited us to the Rockets game. And while there, 6 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 2: Russell had several friends and one of them was a 7 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 2: young man named Umberto, and Russell had been wanting me 8 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: to meet this fellow for a while and figured this 9 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: would be a good time to do it. Umberto had 10 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: written Russell a letters folks sometimes do, and said, Hey, 11 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 2: have this little restaurant. It's in downtown on Mileam. It's 12 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 2: called Space City Meria A and you're very successful in 13 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: the field and it means the world to me if 14 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 2: you would just come and eat and give me your 15 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 2: whatever your honest reaction is, and anything you think I 16 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: can do to improve upon it. So he did, and 17 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 2: since then Umberto has he used to be a seller 18 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 2: at dn M Leasing. Funny story. Yeah, So this guy's story, 19 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: I come to find out, was he was a leasing 20 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: agent at DNM Leasing and he had two partners and 21 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: they started. You remember I am Burger. It was an 22 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 2: Israeli burger franchise concept, and the three of them bought 23 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: into it. He put up the money his savings from 24 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 2: working at DNM leasing. The other two were the operations partners. 25 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: And it's in a space in Mileam down on the see. 26 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: I guess that's it. I guess that's the north end 27 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: of downtown. I want to say it's the east end, 28 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: but I guess that's technically the north end of downtown, 29 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: sort of at the beginning of Mileam over in the 30 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 2: old park, kind of the Allen's Landing portion. At the 31 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: there's a There are two high end apartment complexes there, 32 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 2: one called the Brava across the street and the one 33 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 2: that do you know it, the one next to it, 34 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: which I believe it or not, has a swimming pool 35 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 2: hanging off the side of the building. I've never seen 36 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 2: this in my life. And the glass of the swimming 37 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: pool is all clear, so you look up what must 38 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: be forty floors up and you see people kicking and 39 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 2: the water splashing, and your watching the bottom side of 40 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 2: the swimming pool. If you're in that pool, I'm certain 41 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: that when you look down you see the street below 42 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 2: through the glass like a glass bottom boat. Pretty fascinating. Concept. 43 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: I've never seen anything like that, but anyway, that's what's 44 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: directly across from him. So we left Toyota Center basketball 45 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 2: game and went over and tried his place, and the 46 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: three of us we all just uh and Russell join us. 47 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: Love this place that I am. Burger came in and 48 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 2: opened a matter of weeks before COVID, and that wiped 49 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: him out. So he brought the key and said, hey, 50 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: I'm out, I'm done. I'm I'm you know this, this 51 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 2: wiped me out. I thought I'd try the restaurant business. 52 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: But in the landlord, to their credit, uh, it was 53 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 2: Eugene Lee with Lindback, who has a great reputation at 54 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: least in my experience in the business, said no, no, no, 55 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: I'm not letting you leave. I want you to start 56 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 2: a new concept here. We need to build your dream 57 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: here and I'm going to help you do it. So 58 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: he did. He started base City, a space city Bria 59 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 2: b I R R I A. It's a double R, 60 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: so it's they Bria is. The concept of it is 61 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:58,559 Speaker 2: it's like a taco, but the taco is sort of dehydrated, 62 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: folded over meat that is stewed for a long period 63 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: of time and cheese, So think of kind of a 64 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: slightly more crispy Casadia, if you will. And then the 65 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: juice that is extracted from the meat while it is 66 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: in the in the tortilla while it's cooking, that juice 67 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: is made into like a rooe and you dip the 68 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: you dip it in that room and it moistens it 69 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: again and that's how you eat it. It is phenomenal. 70 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: It's I only know about it because it's kind of 71 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 2: one of those TikTok type things that got real hot, 72 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 2: like Dubai chocolates off of TikTok. And when my wife 73 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 2: was going to India and she was stopping through Dubai 74 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 2: and Carac said, may you gotta get me as many 75 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 2: Dubai chocolates as possible. This whole you know, the ability 76 00:04:52,960 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: to use TikTok wisely for certain retail products is it's 77 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: is important. Who was this post on you meeting? Oh 78 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 2: Billy Bob Thornton. Okay, anyway, so we go over there. 79 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,559 Speaker 2: It's fantastic, it's wonderful. But I had told him, I said, 80 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: before he got there. He said, do you eat beer? 81 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 2: I said, well, my kids do. And so if they 82 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: bring it home, and if it's their night to choose 83 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: for family night, for dinner, for family dinner, then I'll 84 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: eat it. I'm not crazy about it, but I like it. 85 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 2: I can see the appeal. It's a trendy thing, I said, 86 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: But tacos. I eat tacos breakfast, lunch, and dinner when 87 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 2: I ate three meals a day. I would sometimes eat 88 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: three meals a day. I'll eat a breakfast taco, a 89 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 2: lunch taco, and a dinner taco. Now, because I only 90 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 2: eat one meal a day, I need it to be heartier, 91 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 2: so I eat tacos less often than I used to. 92 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 2: I will admit that. So we get there and he's 93 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 2: got the beerer already done, and he's got these Mexican drinks, 94 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: different drinks that I'd never heard of, and Michael and 95 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: Crockett loved them. I had a margarita, which was fantastic. 96 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: To hein, you do to hain or salt, I like to. 97 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 2: I mean, I'll do both, but tein thanks for asking. 98 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 2: And then he brought out the street tacos and they 99 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 2: were perfectly crispy. It's the three little tacos. The only 100 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: other person I've seen in town that does the three 101 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 2: Street tacos quite like this is one hundred percent Takito 102 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: and Marcos who owns that and I went to college 103 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: together University of Houston. I think they do a great 104 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: job with that. Anyway, these tacos are I don't like 105 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 2: my corn tortilla taco to be a rubbery, which often happens. 106 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:44,679 Speaker 2: These corn tortillas are crispy, not too crispy, not crunch, 107 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 2: not tortilla, but just crispy enough. And it's hard to 108 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: do them. So he brought out the the chicken, some 109 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: kind of stewed pork, the carna sada, and what I 110 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: suspected we'd best is what I always like, which is 111 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: the puss stoor. Anyway, the place is called Space City 112 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: Beria b I R R I A or you can 113 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 2: say Bria if you want, and it's down on Milam 114 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: at the end. As for Umberto, he's the owner. I 115 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: think they're great. So that brings us to our next issue. 116 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: We might get Beria for dinner. See, I can't eat 117 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: at lunch. You forget this. Southwest Airlines is in the 118 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 2: news again and it's not good. Southwest Airlines is in trouble. 119 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 2: There's no doubt that that. It's sort of like I 120 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 2: told you when a bar, When you see a sign 121 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 2: at a bar that says Tuesday night, what is not 122 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: drunk drave What are thet driving lessons when you get 123 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 2: in trouble? What defensive driving classes? That's that's the red 124 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: flag we're going under. We're desperate. So Southwest Airlines now 125 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: after they're only out of hobby, they're now they changed 126 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: the bags fly free, their credit their flight credits will 127 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 2: expire now, I mean they're in trouble. Well, that brings 128 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 2: us to the Text Mex paying for chips question. I'll explain, 129 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: come out Michael Berry, America Grande all the time. Man, 130 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 2: is there anything better on a Saturday than a big 131 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 2: Tex Mex lunch esteeming greasy enchiladas and onions? It ain't 132 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 2: see chips in caso, A couple of beers or Margarita's. 133 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: I can never decide to be honest with if I 134 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 2: get beers, I wish I got margarita, I get Margarita. 135 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 2: I wish I got beer. I wish I could decide. 136 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 2: I wish I could pick a favorite. Sometimes you got 137 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 2: to do both, and then you've got nothing else to 138 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: do the rest of the day. You've got no speech 139 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,959 Speaker 2: to give. That night, nowhere to be, nobody coming over you, 140 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 2: not going anywhere. That's why I decline everything, because then 141 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 2: about two o'clock you go back, roll up on that couch, 142 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 2: make it a little too cold, put a cover over it. 143 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 2: Nobody's in the room with you. You fart all you want. 144 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: Oh it's a good feeling right there. Your belly's full. 145 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 2: You don't care what you look like. You're all stripped 146 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 2: down to your My wife says you touch you underwear. 147 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: You ain't trying to please nobody, not any one person, 148 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 2: and boy, you are content. Okay. So let me start 149 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: by saying, there is a movement now of these people 150 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 2: who are consumers at restaurants who have created this there 151 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 2: as bad as Black Lives Matter Antifa. They're little agitators. 152 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: I hate them. I hate them so much because they're 153 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 2: a little power hungry food reviewer wannabes. They just want 154 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: some power, They want some power in the food business. 155 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 2: So they got websites and they and they're this swarming 156 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 2: hive of people and they run around town and they're 157 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 2: mad at this person. They don't they don't understand how 158 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 2: hard it is to make a restaurant run. If they 159 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 2: had any clue how many restaurants they drive out of business, 160 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 2: it would shock them or maybe it would delight them. 161 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 2: It's their power. So I never side with these people. 162 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 2: I want you to know that I never side with 163 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 2: these people. But this is the one time that i'm 164 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 2: if this article is true. And by the way, if 165 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 2: you're the owners of Spanish Flowers restaurant, call me. I 166 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 2: have enjoyed many, many, many wonderful meals at your restaurant 167 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 2: on North Maine, many many wonderful meals with my wife, 168 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 2: and I liked that they had the Mariachi's coming around 169 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 2: I do. I don't want every restaurant doing it. I 170 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: just want there to be one in town that does it. 171 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: So if I want the Mariachi's, I'll go there. It's 172 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 2: like Mi Tierra in San Anton. I like the Mariachi's, 173 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: but I don't want them at Gringo's. I don't want 174 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 2: to know just one little place. It's kind of yeah, yeah, anyway. 175 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 2: Headline Houston Spanish Flowers speaks out after Chips and Salsus scandal. 176 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: Scandal's a little off their headline writer, Okay, calm down, 177 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 2: the longtime tex Mex restaurant group was accused of charging 178 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: customers without notifying them. Better not be for chips. It 179 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: was for chips. Is it illegal to charge for chips 180 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: and salsa? It is not, but given how strongly people 181 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 2: feel about it, maybe it should be Spanish flowers in 182 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 2: the Woodlands. Well, hell, I didn't know they had a 183 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 2: Woodlands location is finding itself front and center of Houston's 184 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 2: latest food scandal, and its owners are not thrilled about 185 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 2: the situation at all. And then it talks about the 186 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 2: foodie groups and how they're complaining about this, and that 187 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 2: you're being charged for chips and salsa that you didn't 188 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 2: know you were being charged for after you go in. 189 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 2: Now here would be the question for me. I go 190 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: into tex Mex restaurant and this blows my mind, Mom 191 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: blows my mind, and they don't have chips and salsa 192 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: and you have to ask for it. I'm like, bye, God, 193 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 2: the Russians have won. What are you doing? I mean, 194 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 2: a good Text mexs experience is to walk in and 195 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 2: there's some guy who doesn't wait tables. He doesn't wait tables. 196 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 2: He's about four to eleven and he's about sixty eight 197 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: years old, and he doesn't speak much English, but he 198 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: has the biggest smile on his face, and he sees 199 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 2: you coming, and you see him coming, and he times it. Man, 200 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: this guy's got a knack for it. And you sit 201 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 2: down and whoa, he slides that red basket of piping 202 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 2: hot tortilla chips in front of you. Oh man, and salsa. Okay, 203 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 2: at a minimum red. Now, I will tell you, Russell 204 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 2: Lebarr is one of my dearest friends. So yes, I'm 205 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 2: a little biased. I don't touch their red sauce. I 206 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 2: don't know why I would, because they're green. Sauca is 207 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 2: a select intro. I believe it's a cilantro. When we go, 208 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 2: my wife will order. You can get orders to go, 209 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 2: and we will at home put different stuff in it. 210 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,959 Speaker 2: It's that good piping hot all right. Everybody's got a 211 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 2: different kind of chip. I love it that the red 212 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 2: sauca and and and a basket of chips is a minimum, 213 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 2: a hot basket of chips. Okay, you're on your game. 214 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 2: The green sauca. All right, Russell lebar you're good. You 215 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 2: you are a master in your field. All right. Now, 216 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 2: I've never had it happen that somebody bring me out 217 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 2: a hot caso complimentary, But if they did, I don't 218 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: know what I'd do. I might lose my mind. Ramon, 219 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 2: are you talking to somebody, because you should be listening 220 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 2: and helping me out here. Okay, so just tell them 221 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 2: to hold on. There's nothing they can add to what 222 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 2: we're talking about right now. This is this is our zone? 223 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 2: Then what? No? Those are? Chuny's? Those are? Is this 224 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 2: an Indian called to correct more pronunciation? Tell that I'm 225 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 2: asked to shut up? You think I'm gonna do the 226 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 2: most thick Indian accent I possibly can and lose my 227 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: Tell them thank you, but no thanks. People get all 228 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: fired up. That's something they know I got. Well yeah, whatever, anyway, 229 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 2: can we focus on it. I'm I'm on a roll here. Okay, 230 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 2: all right, nobody brings the caso, but they should ask you. Okay, 231 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: not a hard sell soft cell? Uh? Would you like 232 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 2: to order? Like to order? That's the word. You got 233 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 2: to pay for it? Some hot case? Yes? Small or large? Uh? 234 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 2: Whatever depends on I mean you with you? Do you 235 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 2: want meat in it? They'll ask you that at good 236 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 2: company Cantina. No, I never want meat. I just want jeez, 237 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 2: I'm gonna eat meat on my regular meal. That's by 238 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 2: that time I'm really too full, and then I'm mad 239 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 2: at the restaurant. Okay, so that is kind of the 240 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 2: that is a well established tradition. Now what I don't know. 241 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 2: Apparently they have charged people at Spanish Flowers for the chips, 242 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 2: and then these people on there are going, that's shady, 243 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 2: that's horrible, that's this, that's this all right? Shot across 244 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 2: about Russell Lebar looks to me, this is this is 245 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 2: war talk. Russell Lebar posted about this issue. This is 246 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 2: the Michael Berry Show show. You know, god good does 247 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 2: any supergroup I reformed across any genre? The body of 248 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 2: work each one of them brought in individually, and then 249 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 2: what they accomplished together. Bobby writes the very of Tacos 250 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 2: at Rancho Grande and Magnolia are insanely good. They do 251 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 2: use a lot of cilantro, which I love saying. Anyhow, 252 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 2: on the subject of chips and sausa, a lot of 253 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 2: places are now serving the sausa warmed up, which I 254 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 2: was against at first, but have come to perfer to cold. 255 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 2: What do you like? You like cold? I need to 256 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 2: I'm hearing in emails that Russell warms it. It's not 257 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 2: a deal breaker for me. It doesn't matter. I mean, 258 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 2: it's not that big a deal. But if I were 259 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 2: to say I think, I'd probably like, I don't know 260 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 2: that I like it cold. I've come to understand that 261 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 2: a lot of things that I think I like, it's 262 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 2: more accurate to say I'm accustomed to. Once you grow 263 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 2: accustomed to eating something a certain way, a certain food, 264 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 2: a certain preparation, a certain temperature, then that's what we 265 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: tend to believe is proper because we don't like to change. 266 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 2: And I'm as guilty as an X guy. Another fellow wrote, 267 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 2: they probably stopped doing the free chips and chips and 268 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 2: salsa because of the I'll say crass hole instead of 269 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 2: the ash word he used. Who eat a bunch of 270 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 2: chips and leave without paying for them? Wonder who that 271 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 2: would be? The dining the dining and dash crowd. There 272 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 2: are people who come into your restaurant. They're always fat 273 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 2: with the intention of costing you as much money as 274 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 2: possible and also benefiting themselves as much as possible and 275 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 2: giving you as little or no money as they possibly can. 276 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 2: But don't you dare try to keep them out. Well, 277 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 2: I'm going to tell you this. Here's a little inside 278 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: baseball to the RCC. I'll tell you something that this 279 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 2: will piss a couple of you off, but that's only 280 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 2: because you are that person. So at the RCC, we 281 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 2: were constantly looking for ways to stay profitable. It's a 282 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 2: very tough business. That's why you'll notice places open and 283 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 2: close constantly. In fact, Uncle Jerry and I went last 284 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 2: night and looked at the RCC and we spent about 285 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 2: three hours there. We walked every corner, looked at everything 286 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 2: and looked at the changes they had made and changes 287 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 2: they hadn't made. As I exited fifty nine South Southwest 288 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 2: Freeway at West Airport and Kirkwood, the old James Cooney 289 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 2: Island is now a Kawba Bob's. The U Horse Saddle 290 00:17:53,480 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 2: and Tag Shop is gone. The Argentinian State place you 291 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: call the concept gaut show where they like the green 292 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 2: means bring me more beef and red means stop. But 293 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 2: you have read and they keep asking you. I never 294 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 2: understood that. Hey, I'd have to read over for ten minutes. 295 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 2: I'm trying to have a card. I'm having a conversation here, 296 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 2: I'll put green back. When I'm reading's wondering if you 297 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 2: want somebody this point, well, yes, I want to bring yes, 298 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 2: put it down, goshdock it. You can't stop. And then 299 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 2: you got the beef sweats when you leave anyway. That 300 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:29,439 Speaker 2: is now kalahari something something something, everything has changed. So 301 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 2: the chips and salsa argument at the RCC was this, 302 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 2: there were people who would come to the RCC who 303 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 2: wanted a night out to dance, and their ideal situation 304 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 2: would be they would come to your place and dance 305 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: all night and it's been not a penny. If they 306 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 2: could spend nothing, that would be perfect. They were also 307 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 2: the biggest complainers, huntstant complainers, and the reason was they 308 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 2: wanted a dance hall. And what you will find is 309 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 2: that dance halls are very difficult to make work because 310 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 2: dancers are not drinkers. Now you can tell me I'm 311 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 2: a drunk and a dancer, You're fine, You're in the minority. 312 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 2: There are lots of people who show up stone cl 313 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 2: sober and leave stone cl sober, and they've danced the 314 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 2: night away. In order to eate waters which are free 315 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: and not spent a penny, they buy general admission tickets. 316 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 2: They don't care where they said, they don't eat, they 317 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: come a lot of times. They'll eat somewhere else and 318 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 2: come to your place and dance, and then they bitch 319 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 2: the entire time that people who bought seats are in 320 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 2: their dance area. I don't own a place anymore and 321 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 2: probably won't, so I can say it. Those people were 322 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 2: the bane of our existence, because you can't survive in 323 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 2: the There's a reason House Blues does not have a 324 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 2: dance especially Western dances. Country and Western dances because they 325 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 2: take a lot of space. You know, you see these 326 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 2: kind of angry rage white nineties band mob type bands 327 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 2: that it's just white people jump up and down in 328 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 2: the same space, so you can have space there for 329 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 2: them to dance, because it's really just a mosh pitz, 330 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 2: just a standing room only. But the country and Western 331 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 2: folks want you to clear everything out so that they 332 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 2: can waltz across Texas on your dance floor and not 333 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 2: spend a penny. So we finally just said, look, we 334 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 2: either survive and shut down the dance aspect, or we 335 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 2: let them dance, and I guess they can take the 336 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 2: place over when we're gone, and I had a friend 337 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 2: named Michael Massa. He owned Massa's restaurant, and he was 338 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 2: constantly complaining. And I said, Michael, the first time you 339 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 2: buy a ticket, because you pestered me for free tickets 340 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,120 Speaker 2: every time, and the first time you buy a beer, 341 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 2: I don't drink anymore. Okay, first time you spend a 342 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 2: dollar here, Please feel free to complain because you don't. 343 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,440 Speaker 2: I love you, You're my friend, You've been my friend 344 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 2: a long time. But I really don't need complaints and 345 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 2: I definitely don't need them from the non payers. So 346 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 2: back to the chips and caeso A chips and sauceo. 347 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 2: I I asked russe Lebarrow. Some of you remember this 348 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 2: this question months ago, I said, from the time I 349 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 2: was a kid till today, Textmax has gone from being 350 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 2: in Orange. We had Casa Ola that we got at 351 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 2: Costa Ola. That was a big deal. So we had 352 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 2: Taco Bell, which we thought was tex mex and Casta 353 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 2: Ola came in, and then we had one restaurant owned 354 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 2: by some some Mexicans. I don't think they were in 355 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 2: the in the in the food business, but there were 356 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: some Mexicans that had come to town and they had 357 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 2: a little bitty place. It was everybody in the family 358 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 2: worked there. The kids be coming over and cleaning over 359 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 2: you tape. It's one little family, had no extra employees. 360 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 2: And then they bought what used to be the Mister 361 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 2: Daddy's on the Circle. But we don't have a circle 362 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 2: anymore because we can't have anything nice in Orange. That's 363 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 2: why they don't name anything after me, or Bob Phillips 364 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: for that matter. So they bought this much bigger restaurant, 365 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:36,959 Speaker 2: and to me, it lost the charm because it had 366 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: been this little bit tiny hole in the all text 367 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 2: mex place that we would eat a But when I 368 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 2: came to Houston in eighty nine, I started noticing, slowly 369 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 2: but surely, and here we are thirty six years later. 370 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:51,360 Speaker 2: I think text maxis by far the most popular format 371 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 2: of a restaurant. I mean, even Tilman got into it 372 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 2: with Cadillac Bar, which I think is a great concept. 373 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 2: I mean even Levi Good's dad got into it. Now 374 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 2: Levi's expanding in that with a Good Company Cantina. And 375 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 2: then you look at guys like Russell Lebara, who's got 376 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 2: over twenty restaurants, and they're building Tomball, They're building Richmond. 377 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 2: There building a big win in Richmond on ninety nine. 378 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 2: That goes to show you that if you are doing 379 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 2: it right, especially the family friendly, you're not seeing the 380 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 2: hole in the walls opening anymore. The La Mitchell Ecanna 381 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 2: San Luis put THESSI and two beers, they're not They're 382 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 2: not there anymore. They're they're those that are there, the 383 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 2: Rouci's or the arandas those little joints that used to 384 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 2: be there. Some of those will survive. But the casa 385 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,479 Speaker 2: Ola concept, the kind of cheesy white owned you know, 386 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 2: go there for your birthday party that's going away, and 387 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 2: what you're getting now is is gringos. What's the one 388 00:22:55,000 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 2: Dominic has l tempo? What's the one Peter Holt has 389 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 2: got to dog? I kid? What loupe tortells? You're getting? 390 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 2: You're getting a high standard, in my opinion, low price 391 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 2: point for what you're getting. And the other reason I 392 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 2: don't like those those groups is there are people that 393 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 2: just love to bitch and they don't believe you should 394 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 2: charge anything for your food, and whatever you charge, they 395 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 2: resent and if you add two pennies to it. So 396 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 2: I'm reading this chronicle article and they make notes that 397 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 2: the owners of Spanish Flowers say it's only two ninety 398 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 2: nine for the chips. The point you could charge fifty 399 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 2: dollars for the chips. The point is people are used 400 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 2: to not paying, and psychologically paying for something you haven't 401 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 2: paid for is hard for people to get their arms 402 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 2: run with them. Michael Berry and you manesteatic on my radio. 403 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 2: Uffly Barr posted interesting article about the article I told 404 00:23:56,240 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 2: you about. Although complimentary tortilla chips, red and green salsa 405 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 2: plus free ice cream at Gringos and Jimmy Changa's account 406 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 2: for six percent of our food costs, we would never 407 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 2: consider consider charging our guests extra for them. We would 408 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 2: much rather educate them that each triangle tortilla chip is 409 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 2: eighteen calories and then let them decide whether or not 410 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 2: they want to consume thirty tortilla chips before their meal 411 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: arrives for free, the free part being how many you 412 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 2: want to do it on your own? So the Chronicle 413 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 2: article is about people, you know, the fact that somebody 414 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 2: complains is the sort of thing that usedton Chronicle lows. 415 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 2: Everybody's under fire. Spanish Flowers under fire, they call it. 416 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 2: Spanish Flowers speaks out after chips and salsa scandal. The scandal. 417 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 2: A scandal is when the president wasn't even signing documents 418 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 2: with his name on and somebody else was that. We 419 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 2: don't know who that was, and we don't believe that 420 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,120 Speaker 2: he authorized any of them, and certainly not all of them. 421 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 2: That's a scandal. The fact that some people don't like 422 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 2: that they were charged for chips is not a scandal. 423 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:16,640 Speaker 2: You can do great harm to a restaurant or any 424 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 2: kind of business with a nasty article like this, and 425 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 2: there are a lot of people who will never say, well, 426 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 2: is that true or is it not? And I don't 427 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 2: know if it's true. I'm just saying, having been on 428 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 2: both sides of this man's that's that's pretty tough, all right. 429 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 2: In a Tuesday phone call to The Chronicle with the Chronicle, 430 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 2: a Spanish Flowers staff member who did not want to 431 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 2: be identified, said the new charge had not been received 432 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 2: well by customers at the restaurant. Quote, as the floor staff, 433 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 2: we see the backlash, backlash. We're trying to survive it. 434 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 2: We're a Mexican restaurant. No you're not your text mex 435 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 2: Restaurant's a big difference, and like ninety nine percent of 436 00:25:54,640 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 2: those restaurants don't charge. Unfortunately, that's the reality. The anonymous 437 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 2: staff member alleged that Spanish Flowers has seen an unspecified 438 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 2: decrease in foot traffic since the recent policy. First of all, 439 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 2: they don't know that that person even works for Spanish Flowers. 440 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 2: They don't know that that person doesn't work for the 441 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,440 Speaker 2: restaurant across the street. The lunch crowd, they said, don't 442 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,199 Speaker 2: ask for much. They want their meal, their tea, or 443 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 2: their water. They don't want to spend a big buck. 444 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 2: They don't expect to be charged for the chips. That 445 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 2: is all right. But in a Wednesday phone call to Cron, 446 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 2: the Hernandez family, who owns Spanish Flowers three locations I 447 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 2: know they had three, so they're the Woodlands and who 448 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 2: knows where, said they've not seen or heard any pushback 449 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 2: from their customers. While they chalk up any situation where 450 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 2: the customer didn't know about the cost of chips and 451 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 2: salsa as a miscommunication, they also expressed exasperation at the 452 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 2: whole ordeal, especially when other restaurants and chains are charging 453 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 2: more than what they are now. Listen carefully, do you 454 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 2: know how much we charge for chips and salsa two 455 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 2: ninety nine for unlimited chips and salsa to the restaurants 456 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 2: charge you ten dollars or seven ninety nine for no 457 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 2: refills one. Hernandez said, I don't know anybody who charges 458 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,439 Speaker 2: for chips. You charge what you want. I believe that 459 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 2: it's not our business. Customers don't get to set prices. 460 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: I've said this all along. It makes me crazy. Customers 461 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 2: don't get to set prices. Customers get to negotiate price. No, Michael, 462 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 2: we don't get negotiaated. We're just stuck with what they 463 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 2: give us. Yeah. What you have to understand is the 464 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 2: only negotiation you have is to choose to not go there. 465 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 2: If nobody goes there, they'll drop the prices. Trust me, 466 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 2: it happens every time. Jimena, who manages the original location 467 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 2: on North Maine, said the Spanish Flowers in the Woodlands 468 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 2: is the only location that's currently charging for chips and salsa. 469 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 2: In response to the complaint about the Greater Heights location, 470 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 2: she said the restaurant only charges when customers abuse the 471 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 2: free chips and salts of policy. She claimed that servers 472 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 2: have pleaded with management to charge after some customers have 473 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 2: five refills of the complementary appetizers. That is a certain 474 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 2: type of customer who you don't want. And that's why 475 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 2: in this country we have to get very comfortable saying 476 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 2: if you come in and cause a problem, you're out 477 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 2: and you're never coming back. That is where you have 478 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 2: to get comfortable saying not everybody is equal in how 479 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 2: they tip behave, treat the staff, you name it. There 480 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 2: are people. There are people, and they make a lot 481 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:29,719 Speaker 2: of other people look really bad. Who are absolute monsters, 482 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 2: the din and dash crowd, the complain constantly, the constant refill, 483 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 2: the sending stuff back half eaten. One of the big 484 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 2: parts of our endorsement of a company is they know 485 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 2: that the people who are going to respond as a result. 486 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 2: It's not just the quantity of them, it's the quality 487 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 2: of them. It's the kind of people you want in 488 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 2: your restaurant. If you own a restaurant or any other business, 489 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 2: you want people who are looking to have a good time, 490 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 2: who are going out to celebrate after the little league 491 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 2: game or the volleyball or graduation or anniversary, and they 492 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 2: are looking to receive something wonderful and give in return 493 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 2: a commensurate compensation and a smile and a thank you, 494 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 2: and even a referral. People's mentality needs to change. He 495 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 2: may have said, I was the kind of person who 496 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 2: would go to a steakhouse because they have the best bread. 497 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 2: I can't even recall a restaurant that gives bread for free. 498 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 2: Mass Rafts doesn't do it. Steak forty eight doesn't do it, sweetheart. 499 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 2: Let me explain something to you. Steak forty eight is 500 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 2: a very high end, white tablecloth, expensive place that no 501 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 2: individuals pay for. Those are corporate credit cards. That's why 502 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 2: sales prostitutes around the bar downstairs. That's not at a 503 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 2: family restaurant. That's a corporate credit card for guys on 504 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 2: a trip, and the only thing they pay for that 505 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 2: night is the girl that sleeps with them from the bar. 506 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 2: Everybody in town knows that. Everybody in town knows that 507 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 2: you're not that you're a budget Textmex restaurant. So the 508 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 2: fact that those places don't give a free item starch 509 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 2: product when you walk in is because they don't have to. 510 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 2: It would ruin what they're doing. Their image is that 511 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 2: everything here is expensive, even especially the girls at the bar. 512 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 2: What you're doing is for people on a budget right, 513 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 2: Spanish Flowers. When I was here, I didn't drink till 514 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 2: I was twenty nine. So my first thirty times I 515 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 2: went to Spanish Flowers. I was a college student and 516 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:28,640 Speaker 2: we were going after studying all night and it was 517 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 2: late and you'd go over there and it was cool. 518 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 2: We were in Houston. Now there were restaurants from Mariachi's. 519 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 2: This feels like Mexico. We didn't know. But the idea 520 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 2: that you're comparing yourself for that is a really really 521 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 2: bad lack of understanding. And when you say people's mentality 522 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 2: needs to change, that is a red flag in the 523 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 2: hospitality industry. You have to do what you do, and 524 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 2: you have to do it so well that people come back. 525 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 2: What you're witnessing here is the growing pains of an 526 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 2: industry that is reaching saturation. And you have a lot 527 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 2: of people who have survived a long time in text 528 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 2: mex because of the because of the format, the genre. 529 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 2: What am I thinking of? The the category of food, 530 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 2: what do you call it? The whatever that is? Because 531 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 2: you were in text mes, you survived well. Now all 532 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 2: the places that used to go into burger joints and 533 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 2: steakhouses and different things, fried chicken, they're all they're all 534 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 2: out there looking and going, wait a second. If you're 535 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 2: a good operator in the text mech space, that's where 536 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 2: the money is. I don't know about you, but when 537 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 2: I'm celebrating, that's one of the first things that come 538 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 2: to mind. My mind is text mex uh, if I 539 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 2: want to get a beer after an event, if I 540 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 2: want to get some some chips, and QSO and and enchilada. 541 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 2: Those are things that kind of come. So what's happening 542 00:31:56,200 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 2: is what this is is Spanish Flowers is struggling to 543 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 2: maintain profitability. That's why you charge for things like that. 544 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 2: And I feel for them because it's like the defensive 545 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 2: driving you know, Tuesday night defensive driving course at the bar. 546 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 2: That's your sign. And the result is trying to nick 547 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 2: people for three more dollars for the chips is going 548 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 2: to mean that you're going to lose the person that 549 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 2: you got a thirty dollars tab on. So unfore, it's 550 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 2: a tough business. Tough business anyway. Feel free to share 551 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 2: your thoughts with me by email through the website Michael 552 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 2: Berryshow dot com.