Discussion of Robin Garr's Taco Punk review

Brian's point is perfectly reasonable. I would like to think tha we could all agree that $4 taco better be pretty darn good, but apparently we can't.

Not bein' argumentative, just pointing out something that I think you overlook about 99.9% of the time. Not everyone has drank from your glass of Kool Aid Robin...some of us actually factor in things other than "local" and "sustainable" when making our buying decisions.

Steve, I respect you for a variety of reasons, but in this instance, you're not addressing my and Robin's point. It's perfectly OK - and you don't need me to tell you this - for you not to budget for tacos that cost upwards of $3 apiece. That's your choice, and that doesn't make either of us better or worse people. However, that does not change the fact that local and sustainable produce and meat just cost more. You might choose not to patronise the place because you'd rather pay less for tacos no matter what's inside them. We're saying that Taco Punk chooses to use ingredients that are inherently more expensive because they place less negative impact on the planet, and that choice is a foundational piece of their business model. Just don't buy food from the place, but understand that what they're doing is admired by many (not you or Brian) and it, by definition, costs more to purchase and prepare.

Once again, we're speaking only of their food and not their service, which I have yet to experience in the restaurant, so service issues don't enter into my point.

I've always liked your posts Antonia, but these seems like a fairly harsh read of Steve and Brian.

Here are two thoughts that I keep coming back to on this issue:

1. First, some of us (and I don't know if it's the case for Brian and Steve) simply can't afford to purchase such items. In that sense, the idea that I "choose" to not patronize the place because I'd rather pay less for tacos no matter what's inside of them does not fully account for the choice. At the beginning of the month, I have X dollars. I pay rent. I pay medical bills. Whatever is left after those bills (and a few others), leaves me with Y dollars. Sometimes a locavore taco is possible with Y dollars. And sometimes it is not. Or, in other words, it's not really my "choice" now, is it?

2. In the transaction between consumer and locavore business, the willingness to sacrifice seems to be made only on one side. The consumer - me, Steve, Brian - is being asked to willingly pay a particular price for an item because the item meets certain criteria (local, sustainable, hormone-free). Many, many people (and this group seems to include you and Robin) willingly pay this amount because the product aligns with their personal belief system. In this sense you are "sacrificing" more of your money to purchase a certain item that aligns with your personal belief system. What, though, is the business being asked to sacrifice? The customer is being asked to re-think what he or she believes are appropriate prices for a given item (a taco, for example), while the business gets to keep being a business (wages, overhead, rent, etc.). The customer has to change his or her bottom line, but does the business?

Granted, all of this is caused by an American citizenry that has been spoiled by super-low food prices for forever and a day. For many Americans, just saying "this product is better for X reasons" is not going to motivate them to give up these super-low prices. For many of us, the giving up is not a possibility even if we wanted to (I have not had a cost-of-living raise in five years). And, when my frustration boils over in these conversations, I'm left wondering what the local, sustainable business is doing to motivate me to want to make the change other than saying, "It will make you feel all warm in fuzzy inside. Trust us."

Wow, after accusations of "drinking the Kool-aid", whatever that means, I'm being harsh. After trying to frame my words as delicately as possible so as not to offend Brian and Steve, because where on earth would that get me, or this conversation, for that matter? Wow. OK.

I don't make much money, and living within my means is important to me. I have to make decisions on luxuries (going out to eat, etc.) based on how much I have and how much goes to my bills. It's always a choice. Don't go to Taco Punk. I haven't been there, either. It makes no difference to me. I can't explain my opinion any better than I have, and I'm considered harsh, so I actually do give up on this one. Ask for more sacrifices from the people risking what they have to expand their vision and open up a restaurant in this economy; it's all up to you. Buy the tacos or don't. I'm an elitist, roll your eyes at me and hand me back my Kool-aid.

Brian's point is perfectly reasonable. I would like to think tha we could all agree that $4 taco better be pretty darn good, but apparently not.

On the contrary, I've had Taco Punk's tacos, and despite any service issues, the tacos are pretty darn good. In fact, they may be the best tacos I've ever had. I don't care about local or sustainable all that much either, but I'm willing to pay Taco Punk's prices because the food is that good.

There was that voice in my head that said, "Nah really, you have better ways of spending your time." But I wrote my contribution anyway. Should have listened to the voice in my head.

There is no single right answer. Different strokes for different folks.

The Mahi Mahi Tacos at Seviche are Da Bomb(tm). They are $7 dollars each now, yet I still get them. Based on recent reports, the service at Seviche is much, much better. If The Punk's tacos are this good, I'd be happy to give them a go.

Let's check in on the competition now. I just had lunch at Santa Fe grill on Tuesday. Good as usual. Their tacos are less than the Punkster's, but cost more than Taco Bell's, plus I actually had to get out of my vehicle. Damn those tradeoffs!

There is no single right answer. Different strokes for different folks.

The Mahi Mahi Tacos at Seviche are Da Bomb(tm). They are $7 dollars each now, yet I still get them. Based on recent reports, the service at Seviche is much, much better. If The Punk's tacos are this good, I'd be happy to give them a go.

Let's check in on the competition now. I just had lunch at Santa Fe grill on Tuesday. Good as usual. Their tacos are less than the Punkster's, but cost more than Taco Bell's, plus I actually had to get out of my vehicle. Damn those tradeoffs!

Ah, Steve.

There is no single right answer. Different strokes for different folks.

I think that is what it boils down to.

Robin and Brian don't care for each other, so now they are arguing taco semantics.

Antonia tried to apply logic and got a dose of some classic Matthew D.



I'll probably try Taco Punk some time. That said, I tend to really enjoy $1.50/$1.75 taqueria tacos closer to my home, so I don't see myself converting permanently to Punk tacos.

But then, they do seem to be a different product, and while I'm not a wealthy man, if they taste good and I get a solid meal for under $10 bucks...it's not like I'm breaking the bank.

Antonia tried to apply logic and got a dose of some classic Matthew D.

Everyone just needs to remember that you can't tell what everyone's actual attitude is without seeing their body language.

I'm actually naked right now!

(Thank Goodness I'm just kidding about the naked part)

There is no single right answer. Different strokes for different folks.

I think that is what it boils down to.

Robin and Brian don't care for each other, so now they are arguing taco semantics.

Antonia tried to apply logic and got a dose of some classic Matthew D.



I'll probably try Taco Punk some time. That said, I tend to really enjoy $1.50/$1.75 taqueria tacos closer to my home, so I don't see myself converting permanently to Punk tacos.

But then, they do seem to be a different product, and while I'm not a wealthy man, if they taste good and I get a solid meal for under $10 bucks...it's not like I'm breaking the bank.

Within a "no-wrong-answer" discussion, this one ^ is the "rightest." DD

[Robin Garr]

There was that voice in my head that said, "Nah really, you have better ways of spending your time." But I wrote my contribution anyway. Should have listened to the voice in my head.

Your posts are generally thoughtful, honest and authentic, Matthew, expressed without snark or a faux persona. I think Antonia would agree. Don't beat up on yourself, and for that matter, don't beat up on the voices.

[Robin Garr]

the tacos are pretty darn good.

I agree, insofar as many of TP's tacos are concerned, and I hope that point came across in my review.

In fact, they may be the best tacos I've ever had. I don't care about local or sustainable all that much either, but I'm willing to pay Taco Punk's prices because the food is that good.

Best ever? Tough call. I like it that Gabe brings a creative sensibility to creating tacos different from what you'd get in an authentic taqueria (or, for that matter, Taco Bell). I respect that, and at its best I agree that they come in at the top level. But they're to some extent in a separate category all their own.

There was that voice in my head that said, "Nah really, you have better ways of spending your time." But I wrote my contribution anyway. Should have listened to the voice in my head.

Your posts are generally thoughtful, honest and authentic, Matthew, expressed without snark or a faux persona. I think Antonia would agree. Don't beat up on yourself, and for that matter, don't beat up on the voices.

Robin,

I read an interview today with the foreperson for the George Huguely trial in which she said: "Part of the instructions we had were that inherent in malice are deliberate, willful, and cruel actions. With several academics on the jury, there was a lot of stress on words, at some times maybe too much.”

I chuckled at her comment because I saw myself in that comment. If it is a "classic Matthew D" move to make too much of a word, then that's what it is. It's hard in these discussions to separate what is said from the person posting the response. All I was trying to say was this: Much of the locovore conversation has to do with "choices," yet, often, I don't feel like I'm in the position to make a choice at all. Furthermore, I wonder what choices locavore businesses are making to force me to reconsider where that remaining money I have goes. Are they, for example, paying living wages to their workers? Or, on the other hand, are they paying the minimum they can pay because that's what the law allows (progress be damned)?

I intended no malice toward Antonia. In fact, without her contribution, I'd have never been motivated to make my own. That's how this whole "conversation" thing is supposed to work. I try to always take someone's response to my response as a sign of respect - even if they don't like what I said or, worse, don't like me.

[Robin Garr]

That's how this whole "conversation" thing is supposed to work. I try to always take someone's response to my response as a sign of respect - even if they don't like what I said or, worse, don't like me.

Works for me, although I hope we can achieve a degree of mutual liking in this merrie little bande, too, even when we debate or even disagree. Respect is a good thing. So is authenticity, and avoiding meanness. I don't see you failing in this, Matthew. Relax. Maaaake the voooiiiicceeesss goooo awwaaaayyyyy ...

All I was trying to say was this: Much of the locovore conversation has to do with "choices," yet, often, I don't feel like I'm in the position to make a choice at all. Furthermore, I wonder what choices locavore businesses are making to force me to reconsider where that remaining money I have goes. Are they, for example, paying living wages to their workers? Or, on the other hand, are they paying the minimum they can pay because that's what the law allows (progress be damned)?

Likely if they are buying local, sustainable products they are supporting local wage earners and small businesses even if their own employees make minimum wage. So consider that. Not to mention that the product is likely healthier in that they have not passed through a factory, which also appeals to many people. Some may even eat there for social reasons. I can assure you many Jeff Rubys regulars are there simply to be seen.

The point is there are many reasons to decide to spend your money on a luxury restaurant brand. Not simply a high moral fortitude. If these reason do not appeal to you, do not spend your money there.