So Guatemalans love the fast food restaurant Pollo Campero (Country Chicken) which is basically a fried chicken fastfood chain. It is so well liked that when I told my host family that I was going out for a friend's birthday they immediately asked me if I was going to Pollo Campero. The answer was no. I have actually never eaten there, but I did accompany my host family there for a 'cafecito' (snack) during Semana Santa (holy week before Easter). It is expensive compared to eating at home or at a comedor (informal resturaunt) where meals are usually around 15 Quetzales (~$2). I think a chicken sandwich meal with fries and a drink costs around 55Q (~$7). So anyway here it is considered a little bit of a treat.
Well anyway there is one small problem with Pollo Campero from a Guatemalan standpoint. They don't serve tortillas. And for most Guatemalans a meal is not complete without tortillas. To solve this problem at every Pollo Campero that I have seen there are at least two women sitting right outside with a basket full of hot tortillas to sell. Problem solved.
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| The woman on the left is selling tortillas (in the basket under the yellow cloth) |
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| Transaction in front of the drive-through (the tortillas are in the basket) |
Well, we may get to eat at one before you do. There are Pollo Campero outlets nearby i n Chelsea and East Boston. But probably not tortilla vendors outside.
ReplyDeleteGood preparation for our trip.
This is hysterical Meg. You could be a consultant to Pollo Campero and revise their menu offerings. On the other hand, kudos to the tortilla enteprenteurs. Kathy.
ReplyDeleteFascinating insights!! And the tortillas are warm in those baskets? Do the people who buy them take them inside the restaurant with them, or is it considered a no-no and they sneak them in? Kind of like bringing your own candy from CVS or your own popcorn into a movie theater? It looks so much more cosmopolitan there than some other pics you have sent.. newish cars, and manicured landscaping! Keep up the great blog!
ReplyDeleteThe tortillas do keep pretty warm. Guatemalans tend to wrap food in plastic bags for insulation. So under the colorful fabric are bags keeping the tortillas warm. Plastic bags are also sometimes used instead of lids when cooking.
DeleteOne of the women outside of this Pollo Campero sits by the drive through and the others by the front door. It seems to be perfectly acceptable to bring the tortillas into the restaurant.
These pictures look more cosmopolitan than many of my others because this is in Xela, which is the second biggest city in Guatemala.
I second the kudos to the resourceful Guatamalan women. And I give the restaurant points for their landscaping. I expect it must be a long day for the tortilla vendors. Mom
ReplyDeleteHmmm. You'd think the restaurant people would catch on & add it to the menu.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to read about the Land of Eternal Spring -- in KC we are still digging out from about 10 inches of snow yesterday. And it's COLD!