![\"PAGE-FICTION-MEXICAN-FOOD-513231915\"](\"http:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/PAGE-FICTION-MEXICAN-FOOD-513231915.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cSenor, Senorita,\u201d the server, colorfully robed, greets and shows us to a table, hospitality gushing out like leaking water from a fire hydrant. \u201cAgua? Coke?\u201d
\n\u201cCoke,\u201d we all chorus.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s included in the lunch,\u201d I assured Usha.
\nShanthi is happy. She plays with the straw, blowing bubbles into the coke making funny noises.
\nThe server comes back in ten minutes dexterously carrying three plates of food covered by metal lids and places them on the table in front of us.
\n\u201cDisfruta,\u201d he curtly says, bows and walks away.
\nUsha is hungry and removes the lid in a hurry. The smell of sizzling steak and saut\u00e9ed onions hits our nostrils.
\n\u201cOh, no, we don\u2019t eat steak,\u201d she blabbers. She covers her mouth and nose with a napkin and puts back the lid.
\n\u201cNo meat, no meat,\u201d I say very loud raising my hand.
\nThe server is taken aback and returns to our table. \u201cProblema?\u201d
\nA burly Hispanic gentleman, at the far end of the hall shouts, \u201cRamon, No carne.\u201d The man obviously is a regular customer.
\nThe server apologizes, \u201cLo siento mucho, se\u00f1or, lo siento mucho.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s my fault too. I should have told him clearly. \u201cNo chicken, no eggs, either,\u201d I say.
\nThe burly gentleman shouts. \u201cRamon, No pollo, no huevos, por favor.\u201d
\nThe server disappears into the kitchen.
\nNow I see three Hispanic men wearing huge sombreros entering the restaurant. One carries a violin, the other a huge guitar and the third one has a drum. Smiling benevolently, they surround us and start singing. I don\u2019t understand a bit but this is royal treatment.
\nShanthi gets up and dances.
\nOne song is over and I think they will leave us in peace. No. They start another one. Soon this song is done. Then they start a third one. The violinist bends down close to my wife and passionately breaths part of the song and cigarette stink into her ear. It is probably a love tune.
\nUsha is scared.
\nThe husky friend shouts, \u201cSe\u00f1or, give dollars.\u201d
\nI place five dollars on the table. The singers stop singing and the violinist picks up the money.
\n\u201cGracias, gracias,\u201d he says. They move to a corner of the hall, sit and order three tequilas.
\nPeace at last.
\nWith a smile exuding confidence, the server comes back with plates of food and puts them on our table.
\n\u201cCamar\u00f3n, Se\u00f1or. No carne, no huevos, no Puerco,\u201d he announces.
\nThe Good Samaritan is ready. \u201cSe\u00f1or, they are shrimp. No meat, no eggs, no pork. Enjoy.\u201d
\nI can see these shrimp. I see their long mustaches. I am speechless.
\nShanthi has already taken a bite. \u201cGood,\u201d she says.
\nUsha studies her plate. \u201cOh, No,\u201d she shouts.
\nThe server rises hands up and murmurs, \u201cO, Dios, como les puedo ayudar?\u201d
\nJust then the bus driver enters.
\n\u201cMr. Rao, what\u2019s going on? The server is frustrated and wondering how he can help you.\u201d
\n\u201cWe are vegetarians and I\u2019m unable to convey that message. He is serving all kinds of non-veg dishes.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry. Come, we have to go back. A few passengers have to catch a plane.\u201d
\nWe get up. Shanthi is reluctant to leave her plate.
\n\u201cSe\u00f1or, d\u00f3lares para la Coke,\u201d the server reminds us. He thinks we will give him the slip.
\nObviously Coke is not included in the lunch deal. I place ten dollars on the table. That covers the tips as well.
\nWhen entering the bus, the driver stops our granddaughter.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s your name, cutie?\u201d
\n\u201cShanthi.\u201d
\n\u201cVery sweet name.\u201d
\nHe opens an icebox and picks up three small packets wrapped in paper.
\n\u201cShanthi, these are cheese sandwiches. My daughter packs a few of them daily for me. Here is one for you and these two are for your grandma and grandpa.\u201d
\nHe smiles and says, \u201cOn this tour, lunch is included.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Raghavendra Rao is a pediatrician at Sequoia Family Medical Center in Porterville, Calif. He has authored two books and contributes articles on health to <\/em>Porterville Recorder, a local newspaper.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My wife Usha, and I are on a short visit to the States. Our five-year-old granddaughter, Shanthi is with us. Yesterday we all enjoyed Sea World in San Diego. Anish, Shanthi\u2019s father calls me early in the morning from Los Angeles and suggests, \u201cDad, since you are in San Diego, take a half-day tour to…<\/p>\n