little bites: the guacamole cup

Growing up in San Antonio meant growing up part Mexican. Don't get me wrong, I remember the Alamo and the hard fought battle for Texas freedom but even Crockett must have been a little distracted when the smell of corn tortillas came wafting over those mission walls. If someone patented that smell as a perfume, I would buy it. Nothing smells better to me than an authentic mexican restaurant preparing masa in a fryer. By far and away, the best of the best is Teka Molino in San Antonio.

As a little child I felt that this restaurant was simply an extension of home. It was only a minute from our house and I can still remember being allowed in the kitchen to watch the machine in the back make the best tortillas in town. That was over 40 years ago. 

A decade ago on my yearly trip home, I walked in there, as I always do, to get a guacamole cup----a homemade cup made from fresh masa that has been deep fried to perfection and filled with creamy guacamole and a perfect shredding of lettuce. I have never found another restaurant in all the world that even has these little babies on their menu-believe me I've looked! 

To my surprise, standing behind the counter wearing that familiar white apron was the same man that used to let me visit the kitchen as a child. Here I stood at the age of  41 ordering a guacamole cup and feeling 8 years old again . 

Maybe it was the smell of corn tortillas fresh from the oven; maybe it was a feeling of nostalgia, maybe it was the anticipation of my pending annual guacamole cup..... Whatever it was, sentimentality overtook me and I decided to ask him for more than food.

At this time in my life I was wondering if the mundane things that seemed to dominate my every day existence were really making a difference in my world.  I said, "Sir, you don't know me but I know you. I've been coming in here to eat your tacos for decades. What is it that keeps you doing what you do, day in and day out for so many years?" He got a big grin on his face and said, "Where else am I going to get a free cup of coffee!"  

He will never know how much he helped me that day. He thinks I saw a man doing life in a little restaurant making the same food everyday for over 50 years. What I really saw was a role model of endurance doing mundane tasks with the right heart attitude.....that's a hero. I left that day with a guacamole cup and a side order of contentment.

(Mr. Chapa, the owner of Teka Molino who maintained his post behind the counter for over 50 years has passed away but they are still making great guacamole cups at Teka.  I do not live in San Antonio therefore I am on a constant quest to perfect them in my own home. As soon as I do, you can bet I will share them with you here in honor of Mr. Chapa! Maybe next visit they will let me into the kitchen.)