For Mike and his Young Chef – Thanks For Making My Day.
I made one of my rare trips into Boquete today, to pick up mail, go to the bank, etc., etc. I usually cook our main meal of the day at lunchtime, but prior to leaving our home I asked my husband if he wanted me to bring him something rather than for me to start to cook at around midday when I returned. His answer was “a hamburger” (a treat I don’t allow him too often!!). Now I know this was “kinda gonna” be difficult, seems most restaurants in Boquete are closed on Monday, but as I drove by The Fish House on Main Street at 10 am, I noticed the door to Mike’s Global Grill was open.
My chores in Boquete were completed faster than I thought so a little before 10:45 am I parked at Mike’s. Mike greeted me as I entered and said “Sorry, we don’t open until 11, I’m just off to the market, but if you want to take a seat, help yourself, or you can go to my second favorite place, Sugar and Spice, just across the street – they bake their own bread, it’s great”. I was in shock; first of all he asked if I wanted to wait, second he recommended another location where I could grab a bite to eat. I told him I would wait, I just wanted a couple of burgers to go – his response was “Oh, I think we can handle that early”. He called the young man from the kitchen and explained what I wanted. I pushed my food request even further and asked “Con papas fritas?”, the young man nodded and asked “hamburguesas con queso”, I said just on one – then came a choice of cheeses …….. Once the order was understood Mike disappeared to the market, returning a few minutes later laughing “Now I have the buns for your hamburgers” -- I told him if the hamburgers were good I wasn’t particular about having buns to go along with them!! We both laughed.
A few minutes later he reappeared and we had a wonderful conversation while the burgers and fries were prepared. I cannot remember the last time I met with such an accommodating host whose conversation was both entertaining and informative.
I am not a Boquete regular but I have been to restaurants where the owner has been present. Mostly I go for lunch, mainly as a single female, face unknown in Boquete. I have received no enquiries as to how the food was or if I was enjoying it, while couples or parties of three have been graced with “The Presence” and a conversation about the food, their health etc. I don’t feel the need for any bowing and scraping, in fact, I would rather do without that over a meal, but a polite enquiry would always be welcomed. Out of the one dozen times in the last 12 months that I have visited restaurants in Boquete, not once has a proprietor deigned to inquire of this lone female diner of unknown habitat location, how my lunch was.
Mike’s offer of a seat for 15 or 20 minutes and consideration by offering the alternate choice of Sugar and Spice were enough to make me stay – even if I had seen nothing more of him and enjoyed our subsequent conversation.
I make it to Boquete maybe once a month at the most, during the morning hours – we don’t drive there to eat of an evening – the road is horrendous and our eyes even worse during darkness. Mike had no idea when, or even if I will ever return, but I will – for two reasons – the man and his chef went out of their way to accommodate me – and the burgers were absolutely delicious. And no, I didn’t ask for jubilado discount, I figured the service and treatment I received, especially when you consider I arrived “outside of business hours” and inconvenienced them from the start, far outweighed any discount, however large, I was given. After his amenability I would never even consider asking him for a pensionado discount and robbing the man of the little profit he makes on food.
Mike, you have a loyal customer – one of these days I want to sit and enjoy a full meal (Asian), but in the meantime, definitely for a “couple of burgers and fries to go” once a month.
Thanks to You and Your Chef for Making My Day.
Replies
Mike's Global Grill is not a bad place. I went there in April for the first time and attempted to use my jubilado discount. Since I have a cédula (solvencia económica propia) and couldn't show them a pensionado card (whatever that is) it threw them for a loop. I tried to explain to Mike that I was entitled to the discount but he was turned off by my Spanish and by the fact that I was requesting my legal discount. He said he too has the "pensionado visa" and is entitled to the discount but never uses it --with the implication that those who do are subhuman and depriving him of his livelihood. "It just takes money out of my pocket". He stalked off and I then had to explain to his Panamanian employee (in Spanish) how the law worked; that the discount is allowed to all legal permanent residents over age 60 whether they have a pensionado card or not. I finally got my cuenta with the discount applied but it was a huge struggle.
I returned the following month but Mike was in a foul mood. I was not going to try to demand my legal discount. He was talking angrily to an employee on his cell phone who apparently had decided he didn't want to show up for work anymore. Mike heaved the cell phone at full force from one end of the bar to the other. It was quite entertaining. The shock was when he retrieved it a few moments later and began using it again. It still worked! That's the brand I want to buy! He heaved it against the floor at full force and it still worked! He then stalked up and down behind the bar cursing and muttering about the trials and tribulations of doing business in Panama. I fully concurred. It is obvious he is having a struggle with his business with all of the juega vivo and the national lack of work ethic with which he must contend. But it was a tasty hamburger and fries. Even without my discount. The entertainment he provided well offset the discount. I wish him well. It is not easy here in Panama in spite of the rose tinted propaganda publications that would have you believe otherwise.
Thanks Heidi for your response. I hope to meet you on my next visit. Bonnie whenever I am in Boquete and not just “passing through” I will contact you. See you at the next Flea Market!! Fran – first priority for a reunion!!
Bob, Maybe you should try Mike’s again!! I don’t know how long you have lived here, but sometimes it is difficult to curb frustration. After 10 years here, I often go down to the quebrada on our property and just vent, scream and generally behave like an idiot. Life can be frustrating here, and if, as you say you speak Spanish, then I am sure you make adjustments for those of us who do not speak as well as you.
Personally I rarely ask for a jubilado discount (FYI a cedula is the form of ID for Panamanians – are you a Panamanian, if not you have a Pensionado Visa), unless I go to one of the “upscale restaurants” that serve small portions of “gourmet” dishes at exorbitant prices. Locally owned restaurants are struggling to survive – do you ask for a discount at El Sabroson?? Is your income so tight that you have to insist on a Jubilado discount?? If so, I have a great recipe for Arroz con Pollo which you can make at home and which will last you several days.
Mike, if you have a land line, I have a great wireless phone, never used, with message center, I will gladly give it to you, let me know before I sell it at the next flea market. Hate to think of your cell taking such abuse!! I look forward to seeing you soon and to meeting Heidi – if I come early can I still get two hamburgers to go, with fries, courtesy of the wonderful amenability of your young chef -- plus entertaining conversation from Mein Host!!
Thank you Marion for your kind words. I was shopping in David and Michael told me that I missed meeting a delightful woman from Scotland. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit and meal. Even though our opening time is listed as 11am, we often have folks stop in before then to use the computers or wifi, watch a game on the TV, have a coffee or Bloody Mary or just hang out which we don't mind at all. If we can, we can also serve food if our cook has everything ready to go.
We also have many others visiting who are solo, male and female, and we want our place to be a comfortable environment for all who come in. You can always find good conversation here with our regulars and the many travelers who come through here. You're always welcome to come just hang out with us, read a magazine, check email, relax by the creek.
Thanks again and I look forward to meeting you on your next visit to Boquete!
Heidi
Hey, don't dine alone. Give me a call when you're going to be in Boquete!
As Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold sang in Gigi "Ah Yes, I Remember It Well"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sISWPzEqHLQ
-- but then again I am old, really old -- so your supposition is correct -- it WAS me who was told "Git yet hands off my buns".
THE MYSTERY DINER STRIKES!!
Veni Vidi Vici
Thanks for such a nice post..and so well written too.
I enjoyed it.
Hope to bump into you on one of your trips here.
1+
Such wonderful writing and a welcome change of pace!!!!!!!!
Thanks Erin, especially for the "well written", must be my Scottish education though I often mix up "I thought it was" with "Ay thocked et wiz". A little long winded but I like to give praise where praise is due. Also hope to meet you one day -- warning, I'm not as pretty as my avatar, hairy yes, but much older and not as cute!! Figured we could all use a dose of "positive post" about every day happenings.