El Proyecto: Year 1

Another school year is in the books.

This was the first year for my big extra credit project, and I think for the first year, it was successful.  Some tweaking and adjustments will need to be made, but I feel as if the overall goal was achieved: To have my students try foods that are native to Hispanic/Latino culture.

I did have to make a few compromises - not too many, but a few.  I'm not happy about that, and that is definitely one of the adjustments that will be made for next year - no compromises.

Here are the stats on which restaurants were visited:

Gran Agave (The Waterfront): 24 visits

La Hacienda (Century III Mall): 13 visits*

Emiliano's (multiple locations): 7

Mad Mex (multiple locations): 7

Smoke BBQ Taqueria (Homestead): 5

Patron (multiple locations): 3

Antojitos (McKeesport): 1

Mallorca (South Side): 1

Don Pablo's (Monroeville): 1

El Campesino (multiple locations): 1

And the one that I'm not proud of - Chipotle: 1

* - La Hacienda closed due to "kitchen problems" at the end of April. 

What were the determining factors for which restaurant each student visited?  The number 1 factor was location - the closer the restaurant was to school, the more frequently it was visited.  Gran Agave is less than 10 minutes from our school, and it is located in the most popular shopping complex in our area, so it was far more convenient to go there.  La Hacienda was located in Century III Mall, which sits at the other end of the borough.

Students were devastated when La Hacienda closed.  I wasn't.  I never ate there myself, which goes to show how much of a priority it was for me to get there.

Smoke BBQ Taqueria is also in Homestead, a stone's-throw away from the school, but 2 factors kept it from creeping into the top 3: Location (not located IN The Waterfront, but on 8th Ave., with metered parking and not far from a high-crime area) and Price (their prices are far higher than Gran Agave's for what you get - although I argue that the QUALITY of the food is far, FAR better). 

Having multiple locations also helped determine where a student went to eat.  I had students visit the Emiliano's in the South Side, as well as the one in the North Hills - it just depended on which relatives they visited, or which direction they were headed in at the time.  Some students visited the Mad Mex in Shadyside, while others ate at the Oakland location.

That "multiple location" thing also helps with the popularity of the chain itself - which is why Mad Mex seems to always win "Best Mexican Restaurant" in Pittsburgh.  I have my own opinions.

Of course, my project was met with some criticism - despite it being "extra credit".  One of the most difficult aspects of teaching a foreign language in Pittsburgh is having the students connect with the culture in their own community - Latinos exist in Pittsburgh, but because so many other ethnic groups are dominant in the area, their culture here is often overlooked.  I wanted my students to discover the culture that exists - some did, some did not...some did not try.

Given the $1664.69 that was spent by my students and their families at these restaurants this year, I'm happy with those who gave it a shot - those who tried something new or different.

2011-12 School Year Receipt Collection

I would love to make this project a requirement, especially since "Communities" is a national foreign language standard, but I cannot because A.) it requires money, and B.) it requires travel.  

On the money end, my argument is that everyone has to eat - why not spend your money by challenging your normal eating habits?  The worst thing that you may discover is that you do not like a certain food - but the foods of the entire culture do not have to be judged on one meal alone.  Next time, try something different.  

On the travel end, I don't have much of an argument.  Most of my students do not have their driver's licenses yet, and even if they do, their parents sometimes - sometimes - regulate when and where they drive.  Challenging adults to change their habits is a challenge in itself; while I am a firm believer that you CAN "teach an old dog new tricks", not everyone is so liberal.

The students themselves made it clear that their eating habits were challenged as a result of this project - an accomplishment that makes me very proud of what this project has done for them:

 "I would definitely go back to Emiliano's.  I never expected to really enjoy this food because I really only eat tacos once in awhile, no other type of Mexican or Spanish food.  This experience made me want to experiment with new foods." - Kevin G.

"Gran Agave has to be one of my favorite restaurants.  I love Mexican food...it is starting to get really busy down there because of their very delicious foods." - Zach F.

"...there were people of Latin descent working there [at Gran Agave].  They were all speaking Spanish to each other, and I actually understood a little bit of what they were saying." - Tyler S.

"...Antojitos had the most appetizing foods I ever had in Pittsburgh.  This trip made me consider going back again real soon." - Cato R. (moved to Pittsburgh from Michigan last year)

"I would go back for the foods [at Smoke BBQ Taqueria] as well as I like the restaurant style.  It is very comfortable, feels like you're in your house - it's just very warm and inviting." - Breela D.

"My [fajitas] arrived to my table very quickly and was hot and steaming...it had a lot of different spices and was something I had never tried before...I would definitely come back [to Patron] because I enjoyed the food and the service was wondeful." - Sade S.

"...everything was delicious...I would go back [to Smoke BBQ Taqueria] again to try their other things like the chili and their Frito dipper things.  I now know why [Miss Cibulka goes] there all the time and hope to go back next weekend." - Nate R.

A few pictures students took at the restaurants (this is not all of them, and this part was optional)

 Hasta el 29 de agosto, mis estudiantes.  Buen provecho.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for this project, please comment below or email me at senoritacibulka@gmail.com.

...Project Update: 1st Nine Weeks

Do my students really go to these restaurants that I recommend?

The answer: Yes.  Some go just because they want/need extra credit, but others go because they like the idea of trying something new.  

For some, it's both.

In the first quarter of the 2011-12 school year, here are the restaurants that were visited, along with some quotes directly from the reports that the students wrote (I only used initials to refer to the students, for privacy reasons):

La Hacienda (West Mifflin): 5 Visits

Not surprisingly, the only Mexican restaurant in the school district got the most visits.  Here is what some students had to say:

"I would recommend this restaurant to everyone because the food is really good, they give you a lot, and it is inexpensive." - C.S.

"...I looked through the menu and saw unfamiliar foods, so I asked my waiter about them...I wasn't shocked about my [taco salad] - I should have went for something different." - A.P.

Emiliano's (South Side/North Hills): 3 Visits

"Overall, I enjoyed Emiliano's!  I liked it a lot because it was very different from the usual restaurants I go to...I would definitely go back to this restaurant because I liked how nice all of the workers were, the inside of the restaurant was very unique, and most importantly, I thought the food was great!...I think I will being to try more Mexican foods because of my experience here." - C.V.

"...this was a different experience of eating at a [Hispanic] restaurant, rather than Eat 'N Park." - D.B.

"I had never heard of the restaurant before, but my aunt suggested it...the salsa was different than any kind I have ever had.  It was a little spicier than I am used to, but it was still very good...I would most definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody that likes Mexican food." - R.K.

Gran Agave (Homestead): 2 Visits

"I would definitely want to go back.  The service, scenery, and food were excellent.  That was the first authentic restaurant that I have been to...After trying the chalupa and enchilada, I would definitely want to have some more." - Z.F.

"In all, the food was good, well-priced, and had a different taste." - R.A.

Mad Mex (Shadyside/Oakland): 2 Visits

"The restaurant itself was so cute!  It had interesting paintings on the wall that reminded me of the Day of the Dead.  There was also Spanish written on them, which we attempted to translate....Since I am used to the taco meat from Giant Eagle, this definitely was a delicious change..." S.A.

Patron (Monroeville): 1 Visit

"[My meal] was served on a platter and looked very delicious - I couldn't wait to dig in...I was very pleased with my meal.  To drink I had a Mexican pop that I never had before.  It was something different and tasted like a flavored fruit punch...I enjoyed the food and the service was wonderful." - S.S.

Mallorca (South Side): 1 Visit

"I chose to go with my mom for lunch because we both wanted to try something new...When I was looking at the menu, I had no idea what to get because I wanted to try something new...I asked our waiter what was the most authentic thing on the sandwich portion on the menu...I got the Sandwich de Jamon Serrano, Manchengo, y Berros...I really enjoyed this meal at Mallorca.  It was very different and something new that I never tried before.  There is always a first time for everything." - P.F.

Smoke BBQ & Taqueria: 1 Visit

"I liked both the Agua Fresca and the chicken tacos very much.  I liked the Agua Fresca because it tasted like pure strawberry juice...I didn't think I would like the chicken tacos, but they were surprisingly really good...I would go back to Smoke because the food was awesome, especially since I don't like Mexican and Spanish food." - M.E.

I am hoping that more students try restaurants, whether they need to or not.  Most of the complaints that I have gotten are that places are too far (most of my students don't drive) or that they don't have money to go.  I keep telling them - you've got to eat!  Why not kill two birds with one stone?  (Pardon the cliche).  

I am always open to feedback, good or bad (but respectful), so please feel free to comment!  

A big thanks to my students and the restaurants that have been so supportive of my project!