Amigos!

This one might be a 3-minute read. With your busy schedule of 3-martini lunches and executive board meetings to attend, can you at least skim the highlights?

GRACIAS, RICARDO
Before we get to Mateo’s ongoing DEFCON 5 shame alert–er, attempt to teach restaurant etiquette–get your tissues ready with a focus on the positive. Let’s all give special thanks the next time you see Rick Cranston out and about. Not only does he pack the Crocodile Bar and other establishments with his smooth voice, but he is a true gentleman and friend to locals and expats alike. A couple of months ago he donated his own money and time to make Crocodile Bar and Cabanas nicer than ever by purchasing several plants, moving rocks and also building a bamboo fence along the edge of the bar. Thanks for making La Manzanilla nice, Ricardo!

SAFETY ALERT
After 15 days of no one using the dreaded “I’m good” when first approached by a waiter, Crocodile Bar sadly reached a meltdown level when one “customer” arrived with food from home in a container. Another “customer” arrived with several Pacifico beers in cans. Which is worse? Showing up with beer from home or drinking from a can? Also, a friend once told me, “Taking your girlfriend to Mardi Gras is like showing up at a sack lunch at a fancy restaurant!” While you might not consider Crocodile Bar fancy, please let your aquaintences know it’s poor form to go to a restaurant with food from home. If you disagree, please comment below and put your name and hometown with your comments, so Mateo may discover the source of the plague and enlist the help of the Centers for Disease Control.

CHILE RELLENO RETURNS
Thanks to those of you who understand the concept of a restaurant and for all of you who have raved over Belen’s cooking and Mateo’s “2-star limited menu”. Many folks have inquired about the delicioso chile relleno and we listened! The chile relleno is back on the menu! Does that make it a “Not-as-limited 3-star menu”?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
People often debate the origins and solutions concerning rocks on the beach in La Manzanilla. Did anyone see rocks here in January 2019, 2007, 2003 or 1958 after LSU won the national championship? Despite the lack of Carmen’s school reaching the final–but, hey, at least the LSU quarterback won the Heisman Trophy–Crocodile Bar plans to have Michigan vs. Washington on the big screen starting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8. No sound while the live music plays and it might be in Spanish after that, but there’s no cover charge if you leave your sack dinner at home.

MUSIC SCHEDULE
5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Monday: Lynn and Billy
Tuesday: Chava
Wednesday: Eduardo
Thursday: Michel
Friday: Rick and Paul
Saturday: Christine

CROCODILE BAR HOURS
Monday-Saturday, 12 p.m-8 p.m.
Kitchen closes at 7:30 p.m.
On Sundays, our cafe friends present “Bar Calcetin”

RESERVATIONS
For Tuesdays, the latest one may make a reservation is 5 p.m.
For Thursdays and Fridays, the latest would be 5:30 p.m.
For Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, the latest would be 5:50 p.m.
Everyone in the party needs to respect the reservation time. You have a 9-minute grace period. After that, your table and/or seats will go to other folks who didn’t make a reservation.

HOW TO MAKE A RESERVATION
*Call Mateo and pray his phone works
*Send Mateo a text message on WhatsApp
*Arrive during bar hours, not to be confused with cafe hours, and ask for Mateo, Belen or Cristal
*Invite Mateo to a restaurant outside of Mexico and Louisiana where the customers show up with food from home
*Storm the United States Capitol, not in an attempt to overthrow the federal government, but in protest of folks showing up at restaurants with food from home
*Type in a 28-digit code to confirm your reservation--thank the Lord as that nightmare ends Friday

Mateo
3328179527, Mexican cell and WhatsApp