UPDATED: Laurenzo Steps in It
Roland Laurenzo, son of famed restauranteur Mama Ninfa Laurenzo and owner of Houston’s popular El Tiempo cantinas, really stepped in his refried beans yesterday. His Navigation Blvd. Facebook page posted this photo of Jeff Sessions with Domenic Laurenzo (Roland’s son) taken while Sessions was having dinner there:
To make matters worse, they cross posted the photo on their other locations’ social media pages. Predictably, the social media world erupted in protest. Apparently unprepared for the firestorm, Laurenzo (or his employees) first tried to quell it by deleting negative comments, but finally gave up and simply deleted the original posts. By the time they did that, though, the post had gone viral, but not in a good way. Still trying to make this all go away, Laurenzo posted this statement last night:
It didn’t work. At the time of this post, there have been 509 comments, virtually all pretty ugly. Many have been deleted.
So, the question is this: How could Laurenzo be so stupid? I’m not talking about serving Sessions his dinner, I’m talking about Laurenzo bragging about it on Facebook where he knows that thousands of customers and social media users would see it. The decision to serve a shitbag like Sessions is his decision. Personally, I couldn’t do it, but a business owner runs his own business, right? The fact that Jeff Sessions stands against common decency, common sense, humanity, diversity, justice, equality, and honesty is well documented. Since El Tiempo is a Mexican restaurant whose staff is 100% Latino and whose customers are as diverse as Houston itself, you would think that Laurenzo would never dream of saying to the world that he was “honored” to serve him even adding a little little American flag emoji as the crowning blow.
In his flurry of excuses/explanations, Laurenzo says he was only told by the Secret Service that a “government official” was coming to dinner, and didn’t know it was Sessions until he walked through the door. He’s also said that the braggadocios Facebook post was made by an employee and had not been approved. Those explanations don’t pass the straight-face test. First, just how many people NOT a Trump official/family have Secret Service protection? Answer: none, except past presidents. Second, it appears that Laurenzo himself is a Trumpist. How do we suspect that? In October of 2016, Laurenzo approved a pro-Trump rally at the Navigation El Tiempo location. A pro-Trump music video was produced at the same location on the same day. Third, I’ve eaten at El Tiempo restaurants all over Houston for years. I’ve NEVER seen either Roland Laurenzo or his son Domenic at any location where I’ve eaten. That’s not to say that they don’t ever visit his restaurants, but what are the chances that he or Domenic just happened to be at the precise location in a personalized chef jacket at the precise time Sessions showed up for a photo op? Answer: not likely. Let’s face it…Sessions was doing some reputation polishing (See: Trump’s taco bowl moment) and arranged a few show ups in Houston after his speech announcing a crackdown on violent crime, which happens to be at a 40 year low. Laurenzo gave an assist. As a side note, Sessions had breakfast at La Mexicana yesterday morning, but, unlike Laurenzo, the Treviño family wisely kept their mouths shut about it, especially on Facebook.
What’s happening to Laurenzo is what often happens to people who are tone deaf (like Trumpists) and who live in an echo chamber. When people live in that echo chamber, they are often caught flat footed when normal people are violently repulsed by something they do or say. I’m sure that Laurenzo was all starry-eyed that Sessions came to dinner and then had to brag about it on social media. The easily predicted backlash was 100% self inflicted, and will likely have long lasting effects on Laurenzo and his business. It’s a shame, but he should have seen that coming.
As for me, I’m certainly going to miss the Dos Lunch special along with my Tecate. Dammit.
UPDATE: Laurenzo threw in the towel yesterday and shut down all of El Tiempo’s social media accounts. Was he humble and apologetic? Of course not. He’s a Trumpist. In several interviews, Laurenzo has called the brouhaha “a big misunderstanding” and that “we never intended to offend anyone.” He also again threw a nameless employee under the bus for the original post. Yesterday, explaining why he shut down El Tiempo’s social media pages, he said, “People are insulting us in such a dramatic fashion, and we feel like we don’t deserve it. At least temporarily I had it taken down because I don’t want to be insulted, my children to be insulted, my family to be insulted.” Well, I’m pretty insulted that the owner of my formerly favorite TexMex restaurant openly supports easily the worst president in US history and his merry band of criminals tearing my country apart as fast as they can. If he’s so worried about being insulted, I’m wondering if he’s as insulted by the fact that 360 children remain locked up in detention centers after their parents were deported without them. I think not. He’s worried about his own family and his own business. Besides – these newly orphaned kids will probably make good dishwashers and waiters for him, right?
There is a place for anger, and THIS is it.
Good, another reason to stop going to El Tiempo, in addition to the loud noise in the restaurant and the tasteless guacamole.
1Amen! There’s always a time to vote with your pocketbook! I feel sorry for his employees but I don’t give money to racists. Grab your wallet that’s the only thing these venal jerks understand.
2It’s a head shaking moment like seeing an African American or gays/women of any ethnicity at a Trump rally. You just have to wonder how they can do it.
3El Jefe, please continue to enjoy your “Dos Lunch special along with my Tecate,” unless you know for a fact that the Laurenzo family follows politics. BTW that picture appears photo shopped. The son appears to be an adult past 40 years of age, yet appears shorter than Jefferson Sessions. Trick photography or Sessions was standing on a stack of platters. As for paying “homage” to an Attorney General of the United States, that’s not necessarily suspect if the Laurenzo family members are veterans who were trained to salute the uniform or the office, not the ‘man.’
Then again, if that photo is replicated, framed and displayed in all of their franchises, find a place that serves a good chimichanga and iced tea. 😀
4Ouch!!! There are so many people on both sides of the field that have real gripes with Sessions and that includes the Golden Gibbon. You would have to experience a momentary spate of insanity to do what this restraunteer did. Has he ever considered what someone could do by getting the local government to pull his business license?
5Plenty of other good Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston. And Mama Ninfa’s green sauce recipe has been available on line for years and years. Adios, Laurenzo.
6Thank you, El Jefe! I was just fixing to write about that. I eat at the El Tiempo’s on Navigation all the time. My kids live close by and they eat there so often that they have their own waiter.
It’s a damn shame. None of us will return but we will let them know why.
Laurenzo’s first “apology” blamed us for not understanding him. That didn’t work so they tried to scrap it, too.
I suggest you try Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe on Airline – they have shrimp in a white wine sauce that is outstanding. Tampico Seafood (also on Airline) let’s you pick the fresh catch of the day and they’ll cook it like you like it. The seafood parrillada makes a spectacular presentation and amazing flavor.
There’s too many Mexican restaurants in Houston to jack with your customers.
7Serious question: Facebook idiocy aside, how likely is it that the restaurant owners really did not know who’s coming?
The reason I ask is because we’re regulars at La Mex, and are now trying to decide whether that will remain the case.
8@AK Lynne
I also have a hard time dealing with non-whites who turn out to be Trump fans. In the past it was Bush and Reagan.
The only thing I can figure is this: many people don’t pay much attention to what they think of as “politics” and their knowledge of it is extremely superficial. Our nation is stable enough that from such a person’s perspective which side wins an election has little more consequence as to which side wins a Super Bowl. Their preference will be based on personality not policy. It will also be largely controlled by their desire to be part of some group close to them.
Laurenzo is clearly such a creature. He would have absolutely and utterly no idea what the program is behind the lofty titles and celebrity.
Maybe this reaction will be his wake up call. Let’s hope so, but it is too possibly that he will just be confused into cementing his superficial position but just do it in stealth.
9The only thing comparably as bad, as stupid, as self destructive as this guy did would be for one of Public Broadcasting’s cooking shows to have invited Sessions to a taping, or worse yet, a live broadcast.
Having given this some consideration, I would give a tooth to have that happen on a couple of those shows, just to get them off the TV.
10It might have been safer to tell the secret service that they would not serve Sessions and to go somewhere else to dine.
11Ninfa, herownself, was a Republican. She was active in Republican politics, in August 1988, Mrs. Laurenzo gave a speech seconding George Bush’s nomination for president at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
12Sallie and I had our first date at 1308. And we have spent virtually every Sunday night there for the five years we have been together. We will never go back.
13My Congresswoman, Ms. Stefanik invited Trump to visit Fort Drum,
14I don’t think she realizes how unpopular he is up here.
I hope there was a lot of Latino spit in that food.
15Thanks. Good to know. The owner of another Mexican chain, Gringo’s loves Dan Patrick. At the least one on Cypresswood, if they are franchised.
My heart will be broken if Teotihuacan supports Republicans.
16“I’ve NEVER seen either Roland Laurenzo or his son Domenic at any location where I’ve eaten. That’s not to say that they don’t ever visit his restaurants, but what are the chances that he or Domenic just happened to be at the precise location in a personalized chef jacket at the precise time Sessions showed up for a photo op? ”
17Well, actually pretty good I’d say. If he got wind of the fact that a federal big-wig was arriving with a security contingent, he might very well have hightailed it there hoping for a photo-op.
El Jefe is right. THIS is a time for anger. What this is NOT, is a
18case of political naivete for Roland Laurenzo’s part. It is pretty
well known, at least among those that I know who are politically engaged, that some Laurenzo family members are of a Republican bent. That, per se, has not disuaded me in the past from acceding to friend’s and family requests to have a meal at Ninfa’s or El Tiempo (though, with some unease). Nevermore. This is different. This can’t be mitigated. These people (Trump, Sessions, et al) are not merely our Republican adversaries. They are the enemy of liberal democracy, which I believe is at some peril. I, for one, will not aid and abet that enemy in even the smallest way. And, as JJ said, there are many good Mexican restaurants in Houston (BTW, I’m told that The Original Ninfa’s On Navigation is no longer a Lauenzo family property).
Here’s how to run a restaurant: The Crab Cooker in Newport Beach CA (motto: “Eat Lots A Fish”) was contacted for a reservation for President Nixon and his party. The Crab Cooker didn’t take reservations. Everybody waited in long line which often went out the door and partway down the block. The owner told them that Nixon could wait in line just like anybody else.
Nixon went somewhere else.
For years after, slipstream ate at the Crab Cooker whenever he was in Newport Beach.
19Doesn’t anyone else besides me find it way odd that the keebler elf visited two Mexican restaurants the same day? And both of them in, gasp, gay boho Montrose?!! (eyebrows arched) Isn’t that just poking the wasp’s nest? Yeah, secret service keeping an eye on everyone and all that, but he’s pretty stupid to risk having his food seriously messed with. Or maybe he was hoping to round up some “illegals” on his own.
20Too bad about La Mexicana, I kinda like them. But I work real close to the El Tiempo on Montrose @ West Clay and my colleagues and I have mostly quit going there, too expensive and not at all tasty. From what I can tell they’re mostly patronized for the strong margaritas. As other have pointed out, there are plenty of other much better Mexican and Tex-Mex places in Montrose.
And here’s another Nixon moment — which somehow seems rather relevant these days.
https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/1973/09/17
21If a restaurant got a call that a federal official was coming to eat, could they outright refuse? Would that risk their license? Probably with these a$$holes.
22slipstream, that’s a favorite Doonesbury cartoon, but I was surprised to see it dated September 1973. It wasn’t until nearly a year later that we found out he really had said, in effect, “Well, John, how’s the cover-up going?”
23Debbo, I haven’t seen any lately, but some restaurants and diners used to post signs that said, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.” I hope that wasn’t a racist claim, but if not, they could refuse service to Sessions. Or maybe claim it would disrupt business.
24Debbo, good question. We don’t want to be like that Colorado baker. The best case scenario is the one described by slipstream @19 – let them wait and no special treatment. Otherwise local ordinances prevail unless unconstitutional. Interesting; in Dee Cee restaurants can refuse service to White Nationalists, but not Republicans as a group. https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/01/13/its-okay-for-dc-restaurants-to-turn-away-white-nationalists/
That disruptive clause would certainly “work” for Dotard45 maladministration clowns dragging an SS detail with them.
25They opened a restaurant in San Antonio in the early ‘80’s. It failed. Nuff said. I don’t live in Houston, but I bet I could find half a dozen better Mexican restaurants in Houston in an afternoon.
26Mama Ninfa’s green sauce
It’s probably tasty.
But I just cannot love avocados blenderized with sour cream.
It’s like my mom’s canned peaches with cottage cheese: two things that are good by themselves made less appealing overall by combining them.
27I think that serving Sessions, though it might have ruffled some feathers with his patrons and staff, would have been fine, especially given the family’s political bent. Outrageous as we find this misbegotten administration, they do have a right to appear in public and be served, at the business’s discretion. And a restaurant whose owners have GOP political connections would be a safe choice. Especially given Texas’ reputation for being very red, which can be somewhat misleading.
But it should have been done discreetly – a nice private room, no fanfare. The mistake was the photo and post. There’s no excuse for anyone in Texas not knowing what happened with those kids at the border, and the part Jeff Sessions has played.
28Posting that photo and its fawning caption wasn’t just an insult to many customers. It was so stupid that the guy deserves to lose them. Clueless doesn’t begin to cover it. Laurencio obviously doesn’t know his own customer base very well. If the business survives, he’ll be luckier than he deserves.
In addition to all the other good points, this last one (below) nails it.
Never found any Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston that compared with Valley or other South Texas ones :] .
I’ve eaten in Tex-Mex restaurants from SPI to Del Rio to Amarillo to STL to Austin to Galveston to Corpus and back the RGV (yeah, used to travel a lot; and real Mex ones in parts of Mex, even had a few CA favorites).
Almost every one of them, above a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ family place, usually depended on a labor force made up largely of illegals (as did Chinese ones).
In many of these places, at least along the border, the Border Patrol officers were steady customers. Of course that was in the ‘old days’, when some of the BP guys themselves, their wives anyway, had maids at home.
Things in the Valley were quite different back then, nearly every business used a significant number of illegals, especially agriculture, restaurants, auto shops, and other non-tier 1 labor intensive places. It was an accepted practice, La Migra concentrated on the illegals trying to get out of the Valley. One reason why the Valley has about quadrupled in population in forty years or so.
I think that we’ve eaten at one of those El Tiempo’s, on Westheimer, think it was the same one that the W Bush girls went to.
Yes indeed, most of his type have made fortunes off of these worker’s backs and hands, and why the Republican screaming about ‘immigration’ going back decades is hyper-hypocritical. They’ve said one thing (for the benefit of their stone-ignorant ‘base’) and done the opposite the whole time.:
“Besides – these newly orphaned kids will probably make good dishwashers and waiters for him, right?”
29Sandridge – BINGO! The snacilbupeR aka the greedy do not want comprehensive immigration reform(s). That has been painfully apparent since Raygun granted amnesty with no subsequent reforms. They love the issue as a means of scapegoating, while having zero intentions of tackling the root of the problem, those who exploit labor.
30Is this the same restaurant group that had Ninfa’s restaurant in Houston? I remember visiting in the 1980’s and it was outstanding food, particularly the chopped-onion and jalapeno appetizer.
31Jane & PKM,
I remember St. Ronnie’s ‘amnesty’ quite well.
One of the main processing centers was in Harlingen, on Ed Carey between the expressway and 77 Sunshine Strip (not far down from Valley Baptist Hospital). The flood of amnesty seekers started out pretty heavy then increased to unimaginable levels, they even moved the office down to a much bigger place (and hired lots of people to do intake).
You couldn’t hardly drive down Ed Carey, people were everywhere, waiting in lines, camping out all over. There were a couple of motels around, even down in San Benito, that were just choked with people (way over cap). It was like a gold rush boom.
It was crazy all that summer (IIRC, it took about 6 months to prepare for implementation after Raygun signed it in Nov 86).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Reform_and_Control_Act_of_1986
32joel hanes, canned peaches with cottage cheese on iceberg lettuce was my late mom’s daily lunch. Had to watch her weight, all 98 pounds of it! As for the meat of this post, I know that minority Rethugs exist. I just can’t wrap my head around the why except for a greater love of money than mankind.
33That was not a good photo. My late husband once had a licensed wedding photography business. He quit after enduring one way too many crazy weddings. The one that did him in was held at a way too expensive country club where the ushers at the wedding inflated condoms and turned them loose. As for Sessions, he is just about falling on the other guy who really does seem to be supporting him. I bet Sessions was actually standing on top of a narrow border of stone around a planting bed. As for any ethnic group supporting a racist based administration or party, I simply cannot fathom it!
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