Tacos 2004 Viva Mexico, Inc.

We are most certainly missing something by being vegetarian and living in Sunset Park. The restaurants and eateries that make up the bulk of our neighborhood are generally considered off-limits to us for two reasons: 1) we don't speak Spanish very well, and 2) we don't eat meat. So even if these very authentic places offered up some delicious vegetarian chili rellenos or something, I wouldn't trust myself to figure that out given my limited Spanish skills. Also, as a rule of thumb, "authentic Mexican/Peruvian/Ecuadorian" cuisine isn't by rule veg-friendly. So, what I imagine is that we are really adrift in a sea of delicious things that we can't eat. I had this notion of getting my friend Tom (who speaks Spanish) and maybe Jennie (enjoys adventurous food) to go on a tour of my neighborhood with me, tasting all the tacos and empanadas and tamales and telling me about them. But I totally got lazy. Perhaps I can still do this, but in the meantime I thought I'd show you two of my favorite places to pass.

First off, El Tesoro Ecuatoriano. The reason we like this place is fairly straightforward:

Giant shark!

Every time we pass it, this conversation happens:

J: I would like to own that shark.
Liz: What would you do with a giant shark?
J: What wouldn't I do with it!
Liz: No, really.
J: I'd put it in the basement.
Liz: Our "theoretical" basement? What would it do there?
J: Be cool. It's a giant fiberglass shark!

and so on. But my all-time favorite place, makes the grade because of its name. I really couldn't possibly think of a longer or more awkward--and yet surprisingly clear--name for a restaurant, but here it is:

Yes, that's right: Tacos 2004 Viva Mexico Inc. Restaurant.

Someday, I will make one of my friends eat there so I can get the full experience and find out if the 2004 tacos live up to their name.