SQUID FRY 01.24.19: Go Cart…

Go Cart… Squid admits to a certain fondness for street meat – noshing halal kebabs from the kind of cart that is ubiquitous in Manhattan, for example, or sliding down a couple of asada vampiras from the La Paloma truck in Salinas. A few moments on the street with a tentaclefull of soul food can set the worst day right.

Speaking of worst, it’s why Squid and Squid’s bestie, Flapjack L. Octopus, have come up with a scheme to go into the street meat business on their own, in bucolic Carmel-by-the-Twee, err, Sea. Ever since the sleepy little burg that could was forced by a new state law to legalize street vendors, Squid and Flapjack have been contemplating a move into the food service industry. Carmel, Squid thinks, would be a great place to start.

Carmel Planning Director Marc Wiener loosed a list of those who were granted permits and lots of familiar names cropped up. Gaston Georis, for example, will peddle filled crepes. His son, Gabriel, will sell tamales and tacos. Faisal Nimri is going for falafel, gyros and hummus.

And former Carmel Mayor Steve Dallas? Well, he’s going to pimp hot dogs.

Squid loves a good wiener but was a little deflated to find out the ex-mayor was beating Squid at the meat game – Squid would have thought that Dallas would sell fluffernutters. No matter. Even if Squid and Flapjack didn’t get a permit, they’re going to launch a competing food cart and position it right in Dallas’ line of sight. It’s a hot dog cart, too, and they’ve decided to call it, “You’re the Wurst.”

Cat Lives Matter… Speaking of dogs, Squid’s long wondered why it was illegal for Squid to take Squid’s English bulldog Rosco P. Coltrane into parks in the city of Monterey, even if Squid had Rosco on a leash. Some draconian vestige in the city’s code, apparently.

So Squid was cheered to see on Jan. 15, Monterey City Council was set to finalize an amendment to the code to allow on-leash dogs in certain city parks – about time, amirite? But some residents rose up to say the amendment was discriminatory to other pets and their owners – what about cats, birds and rabbits? Or potbelly pigs? Why do dogs get all the love around here? This point was brought home in letters sent to the city on the topic, one of which asked the council to reconsider the ban on other pets, “since no legitimate reason is given to justify the discrimination towards other pet owners and their pets from being able to enjoy the same privileges given to dog owners.”

City Council approved the dog-friendly amendment, but also asked that the Parks and Rec Commission reconsider the ban on other pets. That means cats on a leash in Monterey might one day be a thing (and maybe octopus pals in a bucket?) and just thinking about that image makes Squid smile.