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Dear Gilberto,

I'll take your post point by point.

1) Is it slander to call the Pappas family Greek? I believe they are Greek. Are you suggesting otherwise?

2) Or are you suggesting I slander them by calling them the Greek mafia? I would suggest to you that SARCASM is involved in that language, kind sir! Since "mafia" tends to be associated with Italian crime families, it is self-evidently an IRONIC reference! But, is it true that the Pappas family has been fined by the government for their restaurant's exploitation of illegal labor? Yep, that's true -- not slanderous at all! So they have been fined by the government for organized crime committed by their restaurants, and you're telling ME not to slander THEM?! Please.

3) Since you are so convinced of my bias as an "American" (what is wrong with Americans? Perhaps YOU have the bias, sir, against Americans!), please answer me this -- how can I be so biased against the success of Greeks, yet be dating a first generation Greek girl (that's right, both her parents immigrated from the isles)? I know that her family has worked hard for their success -- and they have never been fined for exploiting illegal labor! I'm proud to know and love that family and wish them all the success in the world. The Pappas family? I could give a rat's ass.

4) If there is no market here for Greek food, what explains the success of Niko Niko's, and existence of Mykonos and Opa? There are 1.9 million people in this city as of the latest census, and Harris County is the most diverse county in the second largest state in the Union. If this market isn't ready for Greek food, kind sir, then there is no market for Greek food in the states. That's absurd!

5) Yes, I suppose my criticism of restaurants that exploit illegal labor and serve food that pales in comparison to other restaurants of their genre (as I suggested, Floyd's for Cajun and Spanish Village for Tex-Mex blow away anything the Pappas family serves, and for less money) is another example of typical US racist imperialism! You sure nailed me on that one! Or not. What in the hell are you smoking?! Oops, now I've slandered you by suggesting you make so little sense that you're on drugs! Sorry. Fucking American imperialist am I!

6)Where IS your restaurant?! I'll make damn sure I never set foot in it, and I'll do my best to spread the word that people who are opposed to the exploitation of illegal labor -- you know, racist slanderous American imperialist snobs like myself -- shouldn't go there either, now that you suggest it. However, I'd really rather decide where to eat based on FOOD. But your bias has now made that impossible. Geez.

Cheers <--- British Commonwealth imperialist greeting

Kevin

well the pappas are nice people, like most greeks, but i've been to their restaurants and while i wouldn't expect gangland slayings the food and service definitely qualify as organized crime

by the way, i'm not prejudiced, my mechanic is greek

as for oral sex - nobody enjoys it more than the australians

p.s. kevin can't to any of my restaurants either

I will try to answer the questions posed so far. As to why Houston can't support a Greek restaurant, I must respectfully disagree with my friend Gilberto. I feel that Houston in fact could support some very good Greek restaurants. They do support some Greek restaurants, just no good ones for some reason.

You want to come to my restaurant? In all seriousness, that is not possible at present. We have been temporarily shut down for some health code violation nonsense, but don't worry, we will be back. And it would be great if this character Kevin, Gilberto, etc. would come when we reopen (we need the business). In addition, we are looking to relocate. We will most likely reopen at a great spot down in the ship channel somewhere (probably near the Pusan Hang Bar). I think you will find that we serve the best Moldovan food in Houston. I will let you know when we are back in business.

-Stathis

Well, it looks that perhaps This Character Kevin (it gives me great pleasure that Kevin has in fact adopted his new title) and Gilberto seem to be finding a little common ground. Character Kevin, I must tell you, that Gilberto's experiences with the Pappa's family are not uncommon. They are quite generous when it comes to helping new immigrants to this country get started in the industry.

I must comment on your point that Papasito's, Papa-etc. were caught using illegal immigrant labor. I have found that illegal immigrant labor can be quite helpful when you are trying to make ends meet in a competitive market such as Houston's restaurant business.

I sound quite educated, but when I first arrived in this country, I was not very educated at all and struggled to make ends meet. I was an illegal immigrant here for some time, but fortunately I found some places to work where, shall we say, they didn't look too closely into my citizenship status. Those jobs, as low paying as they were, allowed me to survive for several years until I could gain citizenship (a very long story), better myself, get an education, and eventually go into the restaurant business here in Houston. So, it is a complicated issue, Character Kevin.

Unfortunately the City of Houston shares your view on the illegal immigrant workers, in addition to the ridiculously strict health codes imposed by the fascist City of Houston. Both are reasons my restaurant's doors are not currently open for business. (But this will change soon.) I must say, I do not regret giving other immigrants a chance here much like I had.

And why is it necessary for a person to serve food from their own ethnic background? My specialty, for instance, is Moldovan cruisine. A Greek-African-American serving Moldovan food? Yes. In part it is because my mother's family, though Greek, were part of the Greek population settled in Moldova. So the food is actually influenced greatly by Greek cruisine, but also uniquely its own.

I too have tried to get some stories out of Gilberto on his Angolan experiences, but food aside, he really does not like to get into the particulars. It must have been truly horrifying...

-Stathis