REAL MEN DON'T EAT PAPUSAS This Picture from City Search Photog Paula Ghergia ELVIS BEFORE EATING PAPUSA LAS AMERICAS a central american restaurant Review by JIM TRAVELER

“Have a Papusa,” Jody said.

Little did Bernard P. Jellico know his life would never again be the same. Jody had uttered those words many times before to the raft of people she led, pushed, drug through the doors of Las Americas, the small Mexican restaurant at 4715 Nolensville Road in Nashville, TN; but never with such dire consequences

Among the guests on Jody’s list are such notables as Michele, Stacee, Lana, David, Allen (Allen once ate a snake in Malaysia that was skinned and cooked right at his table, but Allen never ate a Papusa), some young kid from Ecuador who thought he had died and gone to heaven, a weight lifter, and two nerds from North Carolina.

Las Americas takes up 75% of a small strip center and consists or two parts, the restaurant, and the International Market. The guy that runs the place is one smart businessman. He only has one cash register and runs it himself.

The food is tasty, well prepared, the service is fast and friendly,..... I think.... I never understood a word our server uttered but she smiled. The prices are reasonable and the servings are large so what is the problem with Bernard P. Jellico and his $1.69 Papusa. Let him tell you in his own words, his words are not always real words but most Southerners know of what he speaks.

"The gal, Jody, is really nice and she is pretty also and I like her a lot (Mrs. Jellico is less fond of her than I am) but she likes those God-awful Pupupasas, Poopassess, (I can't pronounce them so how am I expected to spell them correctly): you know of what I speaking. Big glob of greasy dough stuffed with an inedible and covered with slaw and other stuff. Makes me sick just to watch her eat that garbage.

Tell me, please: is there any way to make those things edible by human men? The cook claims to be a Cuban, the waitresses are from Ecuador and the owner is a Mexican. He may be a food terrorist or maybe he owns a toilet tissue company. Whatever, for $1.69 you can get a three day gas attack and Montezuma’s revenge with a vengeance. Myrtle, that is Mrs. Jellico, laughed so hard at me that she dislocated her liver and mashed her bladder something fierce. I would have laughed at her if I had of had time.

What do you suggest I do? I don't want to give up Jody but, hell, I can't take it every week. Please, for God's sake, get Ann Landers or Bess or somebody to help me".

My opinion is that Bernard’s head is all wrapped up in Jody but his stomach is still in the potatoes, beans and country ham of East Tennessee. His delicate innards are just not accustomed to spicy south of the border food. Either he gets rid of the love bug itch or stocks up on the pink stuff. Myrtle may straighten him out if he isn’t careful.

Las Americas maintains a year round atmosphere of the tropics. It is always hot and humid. That only seems to draw the customers back for more of the good spicy food. Everything you expect from a Mexican or Central American restaurant is here. Soft-corn tortillas, tacos, and burritos lead the list but nothing garners the attention of the Papusa, not even the very excellent oysters and seafood stew.

The Papusa, a native of Ecuador I think, struck Nashville with all the force of a dust devil in Belize. Still not everyone has roared into the craze with the gusto of our Jody. Michele, for instance, remarked, “I ate a Papusa and it was OK. Hell it only cost $1.69. One doesn’t expect a life changing experience for $1.69. Sure I liked it but I am a woman and I didn’t know what I was eating.”

Stacee sat rigid in the uncomfortable chair wearing an expression somewhere between startled amusement and total horror as she watched Jody devour her third Papusa. I said, “eat Stacee, corn is a vegetable, lettuce and cabbage are vegetables, those green and red things may be vegetables. The oil and vinegar are made from vegetables or maybe fruits; what more could a vegetarian want?” Her black eyes rolled toward the ceiling as she grabbed her bottle of spring water.

If you have a yen for food from south of the border you could do a lot worse than
Las Americas. We have had a bit of fun, I hope, at their expense but it is all fun. The food is great and the people are nice. The wide selection of Mexican beer is cold, as are the domestic brands.

Las Americas 4715 Nolensville Road
Nashville TN 37211
Phone (615) 315-8888

Our ratings are on a scale of 1 to 4 with 4 being the absolute best: We have three ratings based on more than one anonymous visit. They Are:

The Jody Rating:---------4

The Michele Rating------3

The JT Rating------------2

Average Rating-----------3

The Bernard P. Jellico Rating is completely
ignored since he has no clue to good food.