I'd mentioned after the USA loans became available a couple weeks ago that I was hoping to patronize
Mandy's Korner hot dog stand in San Jose after becoming a lender to her business, and promised to report back on how it went. Yesterday was the day! After reading good reviews of her food
in yelp (4 stars!), I was able to get there for a late lunch.
The truck looked in person just as it did in her loan photo. (Click on any photo for a larger version.)
Two of her teenagers were working inside the red truck, which is parked on an otherwise vacant lot with four small tables under an open tarp to shield from the sun. (Other parts of the world, the tarp might have been to shield from rain, but... not here.
) There was a loud generator working nearby, with a cord running into the truck to provide power. The menu featured GRILLLED (not boiled) beef or traditional hot dogs, along with multiple toppings, various sausages, tri-tip, sodas, and grilled potato wedges which her son said was their specialty. He was so happy to hear that a lender to their business was patronizing them, and said that "Big Mandy" would be coming by soon.
I selected the Bacon Cheddar Beef Hot Dog, and a side of Grilled Potatoes. Sandwiches are made fresh, so I sat down under the tarp to wait about 10 minutes, admiring the banner (above), and finally my number was called and I picked up my order.
I am not going to lie to you: this was pretty much the best hot dog I've had in years, maybe ever. It was of generous size, grilled fresh, the bun was fresh and toasted perfectly, the bacon and the cheese were freshly cooked just right, and the potato wedges were SUPER. I am not usually a big hot dog fan, but I would go back here again without a second thought.
THEN, about halfway through the meal, Mandy herself showed up and came straight over to the table, offering copious thanks, big hugs, and a smile that would have lit up a square block. She is so enthusiastic and knows her business, and speaks very well of her situation, her family, and how she wants to help others lift themselves the same way she has. She said that she had been asked to come meet Maria Shriver this week, to talk about her business, the Opportunity Fund, and how other women in her situation might be best helped to success. She was very excited about the meeting, and very very happy that a lender to her business had come to support it in person. This was the first time someone had visited her business who was a Kiva lender to her business (at least the first time anyone told her about it, anyway!)
In short, it was really good food and Mandy was a really good spokesperson for Opportunity Fund and the options it has made available for her. I was very happy to have visited her business, and will definitely return (and will tell all my friends about it -- and take my department to lunch there next month!).
--Diane.
