One of my favorite places to eat is a little taco and burrito joint that serves very traditional Mexican fare. I have been going there for more than 20 years and I don’t think I have ever ordered but one thing: Our Famous Avocado Burrito. Made with beans, cheese, lettuce and avocado, it is a messy delight that oozes its ingredients all over your plate as you attempt to eat the entire bloated thing. It always tastes
the same. It is always filling. Its contents have never changed even though the people who make it surely have. And, most importantly, it is Famous.
The funny thing is, it has been famous ever since I began buying it all those years ago. Not sure why it has such fame. I have a feeling it may have been famous among the family who owns the restaurant and they bestowed the moniker on it to convey its delectable nature and universal likability. I have been told by the owners that it is also their best selling item and has been since they opened their doors. It sells better than their tacos and enchiladas and quesadillas. It outsells the combos and the huevos rancheros. I mean, it is Famous so of course everyone wants a part of it.
Claiming fame is great marketing even if it is self-proclaimed. If you are a patron of a place that is “famous”, you naturally want to buy into that quality. Fame by association, I guess. And, if something is said to be famous, it must have some great qualities that you must sample, taste, see, hear, etc. even if they are made up. Some things or people are famous for being famous (The entire Kardashian family for instance) and in this world of instant information, someone or something can become famous instantaneously within 140 characters (which used to be “overnight”). Isn’t that what they mean by word of mouth?
In the case of the taco stand, self-proclaimed fame has brought them fortune and they now have a number of such places selling their World Famous Avocado Burrito all over town. Isn’t fame great!
