Do NOT Dilute the Brand!!

Some things should be left alone. If it aint broke, don't fix it! Like the receipe of the original Coke. There is no classic improvement needed there, baby! And don't even think about changing the Taco Bell chicken burrito!!!

Unfortunately for the Operations Director of Taco Bell Middle East, that is exactly what was attempted in Dubai and Aric may well have saved the entire brand from being diluted and dis-respected.

My cousin Martin, his love interest Michelle and their soprano voiced daughter Deva who is 16 months (Mariah Carey would be jealous to know how high Deva's voice reaches on the scale) just stayed with us for a week of fun, sun and shopping. Michelle didn't know it upon arrival, but she soon learned that she had to hit every mall in Dubai just in case there was a different store with shoes or clothes which may be a tad cheaper than in Copenhagen. I had a conference call the day of the Taco Bell drama so I got it all second hand, but having been married to Aric for 20+ years, I can completely visualize the play-by-play which took place.

Off to Dubai Mall Aric, Martin, Michelle and Deva went and it's the only place in Dubai where Taco Bell set up shop. The kids had fore warned us that it's "just not like the US Taco Bells" - but who wants to listen when the smell of a giant bean burrito is like a sirene's seductive calling in the distant fog?

The details of the order slips my mind but let's fast forward to Aric opening his chicken burrito to add hot sauce....only to realize that there are 2-3 microscopic pieces of what might resemble chicken if you think very abstract. Back to the counter he marched and told the servers to add more chicken! Apparently the reply was something like: "Let me explain you sir..." which after several other incidents the week prior, was the straw that broke the camel's hump. Aric threw a ripe fit and told the girl to stop explaining and to add more chicken. Pretty soon the manager gets involved and Aric starts his very patriotic speech about how much chicken is on the burritoes in the US and that there is no reason why the Middle East should add any less. Wars have been known to start over less than chickens between the West and Oil rich countries, so this is turning into a very sensitive issue. Shortly after, all the other guests start opening their burritoes and realizing that they too have been cheated out of a fair portion of protein.

Aric said to the manager that if they wouldn't add more chicken they should charge less. I think that's a fair deal! The manager told the servers to make a different burrito for Aric, but he insisted that he wanted the same kind, just with more chicken as it should have!

There might have been a few more word exchanges, but let's fast forward to the General Manager of the entire Middle East Taco Bell Group getting on the phone (Aric called him) and profusely apologizing for the incident. He has asked Aric to pop in again at any time to "check the food portions" and we now have 10 coupons for free food hanging on the bulletin board in the kitchen. McDonalds can do what they want, but the Arabs better leave Taco Bell alone!!

Despite the whole incident, we had a great week with Martin, Michelle and Deva and hope more family and friends will visit soon!