The Interview |
Bubba Gump - the World of Forrest in Puerto Vallarta!
By Martha Chaparro & Jesús de Avila - July 2007
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Several months ago what used to be for years the customary scene of business facades in front of the boardwalk between the streets of Leona Vicario and Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, changed spectacularly in a surprising way within only a few weeks in order to turn into a new restaurant called Bubba Gump opening a door to the world of Forrest Gump.
Interview with Alejandro Pichardo, General Manager of Bubba Gump:
Question: What is Bubba Gump?
Answer: Bubba Gump is the new restaurant that has been established in Puerto Vallarta in order to offer as its specialty ―such as Bubba and Forrest’s dream in the movie― a varied and exclusive selection of recipes to savor shrimp.
The place is a replica of the interior of a shrimp fishing boat that thanks to all its decorative details succeeds in enveloping the visitors in an atmosphere that allows them to feel as if they were part of the movie. Each corner of the restaurant resembles a different scene where the movie took place.
The concept of Bubba Gump was born in California in 1996 and became a great chain of restaurants that at present consists of twenty six restaurants all over the world, one of which was inaugurated two years ago and is located in Cancun and another one ―the new born one― was opened in our beautiful destination this last April .
In addition to our specialties of shrimp, the restaurant offers a varied menu of fish, seafood and meat. On the list of beverages, besides the traditional drinks of our bar, we also offer a colorful and fresh range of original drinks such as the Delta Sunset which is a margarita prepared with blackberry liquor as well as mulberry or strawberry lemonades that immediately have become the favorite drinks of most of our clients.
Everything in Bubba Gump is contagious of its peculiar atmosphere and people are immersed very fast in the amiable joy radiated by our staff who offers an excellent and fast service. When the food arrives at the table, there is another peculiarity due to the presentation of the dishes that also helps to make our clients feel as if they were in the fabulous world of Hollywood. Definitively there is no other restaurant in the city where the presentation of the dishes is as creative and casual as ours.
And concerning the flavor of our recipes I can share with you that the clients widely approve of us, because even though the portions are big, very few people have something left over or something for a doggie bag. Our flavoring is such that it keeps the desire awake to quickly have a new morsel in your mouth !
Since Bubba Gump was opened in Cancun two years ago with seating for three hundred and fifty people it huge acceptance has been so evident that it was decided to open a branch in Puerto Vallarta, where in less than two months the results show us that here our concept is and will be a success. American and Canadian tourism knows our trademark very well and they identify with it which contributes to a fast and solid positioning of our business in this port.
On the other hand, thanks to the fact that our cuisine is different –as we do not offer the classic and customary dishes of a normal seafood restaurant– the national and local market is very pleased with our arrival. In addition to offering them an original alternative of flavor, we also offer them a new entertainment option. Our motto is: "Bubba Gump is delicious and fun."
Question: Since there are already many restaurants in our city specializing in offering a variety of recipes where shrimp is the main ingredient, what distinguishes Bubba Gump from the other restaurants aside from the ambience and setting?
Answer: In the exact manner as our atmosphere, ambience, joy and service quality are unique, our shrimp recipes are original and well-known all over the world. In addition you cannot find the flavor of Bubba Gump at any other place, our seasoning is inimitable and is the reason why our clients return and/or look for us at other destinations around the planet. Something that distinguishes us is that the shrimp we serve is from the Mexican Pacific Coast, for connoisseurs this data is of vital importance!
Another one of our peculiarities is the presentation of our dishes. This alone allows our clients to feel as if they were enjoying a family reunion or a get-together with friends while eating in their dining room or the garden of their home.
The other great difference that we offer comes from our staff. The great majority are young people who after having confirmed their authentic interest in growing professionally, are hired by us. We encourage them so  that they are motivated by themselves to devote themselves fully to the task of attending and serving the clients with efficiency, great enthusiasm and joy. For them our clients are the most important thing, and for me as their coordinator the most important thing is to know that they are growing, always giving their best effort to achieve the high levels of service quality established by our standards. I am very proud of our great team of young local collaborators from Vallarta because after all they are the ones who are the soul of our original atmosphere.
Question: Everything on the menu looks very tempting... what is your suggestion for someone who comes for the first time?
Answer: From the range of more than 40 dishes on our menu, you should start with Bubba’s Far Out Dip which is a combination of spinach, grilled red peppers, artichoke hearts and cheese. Another option would be the Calamari Rings, a favorite of those who adore seafood, we prepare them breaded or fried and serve them with chipotle mayonnaise and cocktail sauce.
 From our shrimp specialties you should order the Shrimper’s Heaven an eye-catching and exquisite combination of Coconut shrimp, shrimps to peel and breaded shrimps, with hush pups, French fries and several accompanying dressings.
From Forrest’s favorites you should eat the Bourbon Street Mahi Mahi which is prepared on the grill with herbs and covered with our shrimp and bourbon sauce served over mashed potatoes.
There are much more but I think that these are the most adequate dishes to try in order to get to know as much as possible about our flavor and seasoning during your first visit.
Question: Do you have some message for those who have never visited Bubba Gump?
Answer: The world of Forrest has arrived in Puerto Vallarta and to get to know it will be one of the happiest and most delicious adventures you have ever experienced in our destination. We are waiting for you so that we can confirm together what Forrest’s mother used to say: "Life is like a box of chocolate". And welcome in advance!
 We followed Alejandro Pichardo’s recommendation and definitively everything that we tried was super delicious. What captivated me personally was Bubba’s Far Our Dip which was finger-licking good. We were also able to verify that it is true that due to the presentation of its dishes one very quickly has the sensation of being in a familiar and well-known place. Although it was Thursday for moments I did feel as if it were Sunday and that I was enjoying a deserved day of rest!
When seeing the prices and considering the size of the portions I could see that in this respect Bubba Gump is within the margin of what is reasonable. From their menu you can choose dishes that range from 42.00 pesos [entrées] up to 230.00 Pesos [Forrest’s favorites]. The restaurant also offers a great range of t-shirts and souvenirs allusive to the movie and places in the Forrest Gump movie which can be purchased at their gift shop.
We left the place wishing we were able to stay a bit longer but we had to continue with our activities of the day, but very soon we will come back on another occasion.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
720 & 726 Paseo Díaz Ordaz Street
Downtown Puerto Vallarta
Open Daily from 10:00 A.M. to Midnight
• To learn more about Bubba Gump please visit: http://www.bubbagump.com/
Thank you very much Alejandro Pichardo for your time and amiable attention and let us all go to get to know and enjoy the world of Forrest in Bubba Gump in Puerto Vallarta!
Jesús de Avila
E-mail: editor@pvmirror.com
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