6B - The Mgigan Daily Weekend zine -- Thursday, October 01998 . -- - Salsa tasting tough on tastebuds By Mariela C. Flambury For the Daily Every Sunday we all go through the same thing. We wake up at around one or two o' clock, watch several hours of TV and spend another several hours on the phone - all in an attempt to avoid the dreaded thought of homework. Well, Tios Mexican Cafe provides a way to help the average University student avoid their academic assignments this weekend with the eatery's free, monthly salsa taste test- ing. On the first Sunday of every month, between noon and 4 p.m., Tios tempts rebellious taste buds with approximately 80 different varieties of scintillatingly hot salsas shipped to the restaurant from manufacturers all over the country. The salsa-making companies send Tios sam- ples of their latest creations, and whether or not they will be sold in the store depends on the patrons' reactions at the monthly tastings. The event includes tortilla chips for the dipping, and the reassurance of "all- you-can-eat" for those hungry and broke on a Sunday afternoon. Olivia Seaver, whose father, Tim, owns the restaurant, explains Tios's famous Wall of Flame. "We have little booklets that help you keep track of the salsas you've tasted and after you've tried 100, you get on our Wall of Flame and a T-shirt which says, 'I Tasted 100 Hot Sauces at Tios and Lived to Tell About It,' and after each additional 100 you get some- thing free like hot pepper shorts or a hot pepper apron..." After you taste 100 sauces, your name is proudly "It was 4 displayed on a paper jalapeno that est fOO is mounted on the wall. The actual eVer taSj Wall of Flame is - LSA sophom quite impressive, of hot saucE with more than 200 satisfied customers' names listed. Tios also contributes to the salsa world with its own varieties of sauces, includ- ing mild, medium, hot and extra-hot. Seaver explains that their sauces are all made with the freshest ingredients. Tios's dedication to salsa extends beyond Ann Arbor, as shown with their participation in national salsa-tasting conventions. The Fiery Food Challenge, held annually in New Mexico, recog- nized Tios's salsa skills in 1997. In that contest, Seaver remembers, the restau- rant "entered its extra-hot sauce and won first place and a Chili Pepper award." She also notes that this award- ,e winning salsa is the most popular one with eat-in customers - - most likely due to its notoriety. Seaver suggested that "Dazed Insanity" was probably the most pre- ferred salsa of patrons. Malene Prince, a LSA sophomore and frequent par- nie of the ticipant in the tast- ing, has fond Is I've memories of "Dazed Insanity." edE, "It was one of re Malene Prince the best foods I "Dazed Insanity" have ever tasted," she said. "Everything you could ever want in a hot sauce." This Tios tasting is definitely real, and not for the slight-of-heart. Seaver said she witnessing several Strange occurrences at regular salsa tastings, including, several students who tasted several salsas and began crying uncon- trollably, and a taster who was unable to breathe after tasting a particularly hot salsa, requiring an ambulance to be called. So the next time you're in the mood for a little spice in your life, check out the happenings at Tios's salsa taste-testing. Most agree It's a monthly experience that's as much fun as it is affordable. The Michigan Daily Weekend Ma 1 ROAD-TRIP Continued from Page 10B occasional can of Meijer's Green thrown in. Admittedly, "The Mac was playing on the radio at the tin still, if you are looking for sometl take back with you, make this < your stops. There is the occasional bar fou a street comer that harkens back -~- days of Patrick Swayze in ' House." Smoke filled air, loud n and pool tables are not in short s For those not ready to fully leave cal Detroit there is also a "C Island" restaurant that can be four serves the usual fare of burger fries. One final thing about Mexican that is not evident to the naked ,' the art found on some of the buil DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Tio's owner Tim Seaver shows off an award from Chill Pepper magazine. Every first Sunday of the month Tio's gives away tons - literally - of hot sauce. They pro- vide the chips, all you have to bring is a couple of strong tastebuds. Above: Sandra Gracia, 17, and Fernando Hemandez work at Mexicantown Bakery In Mexicantown Detroit. Left: Signs all in Spanish line the streets of small, but definitely tourist friendly Mexicantown. Right: The neighborhood's Las Palmas grocery store is one of the few places left on Earth where you can find both T- shirts and Spam under one roof. Photos by ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily BOOKS Continued from Page 28 percent buy-back policy, but admits that many English, history, philosophy and foreign language classes have individual- ized book lists. Unique book lists tend to cut down on re-selling opportunities. As to long lines, Taylor said extended hours and some remodeling of the shop's book display would shorten lines. He also said the store generally charges the same for class books as the chain stores. And not everyone was so ready to abandon their loyalties to the store. "I asked a few people and they recom- mended Shaman Drum," said English Prof. David Thomas, who shops at the lower level trade store. "I've never had a reason to change. If it isn't broken, don't fix it.' Thomas said he has heard students complain of long lines at Shaman Drum, but since only about 40 students enroll in wwqww w IW wI WW . . @09000000 00000 00 000 *00 @00 00000 : 000 000 000 000 000 00@00 000 00 000 00 @0000 000 :0:0:0:0I00000 000.00WD 000000000 000 00 000 @00 000 @00 00 @00 000 000 000 000 @ 00 @00 000 000000 @00 @ 00 000 000 @00000 000 0@@@@@@@@ 00 gggg 00 gg eli O his classes, he isn't as worried about clog- ging the store. Shaman Drum Bookstore hit campus in 1980 after another independently- owned bookstore, Pai Deia, closed. Long-time Ann Arbor resident and for- mer Pai Deia employee, Karl Pohrt, founded Shaman Drum in the same building after Pai Deia closed. Being an independent part of the book buying community - free from the pres- sures applied by corporate offices in some far-away place is important to Shaman Drum's identity, Pohrt said. The differences are subtle, but present; take a phone call, for example. Unlike some other Ann Arbor bookstores, callers don't get an automated response or zippy hold music. Instead the owner is an employee, putting in his 40-plus hours. "We carry scholarly and academic trade books," Pohrt said. "We don't just have texts and T-shirts, (Shaman Drum) gives back first-rate browsing." Shaman Drum also sponsors readings held on the first floor of the building - in the store's trade-book selling area. Employees often pack in more enthusiasts than the 60 chairs will allow. During the school year there are usually three-four readings a week, but some weeks may sport readings every day. Employees of other book stores said Shaman Drum has its disadvantages. "It can sometimes be an inconvenience to students," said Ulrich's general manag- er Dave Richards. "... If information was available at all places it would be more convenient.' Michigan Book and Supply general manager Steve Schindler said that being independently owned makes no differ- ence to employees in the long run. "We have the exact same work, a book- store is a bookstore," Schindler said. "My paycheck comes from my sales, too:' Tutors for UofM Classes! University Tutoring Services has tutors for most U of M classes, including Bio 152, Bio 154, CaIc 115, Calc 116, Calc 215, Chem 130, Econ 101, Econ 102, Eecs 100, Eng 124, Eng 125, French, German, Korean, Physics 140, Physics 240, Spanish, Stats 100, and Stats 402. Don't Get Frustrated... micI I k,' **@ *****O 000inmgoo @ 3. .3 @000 0000 . .. 0000* ..d :1: :"*::1 .: :e ae. 000 @0 S University Tutoring Services 308 1/2 S. State Street Suite 37 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Get Help! Call: (734)741-4200 www.utstutor.com visa M4 P w a,