Why this California stuntman spent 24 hours in a pool of bean dip
Hunter Ray Barker drummed up customers for Los Toros Mexican Restaurant while getting a tattoo of its logo
A California stunt performer who spent 24 hours in an inflatable pool full of bean dip says it was "one of the best feelings in the world."
Hunter Ray Barker pulled off the gooey publicity stunt Tuesday in support of Los Toros Mexican Restaurant near Los Angeles, which has been struggling to draw in customers during the pandemic.
"When it was hot, it would feel like you're in a hot tub of beans," Barker told As It Happens host Carol Off.
"When it got cold, it got cold. But, you know, those hot moments were just phenomenal."
Barker sat in the dip in the Los Toros parking lot all day and night as customers drove up for tacos and margaritas.
"We had people all throughout the day, families rolling by in their cars, waving, hollering, shouting, laughing, you know, all the above," he said. "It was a whole lot of fun."
He also used the time to get a tattoo of the Los Toros logo, which features three bulls, courtesy of Captain Todd of Nathan's Tattoos & Piercings.
He says his skin's a bit red now from all the sunshine, but the tattoo is "looking fantastic."
While Los Toros was on board, the whole thing was Barker's idea.
He says he wanted to do something to give back to the Chatsworth, Calif., restaurant that has been an important part of his life since he was a kid.
"As you can probably guess, I love Los Toros and I've been going with my family for over 20 years," he said. "Not only that, Los Toros is a staple restaurant for the stunt community. Stunt performers have been going to Los Toros forever."
Barker started going with his dad, who is also a stuntman.
"They have such a great energy, you know, a very, very fun place to be. And so I looked at the stunt as a way to celebrate and support their spirit," he said.
'Are you sure you want to do this?'
The idea stunned Nicolas Montano, the owner of Los Toros, which was founded in 1967.
"I was like 'Are you sure? Are you sure you want to do this?'" Montano said. "And he goes, 'Yeah, I think it would be fun and it's something I want to help the business.'"
Not only did Barker bring business to the restaurant that day, but he says hundreds of people signed up for the Los Toros newsletter.
"I know talking about the marketing takes some of the glamour away of something as luxurious as sitting in a tub of bean dip for 24 hours," he said.
No bathroom breaks
When asked what he did when nature called, Barker explained that he had a funnel attached to his person for anytime he needed to go "No. 1"
"For No. 2, I switched up my diet that week, so none of that happened," he said.
But in the evening, while still in the dip, he did treat himself to a meal from Los Toros — chicken tacos, a margarita and yes, even a cup of bean dip.
But he's not sick of the stuff yet, he said.
"I will be back tonight."
Written by Sheena Goodyear with files from Reuters. Interview with Barker Ray Hunter produced by Sarah Cooper.
