Fall River Man Celebrates 50th Birthday with Iconic Chow Mein Sandwich Tattoo

There are plenty of ways to celebrate turning 50, but Tim Gastall decided to do it in a way that could only make sense in Fall River.

Gastall, a Fall River resident, local artist and longtime client of Fall River Tattoo Company, celebrated his 50th birthday this week, marking the milestone with by permanently honoring one of the area's most iconic foods: the chow mein sandwich.

Now, this is not just any chow mein sandwich. Gastall wanted his served on a very specific blue-and-white China Royal plate. It doesn't get any more local than that. Again, right down to the specific plate. That's loyalty and dedication.

READ MORE: Fall River-Style Chow Mein Sandwich vs. Salem-Style Chop Suey Sandwich

From Lunch Conversation to Permanent Ink

"Tim is the type of guy that you can wait around your whole life for 100 clients to be like him and never find one," Fall River Tattoo Company owner Bruce Deslauriers said. "Tim only comes with wild original ideas."

Gastall, A.K.A. Sonic Nova, is an artist himself and has been drawing comics for as long as Deslauriers has known him. His tattoo collection reflects that same personality, including one of his own illustrations of Lizzie Borden with four eyes, and for reasons even Deslauriers doesn't know, a can opener. The chow mein sandwich, however, has a backstory.

READ MORE: Massachusetts Tattoo Shop Created the Most Fall River Tattoo Ever

Deslauriers and Gastall had recently been talking about the local debate over where the Fall River staple originated, something Deslauriers jokingly warned me not to get involved with. "You don't want to tackle that war, Gazelle, I can tell you that," he laughed.

Fall River Native Celebrates 50th Birthday with Iconic Chow Mein Sandwich Tattoo

Deslauriers collects China Royal memorabilia, including menus, glasses and plates. Gastall brought him an authentic plate that a friend had acquired at an auction, and the conversation eventually led to one obvious question. "What looks better on one of those blue and white plates than a chow mein sandwich?" Deslauriers said. Gastall wanted exactly that, right down to the blue pinstripe around the plate. He also wanted the tattoo in his own cartoony drawing style rather than a realistic interpretation.

READ MORE: Fall River's Secret Chow Mein Sandwich Song Is a Banger

Fall River Food Is More Than Food

For Deslauriers, tattoos like Gastall's represent something bigger about Fall River. He's tattooed plenty of local foods over the years, from St. Jorge cheese to pastel de natas and even a Portuguese papo secos. "Food in Fall River goes beyond just food," Deslauriers said. "It transcends food. So I think tattooing is one of the best ways to represent that transcendence."

Then came perhaps the most Fall River ending possible.

Fall River Native Celebrates 50th Birthday with Iconic Chow Mein Sandwich Tattoo

After finishing the tattoo, Deslauriers and some of the crew went out for Chinese food. While waiting for their meal, Deslauriers heard Gastall's unmistakable laugh behind him and turned around to find the birthday boy at the counter. How ironic: he was ordering a chow mein sandwich to go.

READ MORE: Tiverton Tattoo Artist Gives New Confidence to Those Hiding Scars and Stretch Marks

Gastall came over, showed the waitress his brand-new tattoo, and everyone shared a laugh. Whether she was impressed or simply couldn't understand why someone would permanently tattoo a chow mein sandwich on themselves, Deslauriers couldn't quite tell.

Sometimes food is lunch, and sometimes it's tradition. In Fall River, sometimes it's permanent. Either way, I'm now craving a chow mein sandwich.