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Updated 3:03 p.m., April 9–
By Rylie Friesen– From a home-made ice cream kit, to make-your-own pizza and “survival” taco kits, local restaurants are getting creative during the COVID-19 crisis.
With many businesses closing their doors due to health orders, those still able to stay open are turning to take-out and “contactless” delivery to keep their businesses running. Some restaurants have also turned to more creative ways to attract customers.
Here’s how four local restaurants have adapted their menu with creative offerings:
Leatherby’s Family Creamery, located 7910 Antelope Rd., has introduced a make-it-at-home ice cream kit. It includes a gallon-sized and pint-sized ziploc bag, 16 ounces of their signature ice cream base, vanilla syrup, rock salt, ice, and instructions on how to make the sweet treat.
Cyle Carucci, manager of the Citrus Heights Leatherby’s location said the kit has been a popular item, especially for parents stuck at home looking for something easy and fun to make with their kids. The kit runs $10, with a toppings assortment available for an extra $2.
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Also adapting to the times, Ciro’s Pizza at 7521 Old Auburn Rd. launched a new pizza-making kit. It includes fresh dough, marinara sauce, shredded cheese, pepperoni, flour, and instructions. The kits are $12 each.
Chando’s Tacos has introduced a “QT-2020″ survival kit for making tacos at home, which includes up to four pounds of meat, tortillas, green and red sauce, onion, coriander, radishes, lemons, and rice or beans. Prices are $30 for kits with two pounds of meat, or $10 more for a kit with four pounds of meat.
While Chando’s is yet to open their new restaurant at 7084 Auburn Blvd. in Citrus Heights, the restaurant will have a food truck parked in front of the future location from April 6-11.
A food truck employee said Thursday afternoon that survival kits are available for pickup at Chando’s location in Roseville, but a smaller “Family Style Taco kit” with one pound of meat, 25 tortillas, and toppings is available for $20 from the truck in Citrus Heights.
Texas Roadhouse, located at 6309 Sunrise Blvd., announced last week that it is now offering “ready-to-grill” steaks, with meat being sliced and sold for customers to grill at home. A flier listing the restaurant’s Easter Weekend specials shows prices ranging from $3 for a 6 ounce sirloin steak to $13 for a 20-ounce ribeye.
Other businesses in the city have also adapted their operations to life during the COVID-19 pandemic, including offering curb-side pickup and discounts, along with reduced hours or caps on the number of customers in their store. To read more, see story: Citrus Heights businesses struggle, adapt to life amid virus crisis
Know of other restaurants in Citrus Heights offering creative new menu items? Click here to let us know.
