a few restaurant shout outs and some shameless pr
I had some great restaurant experiences this week.
While the hubby and I were on “date night” on Wednesday night, we stumbled past the new Chipotle location where Poquito Mas used to be in front of the movie theater at Valencia Town Center. There was a line out the door but a sign saying that they were opening on December 5th. I nudged my hubby toward the line and told him I thought it might be a soft opening. In restaurant terms, a “soft opening” is usually a few days before a restaurant officially opens its doors. Usually, the food is free and it is a chance for all the employees to practice running the restaurant before they will be working “for real”.
When we got to the front of the line, the guy told us that we didn’t have an invitation and could not participate. All I had to do was drop that I was the food writer here at SceneInSCV.com and I was welcomed with open arms. You see, I have been getting 3000-4000 page views on this blog per month which means that restaurants in the area want me to come in, experience the restaurant, and of course write.
First, I must thank Frank Evans and Alonzo Cudd of our new Chipotle for treating Dan and I to a great little dinner. What I really love about Chipotle, compared with any other sort-of fast food Mexican restaurant around is that the kitchen is transparent – you can see everything being cooked. The ingredients are used up so rapidly that what they use in your food is fresh. I adore the barbacoa beef! Since I do not eat gluten, which is in most wheat products including flour tortillas, Chipotle is the perfect dive for me. I usually order a burrito bowl made with beans, rice, lettuce, meat, salsa, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. The service was impeccable and the management gracious. Chipotle is located at 24405 Town Center Dr. Valencia, CA 91355 – 661-284-2461 (phone) . They are open11am to 10pm, everyday. For more information about Chipotle, go to http://www.chipotle.com .
Second, I had the opportunity to join the community at SCVMomsBlog.com at Mojito, 26876 The Old Road in Valencia on Friday evening. Not only is SCVMomsBlog a great website for connecting moms up here in the SCV, but they are doing so much to give back to the community. Mojito owner Rolando Verdecia partnered with SCVMomsBlog to give the moms a great night out including free appetizers and a special SCVMomsBlog mojito which I personally enjoyed very much. I also had a opportunity to talk to Rolando at length about restaurant reviews in this economy and he brought up some brilliant points.
Most reviewers, he explained, are hesitant to write negative reviews. All reviews are positive. But the down side to restaurant reviews now is that people do not necessarily trust reviews because the reviews are one sided. If all reviews are positive, how does the consumer actually know if the restaurant is any good?
This has been a discussion for the past two months with SceneInSCV owner Marlene Bernstein and I. I have written several reviews, some positive and some negative and we have been hesitant to post the negative ones for fear that the power of this blog could have a negatively impact on a restaurants business, or even shut the place down. Not a neighborly thing to do, I suppose.
I am leaning toward Ed’s idea of just posting a note for those restaurants who I reviewed and have done poorly, simply saying that I can not review this particular restaurant at this time. (Ed is Marlene’s husband). Readers can make assumptions from this message but I don’t think that my note may will be as damaging as if I were to write a negative review. I would love your feedback on this. I want to write what my readers want to read but I also do not want to put anyone out of business!!
Rolando invited me back to do a proper review. I sincerely doubt that I will have anything negative to write, and not just because the food is delicious, but his heart and commitment to this community is completely evident in his support for the SCVMoms Blog and other organizations who he hosts events for.
So, now for the shameless PR that Marlene is asking of us this week.
I became a personal chef because I love to cook for others. I had been cooking for others for free for so many years and wondered if I could actually make a living of it. However, in this economy, I was doubtful that I could find clients who would want me to come into their house and cook 10 meals for two weeks at $400 to $500 a cycle. Although there is a market for that type of work, I knew that there were families all over the SCV that were struggling to eat dinner together, at home. In April, I made some Adobo Chicken, thanks to my friend Mary Claire’s awesome recipe and announced on Facebook that I had four dinners available for delivery or pickup that day. I sold all four in a snap and realized that I may be on to something.
Seven months later, I have 180 people that read my weekly menu emails and 10-20 that purchase at least one dinner per week. I have a nice presence on Facebook and Twitter and Dawn’s Dinners is growing by leaps and bounds. On my website, I list the meals that I am making fresh for the week. I also list what is in the freezer to purchase. Some clients call me the day I am making something to ask if I have any left to pick up. Some clients order for the whole week. Others pick up a frozen meal or two to have in their freezer when they need a last minute option. Some clients order a meal for a sick friend or a new mom. I have clients with food allergies (nuts, nutmeg, gluten) and those with aversions (no pork, vegetarian).
My services fill a need that is not being met by fast food or chain restaurants. My food is health consciously prepared and generous in portion size. The meals are kid-friendly and kid-tested by my four daughters and we eat the same dinner that you eat. Pick up is convenient and fast. I deliver to my kid’s school in Castaic Monday through Thursday at 3:15. Many moms meet me there to pick up their meals. I am also available by cell phone for pick up at my Stevenson Ranch location on other days and times.
For approximately $25, a family of four can eat a terrific dinner, at home together. No pots and pans to clean! And there may even be leftovers!
See what others are saying about Dawn’s Dinners.
I am excited to be working with so many people in the SCV. From singles to single parents, busy families, retirees, teachers, those who don’t like to cook and those who don’t have time to cook, my services make dinner time easy. Its the SCV’s biggest dinner secret.
Visit me, sign up for my email newsletter menu and be entered in a contest to win a free dinner for 4! I hope I’ll be making your dinner soon.
Great post! You’re right, Rolondo is doing so much for SCVMomsBlog.com and the whole SCV community — just like you are!
I feel lucky to have met you and look forward to eating your delicious food! In fact, I’m heading to your site to order now. No cooking for me this week!
PS I would love honest reviews from you. I think there’s a way to point out the good and bad and give a restaurant a chance to respond to the negative with some changes. How can we all be better if we don’t know what to work on, right?
Thanks for the feedback!!!!