As restaurants across Orange County begin opening back up with limited capacity, they won’t be alone as they traverse the impact and economic fallout that government closures have had on the food and beverage industry.
The Orange County Restaurant Association (OCRA) is giving restaurateurs a boost in the arm it helps them to engage fun-seeking diners—while providing resources to cash-strapped business owners—via unique marketing and engagement initiatives.
This week’s “Margarita Crawl”, created by the OCRA well before the shutdowns, is now being used to stimulate recovery.
The event’s lead sponsor Tequila Herradura is one of several tequilas being used to showcase America’s most popular cocktail. Featured margaritas will be priced from $10 to $15, and each restaurant has a different selection of menu items specially paired with each.
Something for Everyone
The Margarita Crawl isn’t just featuring traditional Latin/Mexican restaurants. Since margaritas are popular everywhere in the southland, even Irish pubs and Italian eateries are in on the fun.
“Our goal has been to design events that engage every kind of diner with a variety of choices— whether you prefer to pick up your food and drinks to enjoy at home, order delivery or dine-in, there’s literally something for everyone,” said Pam Waitt, president of the OCRA. “We want everyone to feel included both restaurants and their patrons… and what is more fun than a hand-shaken margarita?”
So far, participating restaurants are giving the event a thumbs up.
At Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach, normally known for its whiskeys and corned beef and cabbage, assistant general manager Corbin Campbell called the event a hit.
He told The Epoch Times that their signature hand-shaken “Spicy Sunday” margarita—made from tequila, muddled jalapeno, fresh pineapple and lime juice with a splash of agave, on the rocks with salt—“super popular with patrons”. Combined with an order of steak nachos made from both pub fries and traditional homemade corn chips, guests will think they’re south of the border instead of Dublin.
Paradigm Shifts
Not all of the restaurant industry paradigm shifts resulting from the COVID-19 shutdowns have been negative.
Waitt said that as a result of the popularity of cocktails to-go, many restaurants have invested in bottle capping machines.
“If the restaurants are able to provide what their clientele wants, they should be able to continue to derive the benefits of that revenue opportunity,” he said.
The Margarita Crawl runs through March 27.