Friday March 20, 2020: We are living in unusual and troubling times as the COVID-19 pandemic shuts down industries across the nation and world. One group of individuals especially hard hit by this are from the restaurant industry. Wonderfully, Daniel and Brenda Castillo from Heritage Barbecue have hearts of gold and a passion to give back to their peers in need.
They have teamed up with Craft House's Chef Blake Mellgren to put on a 'Smoke Kitchen'(their take on the soup kitchen) this Sunday March 22nd at Craft House in Dana Point(34094 Pacific Coast Highway) beginning at 11AM to hand out 1,500 free pulled pork sandwiches to feed out-of-work hospitality employee via drive-thru.
The almost 350 pounds of pork has been donated by West Coast Prime Meats and the rolls are being donated by Dean Kim of OC Baking Company. Other local chefs volunteering their time for the event are Ralph Montes of Taco Maria in Costa Mesa, Josh Lozano of Toast in Costa Mesa, and Trevor Kotchek, previously at Sgt. Pepperoni’s.
Cars will be able to drive through a station at Craft House to pick up (2) Pulled Pork Sandwiches through no-touch curbside pickup. Per Daniel, "We will be handing out pulled pork sandos with slaw, pickles, and a vinegar sauce. Each wrapped in butcher paper". If you've had Heritage's food before, you know they are going to be incredible.
“As chefs, we show our love for family and friends by doing what we know, cooking,” Castillo said. “The idea of doing something to meet the basic needs of our industry is giving us all something positive to focus on for the time being.”
The service will operate on a strictly drive-through only basis with proper social distancing and sanitation efforts in place.
Heritage Barbecue(of whom I am lucky to call good friends) have an enormously popular BBQ pop-up, serving their chef-driven take on Central Texas style barbecue in and around Orange County. They will be transitioning to a brick and mortar in San Juan Capistrano in May of 2021. You can see my evolving story on their restaurant progress with tons of video and photos(including architectural renderings) HERE.
Watch my interview with Brenda and Daniel here:
I caught up with Daniel as he staged at Brett's Backyard Bar-B-Que in Rockdale here:
AND here's a POV tour of one their pop-up at Bruery Terreux in Anaheim
