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Food & Drink

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New local eatery helping the community

BY KRISTINE CANNON

Progress Staff Writer

On March 7, California-based healthy fast-casual eatery MIXT celebrated the grand opening of its first Arizona location at Scottsdale Quarter.

But they didn’t stay open for long.

“It was really unfortunate timing,” said Leslie Silverglide, MIXT CEO. “We had the grand opening and then, of course, we started seeing the prevalence of COVID[-19] and its spread. To be cautious for society and our team members, we made the decision to close the restaurant the next week temporarily.”

As of April 20, though, MIXT Scottsdale is, well, back in the mix – and donating meals to healthcare workers.

As part of their First in Line program, MIXT donated meals to HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center the weekend of April 25. (Courtesy of MIXT)

MIXT is taking to-go orders and launched the First in Line program, which donates meals to healthcare workers and the community at large.

The First in Line program initially launched on March 17 at MIXT’s California locations and, as of April 26, has helped feed more than 2,500 people in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles.

In Scottsdale, MIXT has made donations to HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center and Mayo Clinic in northern Scottsdale.

HonorHealth workers “were just beyond grateful that someone took the time to come out there and drop off the food. They were just amazing,” said Nick Lemaster, MIXT Scottsdale general man

seeMIXT page 29

Take brunch to mom instead of mom to brunch

BY KRISTINE CANNON

Progress Staff Writer

ust because restaurants’ dining rooms are closed, it doesn’t mean you’ll have to forgo treating mom to brunch next Sunday.

ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho in Old Town Scottsdale has not one, but three to-go Mother’s Day food and drink specials this year.

Specials include a takeaway meal for $36 per person, including pre-made slow-braised beef short ribs or crab cannelloni with an assortment of sides; takeand-make family meals starting at $89, including everything from pecan-crusted Alaskan halibut to garlic and herb butterrubbed prime rib; and the Bouquet + Bubbles package, which includes a floral arrangement and a bottle of fizzy Prosecco for $45.

“This new to-go only dynamic has pushed us to get creative with holidays like Mother’s Day, and every day with our various food and drink packages,” said General Manager Seth Widdes.

In addition to cocktails, desserts, and family-style meals, ZuZu now offers weekday deals available for takeout, like TakeHome Taco Tuesday and Savor + Sip on Wednesdays.

“We have paid close attention to what our locals and in-house guests enjoy and have made it easy for them to take advantage of the same creativity and outstanding flavors that ZuZu has always provided,” Widdes said.

Typically, ZuZu would host 400 guests in the restaurant and an additional 300 guests in Sands, a private event space at the resort. “Spring is always a busy time

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 3, 2020 ager. “It’s been overwhelming in a very heartwarming way.”

As for Mayo Clinic, Lemaster said they contacted MIXT shortly after the dropoff to tell them how much they appreciated the donation.

“The entire team and everyone involved understands how important it is to our healthcare workers,” Lemaster said. “It’s been outstanding.”

With 16 locations in California, Texas, and Arizona, MIXT’s menu boasts a chefcreated selection of salads, grain bowls, sandwiches and market plates.

“The greens in your salad are delivered from regional farms directly on the day you dine with us, the dressing and toppings are prepared from scratch by our chefs every day, and the delicious bites of bacon and grilled chicken are cooked to perfection,” Silverglide said. “It’s these details that we obsess over so that you’ll crave the experience of eating better.”

While placing to-go orders on MIXT’s website, patrons have the option to prepurchase a meal for a first responder or donate to the hospital of their choice and receive $5 off a future order.

“It’s been really a great response from the community,” Lemaster said. “I would say 80 percent of the orders that are coming in online will always have a healthcare worker donation applied to it.”

MIXT Scottsdale so far has partnered with four or five hospitals, clinics, Scottsdale Fire Department Station 9 and Joy Bus, a local nonprofit that delivers fresh, chef-crafted cuisine to homebound cancer patients.

“Joy Bus has been a phenomenal, phenomenal organization. People have been very kind to donate to them,” Lemaster said.

Silverglide added that MIXT is currently in search of more first responder partners, who can email hello@mixt.com.

“What we’re trying to do is get the word out, that we’re happy to work and partner with anybody,” Silverglide said, MIXT ���� page 28

adding they will continue First in Line for as long as needed.

“It’s been tremendous the number of emails and ‘thank yous’ that we’ve received. It’s really, truly brought tears to my eyes,” she said.

Silverglide added: “I think more, than anything, healthcare workers and people on the frontline are feeling appreciated, and having something else to eat, not having to worry about that has just been a huge relief and helps bring joy to their day.”

MIXT was the first multi-unit restaurant concept to become a Certified B Corporation, a legal classification for businesses that balance purpose and profit.

According to B Corps’ website, the B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier, environment, stronger, communities and the creation of more highquality jobs.

“When we opened the first unit 14 years ago, the idea was always to do

29 FOOD & DRINK good for the community,” Silverglide said. “We’ve wanted to be much more than a restaurant. We wanted it to be a place that’s environmentally sustainable throughout. We wanted to be a partner in the community and be a business for good. That’s in the core DNA of who we are as a company.”

When the pandemic hit, Silverglide and the MIXT team immediately launched the First in Line program and quickly expanded it to include anyone in need.

“We saw that everyone was being impacted by this so quickly and with so much uncertainty, so we wanted to continue to do what we could do, which is give people delicious healthy meal,” Silverglide said.

“So, beyond the First in Line program, we also have made our food available to anyone in need. If you’re somebody that you say that you’ve been deeply impacted and are deeply in need, then we provide you with a free or discounted meal. No questions asked,” she added.

Information: mixt.com.

MOTHER'S DAY ���� page 28

of year for ZuZu, and Mother’s Day usually rounds out our season,” Widdes said.

So far, ZuZu has 10 Mother’s Day orders, half of which are take-and-make. Widdes anticipates that number will grow significantly leading up to Mother’s Day, especially considering they had 195 pick-up orders for Easter “feeding over 550 people.”

Widdes said he expects the Bouquet + Bubbles package to be particularly popular, noting, “We also wanted it to be convenient for guests to only have to make one trip to pick-up their meal, bottle of bubbles, and flowers, versus making multiple stops.”

The Scottsdale Plaza Resort has hosted more than 700 guests per year over the past three years for Mother’s Day brunch. This year, they’re offering a full to-go meal that includes bruschetta, a superfood salad, roasted whole chicken, trifle and more.

But what sets Scottsdale Plaza Resort’s special apart is each order also includes a complimentary one-night stay at the resort.

“We want to give all moms and their family to enjoy our resort and all of our amenities once it is safe to do so,” said Sean Sachs, Scottsdale Plaza Resort senior vice president. “When you buy a Mother’s Day brunch for a minimum of four people, this is a way for us to say ‘thank you’ to all moms as well as their families.”

Pre-orders must be placed by 4 p.m. May 7 and guests can use the one-night certificate through Dec. 27.

Sachs said the resort is expecting to see an 85 to 90 percent decline in the number of people utilizing the takeout option for Mother’s Day from the previous years’ on-site dining.

“It also limits our exposure to the resort itself. Many of the people attending the brunch on property may have been their first time to our resort and that exposure usually returns to a repeat visit for another occasion, and without that exposure, the viability of them coming back on property is severely limited,” he added.

Other Mother’s Day take-out specials include:

The Capital Grille

What: Salad, choice of roasted whole tenderloin and butter-poached North Atlantic lobster tails or jumbo shrimp scampi, chocolate espresso cake. Where: 16489 N. Scottsdale Road Price: $110-$245 Order: 480-348-1700 Website: thecapitalgrille.com

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

What: Herb-crusted pork loin, black garlic rack of lamb, spring veggies, New York cheesecake. Add-ons include a spring bouquet for $75, a sleep well kit for $68, and a relaxation gift box for $168. Where: 7575 E. Princess Dr. Price: $195 Order: 480-585-2694 Website: scottsdaleprincess.com

Farm & Craft

What: Penny mimosa package (bottle of Poema Brut or Rose with orange juice) with the purchase of any item. Where: 4302 N. Scottsdale Road Price: Varies Order: 480-568-8980 Website: ilovefarmandcrafttogo.com

Hand Cut Chophouse

What: Penny mimosa package with the purchase of any two items. Where: 7135 E. Camelback Road, #154 Price: Varies Order: 480-494-2008 Website: handcutchophouse.com

Hotel Valley Ho

Where: 6850 E. Main St. Price: Takeaway meal $36 per person, takeand-bake $89+, Bouquet + Bubbles $49

Order: 480-376-2600 Website: hotelvalleyho.com

Morning Squeeze

What: The Mother’s Day Brunch Package feeds four to six people and includes two quiches (veggie and meat), breakfast potatoes, six biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, and a chocolate chip French toast casserole. Add a bottle of champagne for $6 each. Where: 4233 N. Scottsdale Road Price: $120 Order: Call 480-945-4669 or email catering@morningsqueeze.com by May 8 Website: morningsqueeze.com

PHX Beer Co.

What: $20 32-oz. crowlers of Bloody Marys, margaritas or mimosa kits (OJ and champagne); $10 of each item sold over the weekend weekend will go to local nonprofit Homeward Bound. Where: 8300 N. Hayden Road Price: $20 Order: 480-571-8645 Website: phxbeerco.com

The Scottsdale Plaza Resort

Where: 7200 N. Scottsdale Road Price: $31 Order: 480-951-5170 Website: scottsdaleplaza.com