Dining
Stir Crazy
Tavolino Ristorante Italiano. (Submitted photo)
Let Tucson’s chefs create delicious takeout dishes for you BY VALERIE VINYARD “Quarantine” is defined as “a state, period or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed.” More simply, quarantining can be a mind-numbing existence where even simple activities seem impossible or at least detestable. And to some people, cooking falls under the “impossible” or “detestable” category. In regular times, many people have their favorite five or so meals that they rotate at home, and then mix it up with trips to restaurants. Unfortunately, that’s not possible for now, so takeout and delivery have replaced going out to eat. Luckily, Tucson’s designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy—i.e., an incredible city of restaurants—apparently extends to its takeout offerings. In other
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words, we live in a pretty tasty place to hole up. Plus, even talented home cooks need a break sometimes. We’ve highlighted five of our favorite restaurants that offer fabulous takeout that rises above the competition.
Feast 3719 E. Speedway, 326-9363, eatatfeast.com To many customers, Feast appeared to transition to a takeout and delivery restaurant more smoothly than most. The restaurant’s original name, after all, was Feast – Tasteful Takeout when it opened in 2001. According to owner Doug Levy, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Levy details Feast’s travails and successes in a once or twice daily email to its 4,500-plus list, which provided a much-needed connection to many of its patrons. “We’ve been extremely fortunate on
a number of different fronts,” Levy says. “Since we opened with the intention of being primarily a carry-out restaurant, and since so many of our crew have been here since those days, we were able to pivot pretty quickly after the shutdown.” Within two days, Levy and company had changed Feast’s menu into something more takeout friendly, and within another week, they had developed systems that made pickup and delivery run more smoothly. Soups and specials change frequently, and the monthly changing menu remains a delightful, inventive array of interesting ingredients and unusual combinations that always seem to work. “Once we had systems in place, we were able to devote time to creating new ways to connect with people,” says Levy, noting that his employees now make periodic delivery runs to parts of town that don’t fall within Feast’s normal delivery
range at various “delivery hubs.” That includes hospital runs to feed front-line workers and weekly wine tastings via Zoom, with people either picking up or having delivered samples of the four featured wines. Feast also offers vacuum-packaged meals for people to enjoy at their leisure. “When we opened in 2001, the intention was to do primarily carry-out and to be closed by 8 p.m., and that way to have some semblance of a normal life,” Levy notes. “I guess two out of the three isn’t so bad.”
Jonathan’s Tucson Cork 6320 E. Tanque Verde Road, 296-1631, jonathanscork.com Jonathan’s Cork is the place you go for birthdays and other special occasions. The restaurant is known for its quality Southwest cuisine that includes ostrich, www.LovinLife.com
