Dining Meals for Feels
Seis Kitchen helped feed a hospital for a day BY VALERIE VINYARD Annie Perkins has been enjoying the food at Seis Kitchen since it opened in 2014 in Mercado San Agustin. “It’s such a great place to eat,” the 23-year-old Pima Community College student says. “In between classes, we love to get some tacos and enjoy the nice weather outside.” Of course, that was before the pandemic. And even though Gov. Doug Ducey has allowed restaurants to open again—albeit in a reduced capacity— Seis has remained a takeout and delivery restaurant for now. “We don’t really have a timetable for this right now, because we’re waiting to make sure it’s safe for everyone,” says Erika Munoz, who owns the fast-casual restaurant with her husband, Jake. “It’s for everybody’s good for the long term.” Both have developed Seis’ recipes, which encompass all six culinary regions of Mexico (hence the name Seis). Seis started as a food truck and caterer in 2012. After much success, the Munozes opened a restaurant in Mercado San Agustin in 2014 and another at Joesler Village on River Road in 2017. The restaurant’s menu tops out at $14
for nachos grande or a surf-and-turf burrito, which is stuffed with adobo steak and grilled shrimp and comes with black beans, rice, guacamole, cheese, cabbage, pico de gallo and Seis sauce. Like a handful of local restaurants, Seis has garnered publicity for its recent philanthropic efforts. First, the owners recently earned a Ben’s Bell for their ongoing weekly donation of food boxes to their over 90 employees for the duration of the crisis. When the pandemic hit, their first thought was their employees. “The fear for us was how were our employees going to be taken care of during this time,” says Munoz, noting they devised a plan immediately to use their reserves to help. “We are nothing without them,” Munoz says of her staff. “They’ve become family.” While Munoz says staff has been reduced, she hasn’t had to furlough any employees. “We’re using our reserves to compensate,” she adds. Every Friday, employees pick up a weekly food box, which includes fresh food and pantry items such as rice, beans, tortillas and pantry items. “We’re not the only restaurant doing
Every Friday, employees pick up a weekly food box, which includes fresh food and pantry items such as rice, beans, tortillas and pantry items. (Submitted photo)
this,” Munoz points out. “Restaurants bring happiness.” Second, Seis’ owners and Houston Astros pitching coach Brent Strom, who lives in Tucson, decided to help feed Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital workers on April 23. Seis matched the 200 meals donated by A+C (Athletes/Artists+Causes) Foundation’s “Project Frontline.” The 400 burritos were given to medical personnel. A+C founder Rob Canton has a passion for helping others. The charity is focused on getting athletes, coaches and artists to understand their own philanthropic passions and helping them leverage their platform and celebrity to
positively impact the lives of others. “Project Frontline was created not only to thank our wonderful health care workers but also as a way to help the restaurant industry, which has been crippled by the pandemic,” Canton says. “Our staff was so excited to do this,” says Munoz, noting that Seis’ background in catering and as a food truck helped them prepare the 400 meals. “Everybody wanted to pitch in and help. It felt amazing to be able to do that.” Perkins was impressed with Seis’ contribution. “That’s not something you hear about too often,” she says. “It was really nice of them. Especially with a pandemic going on.” The response from the recipients and the public was amazing, Munoz says. “They were helpful and kind and ridiculously humble,” she says. “We received emails and direct messages on social media thanking us. “If they could have hugged us, they would have.”
Seis Kitchen
Seis Kitchen helped feed Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital workers on April 23. (Submitted photo)
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1765 E. River Road (612-7630); 130 S. Avenida del Convento (622-2002) The River Road location opens at 11 a.m., while the Mercado location remains temporarily closed. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. seiskitchen.com www.LovinLife.com
