By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com
The future looked bright for Yachats’ newest dining option, until the coronavirus pandemic changed the daily menu of life for everyone.
Vital Bites Kitchen, a meal preparation and catering firm run by a mother/daughter duo, started operating out of the kitchen at Outta Gas Pizza last month.
Under its innovative business model, customers place orders and pay Saturday night or by paying cash upon pick-up or delivery. Pick up is between 3-6 p.m. Tuesday. Delivery has also been available at no extra charge within Yachats city limits from 5-7 p.m. Saturdays.
Because of the coronavirus issue, on Monday the owners decided to add delivery within an eight-mile radius of Yachats for a small fee.
As multitudes of restaurants around the world either close entirely or restrict their offerings to take-out or delivery only, Vital Bites is also hoping to “move forward and get through this,” says co-owner Lindzey Robinette.
Their hope is that the grocery supply for dishes like eggplant parmesan and Lebanese lamb-and-beef plate stay stable, enabling them to continue serving up nutrient-dense cuisine. Vital Bites offers freshly-prepared, whole foods with a menu that changes weekly. Recent offerings — ranging in price from $12-14 — include cajun chicken and sausage jambalaya, meatloaf and Asian-style chicken.
“I’ve always loved cooking, especially international food,” says Bassima Robinette, mother and partner of daughter Lindzey. Familiar to some locals from a former gig at the Underground Pub, the Lebanese-born chef has owned and managed several restaurants and bars.
Lindzey Robinette is a certified nutritional therapy practitioner who most recently worked at a functional medicine clinic in Corvallis. There, and in other wellness work, she detected a theme among her clients: “They all wanted to eat healthy and not cook all the time, so this is a good way to keep them on their health journey.”
The foodie duo, who live in Yachats, have enjoyed “a super warm welcome from the community,” said Lindzey Robinette. Several fans have posted rave reviews on Vital Bites’ Facebook page, and if demand warrants, the women may expand — likely in the catering service they already offer. Another possibility is offering larger, family-sized meals.
“We want people to sit around the table and eat as a family,” says Lindzey Robinette.
As for everyone, how those goals shake out in a changing world remains to be seen.
Vital Bites Kitchen operates out of Outta Gas Pizza on Tuesdays, when the pizza restaurant is closed to the public. Ordering is through their website, or by phone: 541-961-3397.