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Kelowna restaurant gets creative to adjust to new health orders

The owners of RauDZ Regional Table open 91Ƶpop-up patio91Ƶ to adjust to health order banning indoor dining
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A pop-up patio has appeared on Pandosy Street in front of .

In an effort to adjust to the new public health orders put in place by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry RauDZ Regional Table had to pivot in order to remain open as the restaurant91Ƶs location doesn91Ƶt have space for a patio.

RauDZ Regional Table is under the umbrella of RauDZ Creative Concepts, which also owns Sunny91Ƶs a Modern Diner, Micro Bar and Bites, and The Okanagan Table. Normally, The Okanagan Table focuses on catering private events, but when the new health orders came into place, co-owner Audrey Surrao says the company had to think outside of the box.

The extension of the public health orders banning indoor dining concerned Surrao regarding the survival of RauDZ Regional Table 91Ƶ it91Ƶs the largest of the company91Ƶs restaurants with the most seats.

91ƵIt91Ƶs a long time to be closed with no revenue. It91Ƶs still generating expenses, like everyone else,91Ƶ she told Capital News.

That was when Surrao and co-owner chef Rod Butters decided to set up to serve a pop-up RauDZ patio on Pandosy.

The menu was curated by Surrao and Butters, with RauDZ fan-favourites like the garlic butter-basted Angus New York steak and the oat-crusted Arctic char. For a limited time only, they have added special menu items like thin-crust pizza. Many of the patio menu items can even be purchased inside The Okanagan Table for customers to cook at home, like the pizza dough and ingredients.

Although the menu and the patio came together quickly, it wasn91Ƶt without added costs. Surrao says the restaurant is renting out the parking spaces in front of Okanagan Table and had to get the proper equipment to put the whole patio together.

Despite the differences, Surrao says it still has that chef Butters quality Kelowna has come to know and love. However, the pop-up patio and limited-time dishes will only be around until public health orders allow for RauDZ to reopen 91Ƶ so you might want to try that thin crust pizza ASAP.

91ƵWe try to be as positive as we can,91Ƶ explained Surrao. 91ƵIt91Ƶs been a really challenging year. It91Ƶs scary for us.91Ƶ

Before the pandemic hit, RauDZ Creative Concepts employed 79 people, since the pandemic hit, it is down to 41 employees. Surrao recognizes a lot of employees rely on RauDZ for their livelihood which is something she and chef Butters take seriously and they are doing everything they can to keep their employees.

But with the support of the community, Surrao stays hopeful. The new patio space was decorated to create the same ambiance as RauDZ Regional Table with the same great service and delicious dishes 91Ƶ just in a different spot. Check out the full menu .

91ƵYou91Ƶve got Rod Butters cooking in the kitchen himself, you can91Ƶt get any better than that,91Ƶ Surrao said.

READ MORE: AstraZeneca advice from national panel delayed by new data on COVID-19 and variants

READ MORE: West Kelowna allows expanded patios, retail spaces



amandalina.letterio@kelownacapnews.com

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