by CAROL THOMPSON
Special to the Signal Tribune
The restaurants may not be fancy, nor a foodie fantasy, but for a group of North Long Beach residents, meeting at a different restaurant once each month is not so much about the cuisine as it is about sustaining community and supporting local businesses. Start the meal with socializing, add in reminiscing about days gone by, sprinkle in a review of current events and add a dash of heated political discussion, and you’ve created a recipe worth sharing.
On a recent Monday evening, Dine Out 90805 was held at Chiltepe on Atlantic Avenue, where 20 residents enjoyed traditional El Salvadorian and Mexican specialties, while catching up on the latest neighborhood buzz.
“We have an average of 12 to 15 people participate every month and, on occasion, we’ve had up to 30,” said Laurie Angel, president of the North Long Beach Community Action Group (NLB CAG) which created Dine Out 90805 a dozen years ago as a way to strengthen the social bonds of the group while supporting the business community.
The monthly event has become a tradition for founding members, and its longevity is testament to the passion of North Long Beach stalwart ambassadors such as Martha Thuentes, Dan Pressburg, Bill Baker, Chuck Fowler, Laurie Angel, Linda Ivers and others who consistently provide a voice for the “Top of the Town” to all who will listen.
While Dine Out 90805 is designed as a monthly social gathering, it cannot help but take on a political shine, given the regular attendance of the ninth council district’s own Val Lerch, as well as various Long Beach Redevelopment Agency regulars. But make no mistake, this is not a club, and all residents in and beyond 90805 are welcome to participate.
Regardless of whether the diners attend out of a sense of civic duty or more genuine social pursuits, the Dine Out concept is a winner for both the residents and businesses in the community. “Each month a different restaurant is selected, based on recommendations from NLB CAG members, and we simply notify the restaurant to expect a group of anywhere from 10 to 20 diners, advertise the event through email and website postings and show up,” explains Angel. “There is no RSVP required. It is a casually organized event.”
Admittedly, the group ventures beyond 90805 into Bixby Knolls and other surrounding areas, as the reality has been a dwindling number of full-service restaurants in 90805 in recent years.
Angel said while some restaurants prefer a prearranged group reservation and special menu, most simply appreciate a “heads up” warning to ensure adequate staffing. This is especially important when the restaurant chosen is a small, family-run business such as Chiltepe, where the kitchen, even with advance warning, was overwhelmed by the increased dinner demand.
The up side to the longer wait time was additional opportunity for diners to chat and commiserate over growling bellies as well as local political issues of the day. And since the point of the gathering is not particularly geared to critiquing local cuisine, participants were willing to forgive the wait in the name of supporting a local business. That being said, it doesn’t hurt when the quality of the food delivers satisfied diners, which seemed to be the case at Chiltepe.
Dine Out 90805 is a tradition in North Long Beach worth duplicating in other neighborhoods, especially during these tougher economic times when local businesses might benefit from additional patronage. At minimum, you will support a local restaurant that will appreciate the business while getting together with friends or meeting other community members. And what’s not to like about a planned dinner out once a month? That in itself is an appetizing notion.
If you wish to be on the email list to receive notifications for Dine Out 90805, email nlbcentral@yahoo.com.
