24 Karrot Kitchen pivots to take-out meals

by Nicole Rosselot

Kathleen Madden, owner/chef of 24 Karrot Kitchen, has steered her cafe through the pandemic by incorporating new ideas into her business model.

“When you’re not getting the steady income that you did before, you have to figure out ways of reinventing yourself,” she said.

While Madden enjoys having customers linger over their meals, COVID has made in-person dining financially impossible. “The reality is,” she said. “when I have to have my tables 6-feet apart, it is not practical to have my dining area open. I can’t make enough money, because I can’t physically get enough people into the cafe.”

Instead, Madden now offers a limited take-out dinner menu on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and occasional Fridays. Customers order by noon that day and pick up their meal between 5:00-7:00 pm.

Madden said the switch to pre-ordered carryout, helps her know how much food to order and prepared.

“There is no waste, and I know how many staff members I will need. This has been easier for me to manage through COVID,” she said.

Madden’s cafe focuses on eating fresh, locally-farmed meats and produce.

“Everything is made fresh, so I have control over what goes into our food,” she said. “Folks like that they can eat healthy here, and it tastes so good.”

The cafe also offers limited prepared foods to go, like soups, bakery and hot drinks.

“We don’t use any syrups [in the drinks]. We use fresh spices and grind our own vanilla beans. When you order a hot drink, we use antioxidant, immune-boosting ingredients,” the owner said. 

Madden also added a small store in the dining area, offering her customers locally-sourced honey, jams, syrup and tea, as well as gluten-free, non-GMO foods. Through winter, the store has been stocked with pantry items, but fresh produce will soon be available.

This spring, the cafe will offer grab-and-go meals for breakfast and lunch. Customers will be able to purchase prepared foods, made in-house, and eat in the cafe.

“I am thinking about breakfast burritos in the morning and something easy for people to grab at lunch, like salads and wrap sandwiches,” Madden said. 

24 Karrot Kitchen also offers catering services, cooking classes and a CSA (Community Sustained Agriculture) program. Madden hopes to introduce as many people as possible to healthier eating.

“The concept is to expose people to things they wouldn’t normally try,” she said. “When farmers are growing organic produce, the nutrients in those foods are just what our bodies need, especially during this pandemic.”

24 Karrot Kitchen is located at 7059 Mill Rd. Visit their website at 24karrotkitchen.com. Hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ∞