Flores Concepts’ Carlotta’s Kitchen to support four weeks of ready to eat food to first responders and emergency professionals

Tucson, AZ—Local family owned business operators, Ray Flores Jr. and Chef Carlotta Flores of Flores Concepts and Si Charro restaurants, have announced that starting Tuesday April 7th thru Tuesday May 5th the family’s Carlotta’s Kitchen USDA food company will provide 4 weeks’ worth of prepared dinner kits free of charge to Tucson-area firefighters and first responder stations. Tucson Fire Department’s Andy Stead, Charity Director of Local 479 and Amber Smith, President & CEO of the Tucson Metro Chamber, and others are assisting to provide direction and communication on the most efficient ways to get food to the stations each week.
In total, Chef Carlotta says her USDA company’s kitchen team will produce recipes for approximately 1000 meals per week to be divided between various first responder locations. Chef Carlotta knows how community support makes all the difference, “My family has been with Tucson through many challenges over our near 100-year history and we will get through this one in the same fashion with hard work and togetherness.”
“Our Goal is to utilize the commercial ability of Carlotta’s Kitchen, a USDA inspected facility, to help fire departments and first responders in Tucson have easy to prepare meals to enjoy from now until May 5th”, said Flores. The food will be a mix of staple ingredients prepared in bulk and ready-to-eat like the cooked proteins, sauces, tamales, and enchiladas commonly found on the menus of the family’s Si Charro! restaurants.
Ms. Smith, whose husband is a Tucson Fire Captain, is helping coordinate efforts with Mr. Stead and the IAFF Local 479 to distribute the food throughout the city. “Many do not realize that first responders often cook their own meals so helping them with prepared food will relieve them from some stress during this difficult time. The generosity of Carlotta’s Kitchen and The Flores Family truly represents the significant good will gestures occurring across the community.”
About Carlotta’s Kitchen: Carlotta’s Kitchen is one of only a handful of USDA licensed food facilities in Tucson and creates recipes used by The Flores’ Si Charro restaurants as well as other local and regional customers. The 16k foot facility located near downtown employs approximately 45 full time people. This effort will also give these employees ongoing work while supporting our community’s first responder heroes.