El Cena Casa Day to be pre-order

COVID-19 has forced Riverside Grocery and Catering to make some changes to how it runs its El Cena Casa Day, which is scheduled for Jan. 30.

Owner Rick Bellinger thinks those changes might actually be an improvement.

“We get a huge demand from customers,” Bellinger said on why he tries to hold El Cena Casa Day twice a year.

He has been putting on the day for 14 years.

The day is in honor of the former El Cena Casa restaurant. When it closed, Bellinger was given the authentic recipes by the King family, which had owned the once popular Benton eatery.

It was known for its unique cheese dip, which Bellinger now sells by both the pint and the gallon, and its fruit punch. He also offers El Cena Casa’s hot sauce, guacamole, refried beans, spanish rice, fresh made chips, enchiladas and taco meat. The prices for all the items can be found on the Riverside Facebook page. All are sold in bulk.

Because of COVID, Bellinger was not able to offer El Cena Casa in the fall like usual. He said after Thanksgiving he was sitting in his tree stand thinking about how to safely offer it to the hundreds of people who line up to get it every time its offered.

He realized he could have people preorder and pick up the food by appointment.

Riverside is having people choose a 30 minute time slot. No more than 25 people will be allowed per slot. If a person selects a slot they have anytime during that 30 minutes to pick up their items. If they come late, they will have to come back after 6 p.m. If they arrive early, they will have to wait.

Bellinger plans to start giving out the preordered food at 11 a.m., which is earlier than El Cena Casa Day usually starts. Those who prepay will be able to take their things and go and those who haven’t will go to the register. Those paid in advance can choose curbside pickup.

Riverside is limiting it to

350 advance customers only. Orders will be taken until 6 p.m. Jan. 29 if it does not sell out before then.

The first few hours of time slots are already full. He said only those on the list will be able to purchase items.

Bellinger does plan to cook a small amount extra than people can come in and purchase after 6 p.m. If anything is left, it will also be available the next morning.

He does believe this way is easier because he knows exactly how much will be needed in advance.

“It is going to take a lot of cheese dip just to do the first two hours,” he said.

He plans to get ahead so customers don’t have to wait on him and his staff.

He thinks this might be the best way to handle El Cena Casa Day.

If it works out well doing the preorders, Bellinger said they could do it that way in the future.

“We will see how this goes,” he said.

Orders can be placed by calling 501-794-0329. Customers can pay on the phone or when they pick up their order.

“It is the same good food, just a little different technique to deliver it,” Bellinger said.