Orlandoans inspire food fans to #SupportLocal with Takeout Bingo

What fired Airam Datoon up?

Chili's.

The Orlando freelance photographer and graphic designer read about what happened last weekend, when workers at the Orlando airport Chili's were asked to come in and clean, only to be laid off afterward.

Not long after, he touched base with a few local restaurateurs, familiar faces at À La Cart's Chicken Fire in the Milk District and Qreate Coffee + Studio in Mills 50, two relatively new businesses here in town.

“They told me they weren't doing well at all,” says Dato-on, “that if this situation went on another month or two, they probably wouldn't survive.”

He felt moved to help these and other local businesses, and so he designed a Takeout Bingo card, something he hoped would spark folks' interest in grabbing takeout from their favorite local eateries. It included foodie household names spanning multiple neighborhoods, Dixie Dharma, Pizza Bruno and MX Taco among them.

Not surprisingly, restaurant owners were touched and grateful (and forgiving of typos, which have since been corrected).

Many were moved to create special prizes for participants.

And their ensuing popularity has inspired Dato-on to make multiple cards, each for different neighborhoods around town. Right now, there are five cards.

“This is such an innovative way for Main Street Orlando to hold together during such hard times,” says Ryan Manning, chef/owner of MX Taco. “At MX Taco, we will give a free taco for every card completed during these difficult times. We have Mills 50/Milk District cards available in our Bumby location and will also send them out with every online order.”

Several other restaurants have contacted Dato-on to be added. Other eateries are offering prizes, too. “Rules are specific to participating restaurants, or you can call to find out if they're offering one,” he says.

Similarly, another group of locals, consultant Heather Bedor at the helm, started up Still Serving, a Facebook group that's “dedicated to all your local favorite hangouts that will be fulfilling to-go orders and in-house dining while following the Governor of Florida's guidelines for your safety.”

Bedor, who volunteered at The Center following the Pulse tragedy and for the Red Cross after the shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School (she is a Coral Springs native) has called Orlando home for 20 years.

“I'm never moving!” she says. “I love this town … I'm proud of this community and everything we have. It is so incredible to watch everyone come together. Each time something knocks us back, we dust off and become an even stronger united front!”

Still Serving, which grew to more than 800 members in less than a week's time, has put out a call-to-action for its own version of Takeout Bingo. Participation is free for all. Prizes offered are completely at the venue's discretion.

“We will be encouraging all venues involved to post to their social media about it,” she explains. “But we don't want anyone to feel left out or that they can't participate. I'm sure there will be many unique offerings coming out of this. Whatever we can do to make it easier on these small businesses to stay open.”

Dato-on has been inspired by the experience and feels it's been a catalyst that will drive him to help other Orlando communities in need.

“I'm motivated by the idea of community over competition,” he says.

Foodies interested in printing a Takeout Bingo card for use will find them on Dato-on's Instagram account, @airamdphoto. Look for the “Eat Local” icon in his stories.

Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@ orlandosentinel.com. Want more foodie news? Sign up for the Food & Drink newsletter at orlando sentinel.com/newsletters.