Food, Good Feelings and Community
Off the Cuff with Dragon Pit BBQâs Emerson Holliday
Photo via Facebook / Dragon Pit BBQ
2020 may have been one of the biggest years for discourse surrounding food; from the revelations of insensitive workplace culture to the spread of recipe videos on social media, there was discussion ranging from politics to shared amusement over bad cooking.
In the City of Racine, however, the culinary spirit was ever present and supportive. While events like the annual summer food truck tour were suspended, many restaurants were able to maintain their businesses by offering carry out services and hosting pop up events at The Branch on 1501 Washington Avenue. One of the most popular restaurants to emerge from The Branchâs hosting events is Dragon Pit BBQ. Owner Emerson Holliday started out as a chef before the pandemic and then branched into his own business, selling barbeque and soul food related staples such as catfish and pulled pork sandwiches. H
Malicki
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been about a half-million transactions combined at the two Piggly Wiggly grocery stores run by Ralph Malicki: at 5201 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant, and at 2201 E. Rawson Ave., Oak Creek. Thatâs at least a half-million potential coronavirus exposures for Malickiâs staff, which totals about 125 between the two stores.
âTell me what other groups of people have been through that many peopleâ during the pandemic, Malicki said of food service workers compared to those in other occupations.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that grocery store employees be included â along with police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, postal workers and certain other essential workers â in statesâ second phase of COVID-19 vaccinations.