Ox + Anchor, The Palm Theatre and the San Luis Obispo Film Festival partnered up to bring SLO residence “Indies + Eats” to take a different spin on the dinner and a movie” experience.
Indies + Eats is a series of events hosted by the SLO Film Festival. Every week on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, through the end of February, classic indie films featuring food are paired with a dinner at Ox + Anchor, with dishes inspired by the film.
Indies + Eats brings in new crowds and helps to accelerate local business for both Ox + Anchor and the Palm Theatre, according to Kenya Kieler, a hostess at Ox + Anchor and Hotel SLO.
“I’ve asked people that come in because of this deal and they say that they are so excited because they have never come into Ox + Anchor before,” Kieler said.
Tori Russotti, who has worked as a server at Ox + Anchor for two years, said, “It’s another way to get people dining in a notoriously low dining month … it’s kind of a play on restaurant month.”
Russotti believes the partnership between Ox + Anchor and the Palm Theatre brings an influx of customers due to these screenings and gourmet meals.
According to enjoyslo.com, “Restaurant Month runs throughout January and has over 45 participating restaurants that will be offering special prix-fixe menus at 3 – 4 courses at $30 – $40 per person along with other special offers.”
Indies + Eats is based on the cuisine, with the film showings reflecting food and the gourmet meals to match, some locals said they loved the experience.
“I like this theatre, it’s small and I’ve known the Dees for a long time,” Long-time Palm Theatre patron and owner of local business Del Monte Café Debbie Collins said.
Jim Dee is the owner of the Palm Theatre and a member of the SLO community.
“I think that it’s very well done, and I like how it’s a very gourmet experience and how you get to eat what you see and I just think it’s a very cool concept,” Kieler said.
Movies such as “Eat Pray Love,” “Truffle Hunters” and “Julia” are being shown in the historic Palm Theatre.
According to the Palm Theatre’s About page, “The beginnings of the Palm Theatre go back to 1973.”
Ox + Anchor Executive Chef Ryan Fancher puts a modern spin on the classic steakhouse, drawing inspiration from the hills and sea surrounding San Luis Obispo, Ox + Anchors’ About page said.
Each meal at Ox + Anchor that’s paired with a film is a “prix fixe” or a price-fixed multiple-course meal prepared and imagined by Executive Chef Ryan Fancher of Hotel SLO. $10 will be donated from this fixed price to support the SLO Film Festival, according to the festival website.