Casey’s Café adapts with innovation and a sense of humor

Cheri Parr

Casey Sample presents a to-go dinner to a couple of Cunha students who are about to drive home from a long day at school.

Casey Sample, owner of Casey’s Café in Half Moon Bay, took the old adage of "Making Lemonaid out of Lemons" to a new level.  Surrounded by talk of failing businesses and the impact of the Devil’s slide outage on local commerce, Casey had an idea: turn the outage to an advantage. 

"I kept thinking about all those evening commuters, stuck in their cars for hours, facing cooking dinner and doing dishes when they got home.  Why not make their life a little easier? "  From that initial thought came "Deviled-to-Go"—daily specials to go for weary commuters.  In addition to making regular menu available to go, Casey has added a devilish twist: Deviled Crab Dip, Fallen Angel Hair Pasta, and that classic stand-by Deviled Eggs. Dinners cost from $10 -$16, tax included, and are ready for pick-up at the back of the café on Purissima Street. 

Casey tries not to think too far ahead, or guess when the slide will re-open.  She laughs,  "I just take it one day at a time and go from there.  As long as there is Devil’s food cake and Fire & Brimstone blackened tuna I’ll be here working in Hell’s kitchen!"

You can reach Casey for today’s special at 650-560-4880, or download a PDF of her devilish new menu from Coastsider.

BUSINESS OWNERS: Are you doing something creative to cope with the Slide crisis?  Let us know.