Cart
Chef Works is committed to supporting our community by providing important and relevant news through our media channels. Here are some links and resources we thought you’d find important.
HAPPENING NOW
Restaurants have had to pivot drastically in the last month. For some, that meant closing the doors and hoping to ride out the storm. Others transitioned to pick-up and delivery. And some have even turned into makeshift grocery stores.
According to the Associated Press, the grocery store concept is a nationwide trend for both large-scale restaurant groups and mom-and-pop shops. Beyond staying afloat, for many, there is a sense of community service that comes along with providing essential goods.
“A lot of people are saying they’re happy to support us, but a lot of people are saying ‘Thank you for helping us,’” said Charlene Gulliford, general manager of Gandy Dancer in O’Fallon, Mo.
You can check out the full story here.
Not all shows and events were canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Apparently the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition still happened last month, and Forbes has the results of the world’s best bourbons (among other spirits). Cheers!
FEEL-GOOD STORIES
Speaking of bourbon, there’s a feel-good story out of Tampa, Fla., where restaurant owners put up a rare $20,000 bourbon to help with the bills. A veteran insisted on buying it for $40,000. This act of kindness kept their doors open and even allowed the restaurant to bring back a few employees. CNN has the report.
CNBC has a roundup of people delivering meals to 1) feed healthcare workers and 2) to help keep restaurants in business. Among the stories are a chef in Harlem, whose wife is a nurse, and a chef-partner of a beer hall in the Bay Area now delivering meals.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Samuel Adams and the Greg Hill Foundation have launched the Restaurant Strong Fund, where you can help restaurant workers by state. On the site, you can either donate or apply for a grant.
Food Tank has a list of 40-plus charities and organizations around the world that are helping and how you can support them.
STAYING PROPERLY INFORMED AND SAFE
The National Restaurant Association has an extensive resource page – including links, webinars and a Q&A. You can also sign up for their email updates.
Depending on where you live in the country, things might be escalating or starting to slowly peter out. Either way, it’s still good to know the facts. How is COVID-19 similar – and different – from influenza? There’s a good chance you’re reading this on your phone. Have you cleaned it lately? Here’s how.
Johns Hopkins University has expanded its coronavirus resource center even more in the last couple of weeks. Track the spread and get the resources you need to stay safe.
STAY CONNECTED WITH CHEF WORKS
We’re using all of our media channels to communicate important and reliable information to our community.
Stay caught up with the Chef Works blog:
- How Chef Works is helping our community with free neckerchiefs and aprons.
- Food critic, writer and TV personality Troy Johnson is hopeful for a “massive flood” of people at restaurants.
- A Q&A with New York Executive Pastry Chef Caroline Schiff.
- Some social media bits to (hopefully) make you smile.