Support Our Local Restaurants
Things can certainly change a lot in a week. No truer words have ever been spoken, especially in the middle of what we are in. No fluff this week, let’s get straight to how you can help:
The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) just launched the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund, a state-wide resource to provide fast access to cash grants for North Carolina restaurant and hotel workers immediately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort will consolidate funds collected through the Triangle Restaurant Workers Relief Fund. The goal is to provide qualified applicants with $500 to help with the immediate expenses faced by many who have suddenly found themselves out of work. Tens of thousands of restaurant and hotel employees are now facing significant financial hardships as businesses curtail services in efforts to encourage social distancing and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Donate here if you can!
Other Things You Can Do
Order takeout! You love their food – just swing by and pick it up! Most restaurants allow you to order and pay online or pay over the phone with a CC and be in and out in a jiffy. “No Contact” deliveries is the new norm. Most have designated parking just for this. Don’t forget to tip!!
How do you keep up with all that our restaurants are doing? Here are some handy links:
WRAL has a tremendous Triangle-wide list going. Check it out here.
In Chapel Hill/Carrboro, the most comprehensive list is offered here and compiled by the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau.
In Durham, Discover Durham has a fantastic list here.
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has a great downtown Raleigh list here.
And over in Hillsborough, here is a great list compiled by the Town of Hillsborough.
And if you are down in Chatham County, the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau has an updated list here.
And finally, because this is such a fast moving and changing environment, please follow your favorite local restaurants on their social media platforms.
Buy gift cards that you can use later! Help them over the short-term hump. This is not the perfect solution, but cash (flow) is king right now. Buy the gift cards now, they get to enjoy the “cash advance” during this difficult time, and then after we get beyond this, you get to enjoy a fabulous meal (or two, or three)! A win, win!
Even better, go ahead and get ALL your holiday shopping done NOW! Who doesn’t love a restaurant gift card as a gift? That’s a win, win, win! For many restaurants, you can do this online – even better!
People Doing Good
Here are some people/groups facing adversity and tackling it head-on with some incredible creativity. If you know of others, please email me at [email protected] so that we can highlight them next week.
Keep Supporting Love & Nourish
Love and Nourish 2020: buy a Family Pack (feeds 4 + leftovers!) for $60, and $10 goes back to help provide meals to families in need identified by with Families Moving Forward, Durham Public School Foundation, Sunday Supper Durham and End Hunger Durham. Visit the Love and Nourish website here.
Free Cookies Today (Friday, March 27) at A Place At The Table
Chris Duke and his Anna’s Gourmet Goodies are taking their Free Cookie Friday concept this week to A Place At The Table in downtown Raleigh. The first 50 patrons who order take-out today for lunch will get a free chocolate chip cookie. I will be there and would love to see you (from 6 ft. away)!
See you today at:
A Place At The Table
300 W. Hargett St. #50
Raleigh, NC 27601
Vivian Howard’s New TV Show Premiers Tonight!
Celebrity chef, author and restaurateur Vivian Howard, who previously hosted the award-winning series A Chef’s Life, returns to PBS in a new six-part series, Somewhere South. A culinary tour exploring the dishes that are uniting cultures and creating new traditions across the American South, it premieres TONIGHT and continues on Fridays through May 1, 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video App. Check it out here. Thanks so much to all. Together – being smart, vigilant, compassionate and calm – we will get through this. Together. My best, Sean Lennard, aka Triangle Food Guy
Food Bank Corner
Also, don’t forget the great work of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the people they serve during this time. The Food Bank is assessing what their agencies and the people they support will need, and working to keep their partner agencies (the pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters who serve people) stocked with food and supplies. We are also taking extra precautions around food safety and hygiene. Consider an online donation today!
