So, how can we help restaurants and workers now?

[Robin Garr]

Question for all who love the Louisville dining scene: How best can we help our restaurants AND the people who work there now? Give us your thoughts!

If one is fortunate enough to still be earning a paycheck, donate. For restaurant workers, the Lee Initiative will help:
https://leeinitiative.org/

To help Louisvillians in general, the Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund:
https://cfl.iphiview.com/cfl/DonorsFundholders/AccountInformation/tabid/495/dispatch/accountselection_id$281928_hash$2deaa6fb85c13529941773b9d0f23951919895a5/Default.aspx

[Robin Garr]

Thanks, Silvio. Two very good options.

Also, APRON is always ready to help. Their plan this time is to reserve most funds for restaurant workers who get the virus, and that may get real in coming weeks.
https://www.aproninc.org/donate/

Dare to Care is a very well-run organization, and is a good way to get food to food insecure households quickly. Easy to donate, and they seem to be well-run in terms of overhead. They come to my work parking lot every month, rain or shine. In fact, they'll be there on Thursday, 10-noon, this week. L&N Building, 908 W. Broadway. Certainly not restaurant-worker specific, but we're in all-hands on deck territory. I encourage donations, or access if needed. You can do a lot with what they provide.

A lot of restaurants are trying hard to pivot to carryout, so I suggest if you love a place and they're doing a carryout deal, hit them up. Chikn & Mi had a great deal where for $30 you got a large entree (feeds 4) and two big sides that I made sure to hit up because I don't know how to make jeaw bong barbeque sauce at home. I also made sure to go to Funmi's Cafe last week, and I'll probably try to do that again. I've also upped the amount I tip when I do go.

I don't know how to make jeaw bong barbeque sauce at home.

This looks kind of close to what I picture them tossing those nuggets in. We had Chik'n & Mi cater a work lunch on Friday and they provided Jeaw Bong sauce on the side. Bet they would sell it by the pint.

I tried numerous times to buy the Jerk sauce at Cumberland, but they wouldn't sell it.

https://shesimmers.com/2009/06/how-to-m ... hilli.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeow_bong

I'm wondering if Choi's might have some of the Jeow Bong paste.

along with doing the carry-out thing, my wife and I have purchased a few gift certs for our favorite places. our way of letting them know that we believe in them and we'll be back the first night they re-open!

[Robin Garr]

Great response, Willie. Thanks for doing something specific and positive ... and for passing it on!

I'm just bumping this up to remind anyone with short-term food insecurity, including restaurant workers, that Dare to Care will be in the parking lot of the L&N Building (9th and Broadway) tomorrow from 10-noon. No qualifying information required, measures have been take to ensure safe social distancing practices, etc. Please share this with anyone in need.

I am sure this has been thought of before if not mentioned but with this money the government is supposed to be sending out, why not give a percentage of it to help the food service workers or your choice of less fortunate via a respectable charity.

[Robin Garr]

A restaurant tithe! That's good, Bev, although I'm afraid people out of work in other jobs are going to have a hard time giving up any of that payment.

Fortunate enough to be working and able to work from home. We have done takeout at Uptown, Martin's, and Le Relais, and have plans for others of our favorites. We're trying to use restaurants more often than before. I'm making a point to buy a bottle of wine from those that allow it and have a list. I think that's a profitable item for restaurants and might be helpful. Also, tipping much bigger than usual, even with takeout, because I feel so bad for what I fear they're all going through.

[Robin Garr]

Good advice, Jay. Thanks.