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Fresh Air recently interviewed a chef, Tom Colicchio (sp?) and he had what seemed like a novel solution to this problem. Since suppliers to commercial kitchens
by save_ferris 6y ago
Fresh Air recently interviewed a chef, Tom Colicchio (sp?) and he had what seemed like a novel solution to this problem.
Since suppliers to commercial kitchens aren’t able to easily switch production to support consumer-facing customers, he argued that the Federal Government should subsidize restaurants based on a percentage of typical revenue (say 80%), and then use the kitchen staff to make prepared meals that can be sold via takeout, or CSA-style boxes that customers can take home and cook themselves. This way, restaurants get to employ staff while using their commercial kitchens to process food that consumers/food pantries could actually use.
This would help stabilize the restaurant industry while we wait for a vaccine and keep at least some staff employed while performing an essential task (converting food for consumers)
- jcims 6y agoHow is this different than just allowing restaurants to sell curbside?
- war1025 6y agoI believe the difference is the government would subsidize the cost. So for example, instead of heading to the food bank, you'd get food from a restaurant.
- catalogia 6y agoMore opportunity for grifter bureaucrats to worm their tendrils in.
- save_ferris 6y agoNot all restaurants have menus that are able to easily translate to takeout, and restaurants don’t currently coordinate with producers on what food is backing up in the supply chain. For example, say that the chicken supply has outgrown its demand. A coordinated food production effort between suppliers and restaurants could ensure that supply of chicken is sent to a restaurant to be processed and sold directly as a raw ingredient, which isn’t something you typically see in a takeout situation. Or the processed chicken could go to a community kitchen or something. Either way, the food is successfully processed and sold/donated instead of being wasted.
- irrational 6y agoWhat is an example of a restaurant that can't do takeout? Even ice cream places around here are doing takeout, and I would have thought that something like ice cream would be the last thing that I would see available by takeout.
- azinman2 6y agoFine dining doesn’t translate in the same way, yet their fixed costs don’t change. They also likely aren’t selling liquor which often is the big money maker that subsidizes everything else.
- bbarn 6y agoLots of restaurants that are as much "experience" as they are food. Think of things like Korean BBQ, Benihanas and the like, etc. Also ramen's never stellar in take out mode (most of the great ramen places in my city did it even before the pandemic and it was lackluster in comparison to eating there). Many menus at restaurants depend on a serial eating experience.. drinks, appetizer, drinks, entree, desert, coffee. That doesn't translate well to take out either. Yes, you can work parts of it and make do - if survival and getting people fed is the ultimate goal - but remember that this entire eating out experience, with all its layers and ceremonies.. was barely in the black before covid, so shrinking it down to the minimum viable delivery order could still be operating at a loss financially.
- r00fus 6y agoThe subsidization part. Demand generation is needed because people aren't going out, because government told them not to. Now the government needs to do it's part to keep the economy going - massive stimulus.
- csdreamer7 6y agoWhy does the govt need to subsidize this at all? My local restaurant: Norms in southern California has been offering bundles of mostly uncooked food to purchase since the lockdown began in plastic covered trays. They have been making money off this to stay in business and employ people.
- save_ferris 6y agoLots of restaurants throughout the country aren’t currently able to stay afloat, even for takeout. And states are starting to reopen and expecting restaurants to open as well, but many in the industry fear that restaurants that reopen before a vaccine is found will be financial suicide. Restaurants in communities that are financially healthy enough to support takeouts probably don’t need as much help, but this isn’t true for much of the country.
- smileysteve 6y agoTowards this; I find it ironic that restaurants fired most of their staff just in time for schools to close and charities to beg for volunteers to help make and deliver basic meals to children.
- disease 6y agoSomething similar to this is already happening. I've seen at least two restaurants in my area selling their food as groceries.