Weekend Update | May 9 -10

Happy Monday, Chattanooga!

If you're returning to work from home or back to the office, we sincerely hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

As was the case last week, we are starting to see a lot of local restaurants begin opening, and we are actually joining the ranks this weekend! If you find yourself or your business in this situation, we hosted a webinar covering Restaurant Protocols and Reopening (the information and a recording of the webinar can be found here!). We want to be sure everyone feels confident and prepared to return to work. We also want to ensure you can ensure your customers and guests feel safe and protected to return to YOU!

LOCAL NEWS:

Lil Oso will continue to offer curbside pick up and delivery out of our location at 422 E MLK Blvd.! The hours are updated - Wednesday - Saturday; 4pm - 8pm. We will also be opening our patio to the public on Friday! More info on that soon...
Looking for which restaurants are open? Check out Chattanooga's list here!
Small business hotline opens in Chattanooga for assistance during COVID-19 crisis
Farmers markets reopening in Chattanooga area as coronavirus restrictions ease; find one near you

REOPENING NEWS AND GUIDELINES:

FOOD AND BEVERAGE:

As always, please visit the Hospitality Relief Board for a lot of available resources as well!

UPCOMING SEMINARS + OFFICE HOURS:

US FOODS webinars:

- CARES ACT Q&A

Join our resident expert Brian Kerby (Restaurant Operations Consultant at US Foods®) to ask any questions you have about navigating the CARES Act. We will briefly review any recent, relevant updates to the legislation and open the floor for your questions.

Tuesday, May 12, 2:00 PM CST

- MOVING FORWARD: CALCULATING CASH FLOW

To help ensure you can weather the COVID-19 pandemic, our Restaurant Operations Consultants will review tools and best practices to calculate your cash flow and manage your operations accordingly.

Thursday, May 14, 10:00 AM CST

- ACCELERATING TAKEOUT

Learn from our Restaurant Operations Consultants and Food Fanatics® Chefs how to quickly ramp up your takeout and delivery program.

Thursday, May 14, 2:00 PM CST

- STAY CONNECTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

Our Restaurant Operations Consultants will share social media best practices, including how to create engaging content and stay connected to your customers during this COVID-19 crisis.

REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING SESSION

Martes, 12 de Mayo, 10:00 AM CST (en Español)

Wednesday, May 13, 10:00 AM CST

- REOPENING SAFELY: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE

As some states are releasing plans to reopen, our Restaurant Operations Consultants will review tips to help you prepare to reopen your restaurant accordingly. This will include guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Restaurant Association.

Monday, May 11, 4:00 PM CST

Wednesday, May 13, 2:00 PM CST

- PREPARING TO REOPEN: RUN A PROFITABLE KITCHEN

From receiving to storage, from prep to plating, your kitchen is where a profitable operation starts. Our Food Fanatics® Chefs will show you how to reopen with a profitable kitchen in the new normal. We'll discuss the keys to kitchen efficiency, streamlining your menu and how to stand out from your competitors to give diners what they want now.

REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING SESSION:

Friday, May 15, 10:00 AM CST

National Restaurant Association Webinars:

- Datassentials webinar: Running through the Fire – planning the future of restaurant menus Join Jack Li, head of Datassential's Haiku™ division – as he shares his data-based case to plan your restaurant menu in a post-COVID world.

May 12, 2020 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET - Yelp Webinar - Marketing when Limited to WOM and Social Join Emily Washcovick from Yelp as we share tips for communicating with your customers when your marketing budget is zero.

May 13, 2020 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET

- Business Interruption Insurance Claims: What You Need To Know Now

As the restaurant and foodservice industry continues to grapple with the impact of COVID-19 and government shut-down orders, many have sought business interruption coverage under commercial property insurance policies.

May 13, 2020 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET

- Technomic Talks - Off-Premise Shift During this webinar Technomic will give an update on dining-in restrictions throughout the US and the shifted emphasis to off-premise occassions.

May 20, 2020 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM ET

- Technomic Talks: COVID-19 Impact Update Join Technomic as we cover the latest research and insights on the COVID-19 foodservice impact.

June 3, 2020 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM ET

James Beard Foundation Industry Webinars:

- Tuesday, May 12: Ask the Experts About PPP

Did you get a Paycheck Protection loan or a Emergency Disaster grant? Are you still confused about how to use the funds or in the case of the PPP use them in a way that maximizes loan forgiveness? You’re not alone. With the SBA updating guidance almost daily, chefs and owners around the country are still struggling to understand the Paycheck Protection Program. On Tuesday, May 12, we’ll be joined by experts from Arnold & Porter to provide chefs and owners with an update on the Paycheck Protection (PPP) and EIDL programs. In this session, owners will be able to ask about the two programs including how best to document your loan use for sake of future forgiveness, understanding the FTE calculations under PPP and other pressing questions you have.

Register here.

- Thursday, May 14: Food Producers in the Pandemic

News agencies across the country are reporting on the consequences the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the American food supply chain this summer and for years to come. Like everyone, farmers and producers have been dramatically impacted. Eric Deeble, Policy Director at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, joins us to talk about the effect COVID-19, and policy related to the pandemic, has had on farmers, and what chefs and culinary professionals can do to support local and sustainable farms.

Register here.

And as always, our local favorites: