Cathy2 wrote:

Al Ehrhardt wrote:While Pritzger is shutting down everything he can (for the most part probably wise), but how does he not postpone people gathering to vote in usually fairly cramped spaces on Tuesday? Because it affects politicians???

I am supposed to be working the election on Tuesday. I am not to keen to be there, especially with elderly family. As a coordinator, already four people have cancelled to work and only one replacement. Those who worked early voting advised it has been slow going the whole time.

Regards,
Cathy2

Cathy,

My guess is you are in the younger group working the election. Most of the people who volunteer to work elections are retired and elderly. Guess politics are more important than a group that are at higher risk...

There went my reservations at El Ideas and Bavette's for later this month. Obviously, it's no big deal for me but for the employees who rely on places being open -- and tips -- this is going to be an especially rough time. A few places I frequent have already established gofundme.com campaigns for their employees, to which I plan to contribute.

=R=

Al Ehrhardt wrote:
That really sucks for restaurants to have no warning to sell thru their perishable food.

What do people do who are travelling and don't have a kitchen to cook in?

Delivery, drive-thru and curbside pickup will be allowed. A no-go for places like Alinea, but for most operations this will allow them to do business and enable anyone with funds to eat without cooking.

Short term goal: Try every Evanston Chicken Shack Menu item.

G Wiv wrote:Short term goal: Try every Evanston Chicken Shack Menu item.

If they institute curbside pickup (or violate the mandate).

scottsol wrote:If they institute curbside pickup (or violate the mandate).

I'm guessing curbside, not like they would have far to walk. I'd venture a low percentage of ECS sales are dine-in.

scottsol wrote:

Al Ehrhardt wrote:
That really sucks for restaurants to have no warning to sell thru their perishable food.

What do people do who are travelling and don't have a kitchen to cook in?

Delivery, drive-thru and curbside pickup will be allowed. A no-go for places like Alinea, but for most operations this will allow them to do business and enable anyone with funds to eat without cooking.

I hadn’t seen curbside pickup and delivery, but many regular menu items aren’t really delivery friendly that with planning could have sold thru those items. Fortunately this is beginning on a Monday, post weekend sales.

Concerning the primary this Tuesday, Pritzer was on CNN maybe two hours ago talking about closing the restaurants except for drive up or delivery. Somebody asked him about the primary, and he said that he extended the hours for early voting, and you can still do early voting tomorrow. He said lots of people have either done early voting or mail in, and he expects the number of people voting on Tuesday won't be that great.

I am in a similar situation where I am supposed to start working again for the census, and I am supposed to go to a training session at the Leaning Tower Y this Tuesday. Right now I have a little cough, but I am not running a fever. One of my Sister's is an endocrinologist and she lives in New Orleans. She called me up both yesterday and today because she was concerned about going door to door with the census. She told me today that I should call them up tomorrow, and tell them I am willing to go through the training, but I don't feel comfortable showing up on Tuesday, and sitting in the same room with 20 other people. She says they should just cancel the training session on Tuesday, and come up with an alternate way to train people. She worked for the VA in Little Rock for a year after Katrina, and she knows how disorganized they are, and she suspects that the census has not thought things out enough and come up with a contingency plan. I am supposed to visit group homes such as nursing homes and college dorms starting in April, and college dorms are not going to be open, and nursing homes will not let visitors in the front door. Thanks, Nancy

Al Ehrhardt wrote:

scottsol wrote:

Al Ehrhardt wrote:
That really sucks for restaurants to have no warning to sell thru their perishable food.

What do people do who are travelling and don't have a kitchen to cook in?

Delivery, drive-thru and curbside pickup will be allowed. A no-go for places like Alinea, but for most operations this will allow them to do business and enable anyone with funds to eat without cooking.

I hadn’t seen curbside pickup and delivery, but many regular menu items aren’t really delivery friendly that with planning could have sold thru those items. Fortunately this is beginning on a Monday, post weekend sales.

I noticed that a number Hogsalt restaurants that are normally open are closed today and Monday. Perhaps they are preparing for pickup service, both packing and possibly menu alterations.

While certain dished may not be good pickup candidates, that doesn’t mean the ingredients can’t be used in dishes that are.

https://chicago.eater.com/2020/3/13/21178161/coronavirus-grubhub-chicago-restaurants-fees-mayor

This pre-dated today's ban on all but delivery/pick-up--assuming GH knew this was a possibility when they planned this. It will, likely, lead to a lot more customers for them, at least in the short-run.

Operations like Door Dash are providing their drivers with some protective wear and cleaning supplies, as well as implementing processes for minimizing face-to-face contact.

Please consider buying gift cards from your favorite places, if they offer them. This will really help with cash flow during this time.

A whole new world, that's for sure.

boudreaulicious wrote:https://chicago.eater.com/2020/3/13/21178161/coronavirus-grubhub-chicago-restaurants-fees-mayor

This pre-dated today's ban on all but delivery/pick-up--assuming GH knew this was a possibility when they planned this. It will, likely, lead to a lot more customers for them, at least in thesome protective wear and cleaning supplies, as well as implementing processes for minimizing face-to-face

GrubHub’s move was probably based on the fact that even without any official action, restaurants were experiencing a major downturn in dine-in business, not including the droves of young, invulnerable drunkards on St. Patrick’s Day.

Al Ehrhardt wrote:Cathy,

My guess is you are in the younger group working the election. Most of the people who volunteer to work elections are retired and elderly. Guess politics are more important than a group that are at higher risk...

If you like irony, three judges who bowed out were high school age.

While I am by far not the oldest judge, I am among the longest serving judges in Lake County. I am at least 30 years into it.

Regards,
Cathy2

Seems we are all going to be doing a lot of cooking the following couple of weeks. Our first Social Distancing meal.

Hi- The mayor of New Orleans just announced that restaurants will be required to close at 9:00 pm. They can do take out and delivery until their regular closing hours. The restaurants are limited to 50% of maximum capacity for the dining room. Fast food restaurants are only allowed to offer drive up. Bars are allowed to stay open until midnight, and they are also limited to 50% of maximum capacity for the bar. Apparently there were major problems with crowd control on Bourbon Street this weekend. I am not sure if this is going to help much.

French Quarter Fest has been moved to the first weekend in October. There is no word yet about Jazz Fest, but a lot of people suspect that it is also going to take place in October. The CDC has just recommended that groups be limited to 50 people or less for the next month

NFriday wrote:Hi- The mayor of New Orleans just announced that restaurants will be required to close at 9:00 pm. They can do take out and delivery until their regular closing hours. The restaurants are limited to 50% of maximum capacity for the dining room. Fast food restaurants are only allowed to offer drive up. Bars are allowed to stay open until midnight, and they are also limited to 50% of maximum capacity for the bar. Apparently there were major problems with crowd control on Bourbon Street this weekend. I am not sure if this is going to help much.

It may help a little, but it seems a half-measure.

While I strongly agree with the order to shutter gathering in restaurants and pubs, I am also devastated for those that own, or rely on especially a small family place for their livelihood. Two weeks, one week...eight weeks, it won't matter for some.

Our closing was hastened by what seemed like a Winter with 5 or 6 weekend blizzards in a row. I'd think unless one has been historically established and been frugal with their capital, being forced to shut the doors for even a couple of weeks may be the death knell.

I appreciated a comment read by my wife. The writer suggested purchasing as many gift cards as you could handle from your local small businesses. I just might be what gets them over this hump.

D.G.Sullivan wrote:While I strongly agree with the order to shutter gathering in restaurants and pubs, I am also devastated for those that own, or rely on especially a small family place for their livelihood. Two weeks, one week...eight weeks, it won't matter for some.

Our closing was hastened by what seemed like a Winter with 5 or 6 weekend blizzards in a row. I'd think unless one has been historically established and been frugal with their capital, being forced to shut the doors for even a couple of weeks may be the death knell.

I appreciated a comment read by my wife. The writer suggested purchasing as many gift cards as you could handle from your local small businesses. I just might be what gets them over this hump.

Agree with all of this. I'm planning to buy some gift cards from some of the places I frequent, though a lot of small indies just don't offer them.

For the rest, I'll do as much curbside as I can. For example, my friends at Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook are geared up for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow with their annual corned beef & cabbage special. It won't be as wonderful taking it home but under the circumstances, it'll certainly scratch the itch and, hopefully, provide some help where it's needed.

Regarding bars, as "fun" as curbside service might be , that's obviously not a possibility. A few bars like The Whistler, Sleeping Village and The Scofflaw Group have set up GoFundMe campaigns for their employees. I'm sure many more places have done this, as well. If you can, making donations through those conduits would probably be helpful and appreciated.

=R=

My lovely wife let me know that lost lake looks to be working on selling bottled cocktails for pickup, or delivery... it's going to be my treat for making it to the end of this week with a 4yo.

Hi,

Last week, I made some stuffed peppers. After we finished eating all the peppers, I had nearly a quart of sauce.

In my effort to begin trimming the larder, I remembered I had some Arborio rice leftover from who knows where. I made a tomato sauce based risotto, which also finished up my Parmesan. No fear, I have a new block bought earlier than needed in case the price went up.

From a trip to Milwaukee, I had some Usinger's Italian sausage. I cooked four, served three and will make a fritata with the one remaining soldier.

Regards,
Cathy2

P.S. First picture from my iPhone. Warren Buffet and I have something in common: we both gave up flip phones for iPhones recently.

I've got a pot of Rancho Gordo beans simmering on the stove. They will be going into a roasted tomato/bean soup.

The GP wrote:I've got a pot of Rancho Gordo beans simmering on the stove. They will be going into a roasted tomato/bean soup.

Nice - sounds great! I cooked a pot of their Eye of the Goat (Ojo de Cabra) Beans yesterday but bean cooking is pretty much a weekly occurrence around here. Enjoy!

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

The GP wrote:I've got a pot of Rancho Gordo beans simmering on the stove. They will be going into a roasted tomato/bean soup.

Nice - sounds great! I cooked a pot of their Eye of the Goat (Ojo de Cabra) Beans yesterday but bean cooking is pretty much a weekly occurrence around here. Enjoy!

=R=

Same here with the weekly RG bean cooking since we're in the bean club and also bought some faves, while they were available. I also almost made the Eye of the Goat beans yesterday.

Yesterday was the cranberry beans from the last shipment and made a non-tomato based vegetable bean soup, trying to mix up the vegetable bean soups.

The Bride went up by the Jewels for our 87-year-old neighbor, she also picked up a few things for us. I requested a couple of whole chickens nada, all that was left was wings, so she bought those. Bread mostly wiped out, lots of depleted shelves. I'm thinking either baked spicy wings, congee with wings or chicken soup/matzo ball. Might even grill or smoke.

Leaning toward congee as one cup rice yields 10-12 cups of filling comfort packed congee. Plus, that gives me an excuse to make half a dozen jammy eggs.

G Wiv wrote:The Bride went up by the Jewels

The Jewels over by dere?

Al Ehrhardt wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

The GP wrote:I've got a pot of Rancho Gordo beans simmering on the stove. They will be going into a roasted tomato/bean soup.

Nice - sounds great! I cooked a pot of their Eye of the Goat (Ojo de Cabra) Beans yesterday but bean cooking is pretty much a weekly occurrence around here. Enjoy!

=R=

Same here with the weekly RG bean cooking since we're in the bean club and also bought some faves, while they were available. I also almost made the Eye of the Goat beans yesterday.

Yesterday was the cranberry beans from the last shipment and made a non-tomato based vegetable bean soup, trying to mix up the vegetable bean soups.

Caballeros and Chickpeas for me.

Being a member of the bean club and being a household of one, I basically had my quarantine shopping half done before I'd ever heard of COVID-19 (always have beans in the cupboard). I'm going to use this opportunity to plow through some pent-up dried goods. Wild rice side tonight and tomorrow will be an amaranth porridge.

Al Ehrhardt wrote:

G Wiv wrote:The Bride went up by the Jewels

The Jewels over by dere?

Run (to) the Jewels

I am out of town regularly. We always have a large freezer full of pre-cooked meals for Jennie to eat when we I am out of town. So we have those. I bought some pasta and 2 packets of tuna and some boneless chicken thighs.

I am embarrassed by my fellow citizens who have cleaned out the stores. The carts of people in front of me in my 15 minute waits to check out is totally embarrassing.

My partner made me toss a few packs of the bean soup I froze to make room in the NY fridge. He went Keto a couple of months ago and I can and should eat whenever I am hungry, however he cannot on that diet. We are stocking up, but, not in panic mode. I am a cheese monger of 15 years now training with a deli manager(long story...however I am with the company as a cheese specialist, I just happen to have these other skills). I used to be a deli manager so all's good. Point being panic buying is in full effect at the century-old specialty grocery store I now work for in NYC. I am verifiably on the frontlines of Corona. The only necessaries are grocery stores, hospitals, and, pharmacies. Thank you. My partner has us leaving our shoes in the foyer, placing our keys and rings in sanitizer in a bowl by the small bar area. We are eating nutritional gummies, drinking Emergen-C fortified water, he makes a lovely ginger intense chicken soup. And, again, stocking up, but not going crazy. If my wine store closes I will lose my shit.

G Wiv wrote:The Bride went up by the Jewels for our 87-year-old neighbor, she also picked up a few things for us. I requested a couple of whole chickens nada, all that was left was wings, so she bought those. Bread mostly wiped out, lots of depleted shelves. I'm thinking either baked spicy wings, congee with wings or chicken soup/matzo ball. Might even grill or smoke.

Leaning toward congee as one cup rice yields 10-12 cups of filling comfort packed congee. Plus, that gives me an excuse to make half a dozen jammy eggs.

On my shopping route this morning in da far west burbs–Caputo's was ad hoc, re-stocking first thing on a Monday, so some things plentiful (bottled water, which I do not buy) and others decimated (0 fresh chicken, 0 tortillas, no tahini!).

And this is a good time to mention a strategy a friend of mine posted on IG– it might be a good idea to avoid shopping first thing in the am to let high risk, elderly shoppers have first dibs on re-stock, hopefully at a store's most disinfected hour.

ALDI was my beacon of hope. Fully stocked shelves, though I will note plentiful El Milagro corn torts but no flour (I bought generic for wifey.) They even had plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Your one stop shop for end times!

Not to brag, but Oregon has had statewide vote by mail since 1998. No going to your polling place. Ballots are mailed to you, fill them out at your leisure, either mail them in (they do have to be mailed in time to get to the elections office in time), or drop them off at a ballot pick up site. As of last year (2019), mailing the filled out ballots do not require a postage stamp.