How to Help Local and Small Food Businesses During the Shelter in Place Order
As of today, nine Bay Area counties are enforcing a shelter in place directive to reduce the community spread of COVID-19, a deadly coronavirus that has spread across the globe. Under this order, we are all asked to remain in our homes, leaving only for essential activities. All non-essential businesses are asked to close, and to let employees work from home if at all possible.
You are permitted to leave your home to buy necessities, including groceries and pharmacy items, and to get some fresh air. Keep a safe distance of no less than six feet from others, and of course wash your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds. How long is that? The most common advice is to sing Happy Birthday twice, but I personally prefer Gloria Gaynor singing “I Will Survive.”
Among the businesses hardest hit are restaurants, markets, and small farmers. These are at the very core of our economy, and our community. There are a few ways you can help during this time. (Be sure to call ahead and confirm, as things change by the day.)
Restaurants
Prairie’s prepper kit, featuring shelf-stable items like tinned fish, crackers, pepper spread, and of course toilet paper.
Restaurants are currently allowed to be open only for providing takeout service. I don’t recommend you do this three meals a day, but I intend to hit up places with about the same frequency I would eat out normally, a couple times a week. The Chronicle’s Soleil Ho is maintaining a comprehensive list. Edible SF is actively curating a list of restaurants that are offering takeout, and Tablehopper is including recommendations in her Instagram stories. A few of my favorite places have made some creative changes to adapt to the situation:
Chef-owner Anthony Strong’s Mission restaurant, Prairie, has adapted to become a. sort of general store, cheekily named the (COVID)19th Street Store, with bulk pantry items like pasta, tinned fish, olives, and such, as well as a curated “prepper kit” of those items — I bought one yesterday. If we’re going to hunker down, we might as well do it in style. They’re also doing meal kits that require minimal cooking.
Restaurateur Pim Techamuanvivit’s two Thai and Thai-inspired restaurants, Kin Khao in Union Square and Nari in Japantown, are offering new takeout menus. She is also looking to offer pantry items for sale.
Izakaya Rintaro is reviving chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett's previous business’ Peko Peko’s bento boxes, available for pickup from 3-9 pm.
Canela is doing DIY paella kits, plus meat boxes in collaboration with Golden Gate Meats.
If your favorite place is not open, you can still help them by purchasing gift cards. This allows them to maintain some cashflow, and you get to use it later.
Markets
Try to frequent your small and local stores, who will be hit much harder than the major supermarkets. Bi-Rite Market’s two locations, as well as butchers Olivier’s in Dogpatch and Baron’s Meats in Noe Valley, are open with modified hours, and requesting a limited number of shoppers at any time to ensure social distancing.
Farmers
Farmers markets remain open, and they are a great way to buy direct from farms. Plus, they are open air and low-contact. The Chronicle has a comprehensive list.
Other ways to directly support farmers is via CSA-type options. One of my favorites is Mariquita Farm’s Mystery Box, which is actually a huge sack of vegetables, and a very good price. Sign up for their emails alerting you to future shipments. I also got notice from a farm that normally sells only to restaurants, now looking to sell direct to consumers. Let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll send you the information.
It’s important to keep yourself well nourished in order to maintain a healthy immune system. Shop and dine wisely, and stay safe.