Top KY Chef fears it's too late to save restaurants.

[powderman]

   
Top KY Chef fears it's too late to save restaurants.
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https://www.wdrb.com/news/top-kentucky-chef-fears-its-too-late-to-save-restaurants/article_926733fe-38cc-11eb-849d-e3d707601ce1.html

Top Kentucky chef fears 'it's too late to save restaurants'
Kate Springer Dec 7, 2020 Updated 5 hrs ago

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One of Kentucky's top chefs is warning about the future of restaurants in America. Chef Edward Lee's piece "I'm Afraid It's Too Late to Save Restaurants" appeared in Bon Appetit on Friday.

"It was a particularly dark week I believe when the interviewer called me," said Chef Lee in an interview with WDRB News. "I just, I think it's very important for restaurant people to keep telling our stories."

He's watched as restaurant after restaurant have been forced to close their doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic and feels like even more won't survive.

"At some point it feels like such an up hill battle," he said.


When COVID-19 forced his Louisville restaurants to close in the spring, he shifted his attention to helping restaurant workers in need. Since March, his non-profit The LEE Initiative has served more than a million meals, set up more than 30 relief kitchens around the country and given more than $800,000 in grants to independent restaurants and farms.

FOURTH STREET LIVE - JIM BEAM URBAN STILL HOUSE 12-1-2020 1.jpg
The Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse at 4th Street Live! in downtown Louisville, Dec. 1, 2020

"We've been doing so much, and it's heart breaking because as much as we do, doesn't make a difference. People are still losing their jobs, people are still losing their businesses,"

While he's thankful he's been able to help, he admits it's not enough. Now he's focusing on the federal government.

"For the first time in the history of restaurants we have no where to turn to," said Chef Lee. "We need to pass an act in Congress. We need a second round of relief aid."

He ended the Bon Appetit piece saying that he hopes he's wrong about the future of the hospitality industry, because for now hope is the only thing he can do.

"This was a way to put it out here that we're depressed, and we're really in a tough place. When you come to my restaurant next week when we reopen I will be happy and I will put on a smiling face and we'll be there for you but it's hard," he said.

Buckhead Mountain Grill-Bardstown Road location via FB.jpg
Buckhead Mountain Grill, located at 3020 Bardstown Road, closed Tuesday because "the economic impact of capacity restrictions due to the current pandemic makes business no longer sustainable at this unique location," according to a sign on the restaurant's door. (Photo courtesy of Buckhead Mountain Grill's Facebook page)

Chef Lee encourages people to write to their elected representatives about getting support and by ordering take out or getting gift cards at your favorite local restaurant. He credits customers for helping restaurants survive.

[Bob Riebe]

It is the Mom and Pop places I actually hunt down when traveling that are being killed by Chinese Virus paranoia.
There was one in old town Duluth , Mn Mikes Cafe, the last one in the entire city that used to have a lot, whose owner said he tried to keep it going but our Governor's Stalinist decree made it impossible.
He finally said he was shutting it down for good when the said Gov. (censored word) was not going to stop ruling by Marshal Law.

I was in the Post Office yesterday returning some crap the other half bought from Collections Etc. and I was one of two with no mask on.
I also  did not stay six feet away and surprise , surprise , after I closed up ranks by a few feet , so did most of the line that had been separated by more like eight feet or more.

[Argent 88]

It is the Mom and Pop places I actually hunt down when traveling that are being killed by Chinese Virus paranoia.
There was one in old town Duluth , Mn Mikes Cafe, the last one in the entire city that used to have a lot, whose owner said he tried to keep it going but our Governor's Stalinist decree made it impossible.
He finally said he was shutting it down for good when the said Gov. (censored word) was not going to stop ruling by Marshal Law.

I was in the Post Office yesterday returning some crap the other half bought from Collections Etc. and I was one of two with no mask on.
I also  did not stay six feet away and surprise , surprise , after I closed up ranks by a few feet , so did most of the line that had been separated by more like eight feet or more.

Do that all the time Bob, and still covid negative. I miss our little ma and pa Mexican food restaurant they made the best food. The owner is now working in the oil field. Such a loss.

[Ranger99]

Lots of eating places gone
under in this area, and not
from covid. About all that's
left is booger queen, mc salty's,
and jack in the crack as far
as mainstream joints.
There's a couple of "pizza "
places, pizza patron and
doggymo's.
The rest are hole in the wall
taquerias with a dumpster full
of dog and cat collars in the back

[Dee]

Lots of eating places gone
under in this area, and not
from covid. About all that's
left is booger queen, mc salty's,
and jack in the crack as far
as mainstream joints.
There's a couple of "pizza "
places, pizza patron and
doggymo's.
The rest are hole in the wall
taquerias with a dumpster full
of dog and cat collars in the back

LMAO!!!!!!!

[Doublebass73]

Lots of eating places gone
under in this area, and not
from covid. About all that's
left is booger queen, mc salty's,
and jack in the crack as far
as mainstream joints.
There's a couple of "pizza "
places, pizza patron and
doggymo's.
The rest are hole in the wall
taquerias with a dumpster full
of dog and cat collars in the back

LOL I call Mcsalty's "SickDonald's".

[geezerbiker]

Also the sick economy is hard on restaurants.  When money is tight, eating out is the first thing to go.  I've been craving some good Chinese food but it's not in my budget...

Tony

[Bob Riebe]

Also the sick economy is hard on restaurants.  When money is tight, eating out is the first thing to go.  I've been craving some good Chinese food but it's not in my budget...
Tony

LOL, when restaurants opened that was one of the first places we went to.

[BUGEYE]

Luckily we have a good Chinese restaurant nearby that does drive through and I can get my favorite
Sweet and sour cat with flied lice.

[Ranger99]

The Chinese place I used to
patronize is gone and boarded
up now. Good Chinese food (although
the lady that owned it was Korean)
A lot of the black folks wouldn't
come back because she played
religious music on the speakers.
If they complained, she would tell
them to please not come back.
I can't remember when the place
wasn't packed or nearly so