by ROB COTTMAN
Being a chef away from my kitchen and my team at World Cafe Live is very challenging, but I am focused on the opportunity to evaluate next steps and really process the negative impacts of this pandemic on our industry. Additionally, I am grateful for the chance to reconnect with the core of why we do what we do, and seek out the potential for positive outcomes as well.
The big question on my mind these days is when can we re-open and what will we need to do get to that point? With so many uncertainties, it is easy to get lost in the questions – but there is a strong foundation to our industry for us to lean on during this chaotic time.
As an organization that prides itself on being a home away from home for our guests, World Cafe Live has always implemented essential food safety practices to create a culture of proper sanitation procedures that are followed at all times. Like any good restaurant, we want to be in business for a long time, which means ensuring that bacteria do not grow and infection does not spread has always been and will continue to be a top priority. Our industry has a long history of guidelines from organizations like ServSafe and our own Philadelphia Department of Health. And while we can stand solidly on that institutional knowledge, it is also a platform on which we can and should continue to build.
As COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift, and we know that it is responsible for us to open our doors again to invite you in, we will be working tirelessly to make sure your mind can be at ease when you decide to join us. We are monitoring all changing regulatory requirements so that we can not only meet them, but find areas to exceed expectations and continue to make sure that your guest experience is the best possible.
If you are able and would like to direct contribute to organizations supporting our industry and it’s workers right now, please consider donation to Hospitality Response Assistance of Pennsylvania (HARP), James Beard Foundation Relief Fund, or locally with Philly Music Fest.
And if you need a break from all things sanitation and re-opening related, I recommend the following binge-worthy programming:
FX’s Devs
Netflix’s Dirty Money
And if you want to dive in even harder, check out this exercise hosted by The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
