The Top Chef Community Is Rallying to Aid Restaurants Amid COVID-19

The Bravo's Top Chef family is supporting restaurants that are struggling amid the pandemic.

By Jessica Butler Apr 7, 2020, 2:58 PM ET

Tom Colicchio On How You Can Help Save Restaurants Impacted by COVID-19

It's no secret that COVID-19 has affected many areas of our lives. Right now, sitting down at a restaurant isn't even a possibility, and restaurants and chefs alike are suffering because of these major changes. Thankfully, the Bravo's Top Chef community is doing everything they can to help out the industry during this tough time.

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Judge Tom Colicchio recently made a live video on Instagram in support of The James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Relief Fund, where he urged viewers to call up their congress members and senators to "let them know they need to support small businesses and small restaurants."

He gave some advice to small business owners too, advising them to look into "the Small Business 7A. This is the part where small businesses can actually tap into stimulus money." He suggested his viewers visit SaveRestaurants.co to learn how the government plans on taking care of small, independent restaurants.

Gail Simmons responded to the crisis as well in an exclusive interview with BravoTV.com. She encouraged donating to the restaurant industry, saying, "If you don't know where to begin to give, you can give to the James Beard Foundation Relief Fund, Feeding America, No Kid Hungry, [and] Meals on Wheels."

Chef Edward Lee from Top Chef Season 9 is also doing his part. He launched the Restaurant Workers Relief Program through The Lee Initiative, which aims to support people in the food service industry. In a recent Instagram post, Edward wrote, "Due to the closure of restaurants in California, we have an urgent need for assistance for the thousands of restaurant workers who find themselves suddenly without work, without a paycheck and without a support system. Independent restaurants are at the center of the vibrant growth in America." Edward has already expanded the program to 15 locations nationwide and plans to provide $10,000 grants to four organizations working to support the same cause.

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We are here for you OAKLAND â£& Bay Area! â£ Due to the closure of restaurants in California we have an urgent need for assistance for the thousands of restaurant workers who find themselves suddenly without work, without a paycheck and without a support system. Independent restaurants are at the center of the vibrant growth in America. â£ â£ For the past decade, we have relied on the stellar hospitality and positive PR of the independent restaurant scene to make this a city we are incredibly proud of. But now restaurant workers need your help more than ever. If we donât take a stand and do something now, there will not be an independent restaurant industry to speak of when the corona-virus crisis is over. Starting ðªð²ð±ð»ð²ðð±ð®ð ðð½ð¿ð¶ð¹ ð´ððµ in partnership with @MakersMarkâ, @LEEInitiativeâ, @ChefEdwardLeeâ, @ChefNel4 and @DCPatterson will turn @alamaroakland into a relief center for restaurant workers who have been laid-off or have had a significant reduction in hours and/or pay. We are offering help for those in dire need of food and household supplies. On Wednesdays - Sundays, we will pack hundreds of to-go meals for our community. â£ â£ Details of the Restaurant Workers Relief Program are below:â£ â¢ Meal pick up address: â£ alaMar Kitchen & Bar â£ 100 Grand Aveâ£ â¢ Beginning Wednesday, April 8th Meals will be distributed by contactless curbside pickup: Wednesdays - Sundays 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. first come first served. Please pull up in your car on Valdez St and show your recent paystub from a local Bay Area restaurant. Walk ups are also welcome.
A post shared by TheLEEInitiative (@leeinitiative) on Apr 3, 2020 at 11:07am PDT