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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.
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.
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.
Want more of Top Chef? New episodes air every Thursday at 10/9c or catch up on this season through the Bravo app.
For the latest, most accurate information on coronavirus, go to the World Health Organization (WHO) website.
