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A30 FEATURE/PEOPLE&ARTS
Tuesday 24 March 2020
Virus sends a nation of restaurant-goers back to the kitchen

By MELISSA RAYWORTH sharing advice on how to before. But I figured since
Associated Press use unfamiliar vegetables I’m kind of staying at home
Last Tuesday night in Ten- or cuts of meat bought out and going to do some
nessee, bluegrass musi- of necessity. cooking later on, you’re
cians David and Virginia What can you do with the going to join me.”
Blood were busy making canned foods that have A growing audience now
sandwiches. In Pittsburgh, been idling since last year watches and comments
real estate agent Michelle at the back of your kitch- nightly as he prepares ev-
Bushee was stirring a pot en cabinets? Facebook erything from his mother’s
of homemade black-bean groups like Pandemic Pan- marinara sauce to pot pies
chili in her kitchen instead try have sprouted up as made with his Big Bottom
of shepherding curious gathering places for strang- Market biscuit mix, which
buyers through poten- ers to share advice. appeared on Oprah’s Fa-
tial dream homes. Marty Michael Volpatt, owner of vorite Things list in 2016.
Prudenti, whose nights the gourmet Big Bottom “It’s heartwarming,” Vol-
are usually spent working Market in Sonoma County, patt says, “and it takes a lot
backstage at New York California, tackled the sub- of the awkwardness of this
City’s Lincoln Center, was This image released by Food Network shows an Instagram post ject of canned goods on whole experience away.”
in his Long Island backyard featuring chef Michael Symon about cooking at home during a recent installment of the Returning to old recipes
coronavirus outbreak. impromptu cooking show and learning new ones can
Associated Press
he began hosting from his be both a necessity and a
grilling burgers for his twins. en and noodles. kitchen on March 14. Scroll- welcome distraction during
And in Texas, Babette Max- “I think we need comfort ing through Facebook this strange time.
well — who would other- right now,” she says, “and while gathering ingredients “Cooking brings back good
wise have been running at memories,” Bierly says, “like
least one of her three teen- standing there at the pot
age sons to sports practic- on my stove, cooking the
es or school events — was spaghetti and thinking of
Googling recipes to engi- when my mother used to
neer homemade versions do that.”
of her boys’ favorite Taco Food Network president
Bell items. Courtney White says her
Throughout the U.S., lives channel has seen a dou-
have been radically up- ble-digit ratings increase in
ended by the COVID-19 the past week, as viewers
pandemic. There is worry watch marathons of com-
and washing of hands. But fort food-focused shows
one bright spot is emerging like Guy Fieri’s “Diners,
from self-quarantine and Drive-ins and Dives.” Food-
mandatory working from Network.com has also had
home: In this nation that so a double-digit increase in
often dines out or gobbles visitors and page views,
processed food on the run, White says. And many of
Americans are suddenly the channel’s chefs have
cooking a whole lot more. been broadcasting in-
Before the coronavirus formally from their home
emerged, Kim Bierly often kitchens via social media,
worked late at her office while viewers pepper them
and then met her husband with questions in real-time.
for a quick dinner at one of Alone at our stoves, we’re
the restaurants in their cen- realizing how good it can
tral Pennsylvania neighbor- feel to make dinner from
hood. If they didn’t eat out, scratch by using just a few
they’d reach into the refrig- This image released by Big Bottom Market shows a chicken pot ingredients consciously
erator and choose some- pie recipe. Michael Volpatt, owner of the gourmet Big Bottom and carefully. Families are
Market in Sonoma County, Calif., hosts an impromptu cooking
thing packaged to heat show from his kitchen. also getting their kids in-
up. Associated Press volved.
“I’ve always enjoyed cook- “Now, more than ever, we
ing,” Bierly says. “But it was hope you’ll find moments
being saved for weekends. food is comfort.” to make himself dinner that of peace when gathering
And by the time you get to Unavoidably, these home- night, Volpatt noticed the around the dinner table,”
the weekend you had all cooked dishes come with Facebook “Live” button on the co-founders of the retail
the other things you need a side of stress. We’re trying his phone screen. With his chain Savory Spice wrote
to do. So it would be some- to protect ourselves from store closed, he realized it in a website post to their
thing quick or something germs at the grocery store, was a way to connect with customers over the week-
prepared.” and may wonder whether friends and customers, and end. “We hope you’ll find
Now working from home, supermarket shelves will not be alone while prepar- moments of joy when pre-
she’s pulling out old recipes become emptier in the ing his meal. paring food with your little
— the kinds of things she re- coming weeks. But those Full Coverage: Lifestyle ones. We hope the simplic-
members her mother mak- worries are encouraging “Hey everybody,” his first ity of a home cooked meal
ing, like stuffed pork chops people to get creative by broadcast began. “I’ve is a quiet reprieve from the
or a bubbling pot of chick- trying new ingredients and never done Facebook Live chaos outside.”q