Welcome to the first edition of Utah Eats.
We’ll give you a rundown of the latest news about Utah restaurants, bars, grocery stores and more as we face this historic coronavirus pandemic. This newsletter will be sent regularly at 5 p.m. on weekdays that we have information to share.
This newsletter will be email only starting Monday, so sign up now.
And, as always, if you have a tip for Utah Eats, email me at kathys@sltrib.com or find me on Twitter @KathyStephenson.
Thank you, and stay safe out there!
Our emergency dining guide: Where to find restaurants offering takeout
With dining in not an option for at least two weeks and maybe longer, The Tribune has assembled an alphabetical guide to let readers know where to find restaurants that are offering takeout and delivery.
Hey, restaurants, would you like to be added to this list? Great, send the restaurant name, address, telephone number and website to kathys@sltrib.com.
— Kathy Stephenson
Ogden’s Own distillery has hand sanitizer and you can get some now
Steve Conlin, owner of Ogden’s Own, announced on Facebook that the distillery has received federal approval to produce hand sanitizer. And it is available now. Bring your own small container, think an empty soap dispenser to the store at 3075 Grant Ave. in Ogden. They’ll charge a small fee by the ounce.
This comes as stores and hospitals face shortages of hand sanitizer due to the ongoing pandemic and the panic buying that followed. Distilleries across the country are taking similar steps.
Conlin also posted on Facebook that he’s partnered with Grounds for Coffee, You can call to get the hours and whether they still have some sanitizer. Here’s Conlin’s post.
— McKehlyn Jones
Ty Burrell and SLC have teamed to give laid off workers cash
The “Modern Family” actor and his wife, Holly, have teamed up with the city and the Downtown Alliance to create a program — “Tip Your Server” — to give grants of $2,000 to employees of any Salt Lake City restaurant or bar who have been laid off because their business has closed in recent weeks.
Some 15,000 people work in Salt Lake City’s bars and restaurants, according to the city’s figures.
The Burrells — part owners of Bar X and Beer Bar in Salt Lake City, as well as Holladay’s Copper Bottom Inn and Park City’s The Eating Establishment — are making a $100,000 contribution to launch the grant program. Another $2,500 has been donated in the first hours since the Downtown Alliance posted the announcement Friday on its website. Donations are tax-deductible.
Details of how the grants will be distributed are still being worked out, but will be ready by Wednesday. The city is asking restaurant and bar employers to submit information to the city starting Wednesday.
— Sean Means
Need help grocery shopping?
A newly formed organization is matching volunteers with people in need, and that means they’ll do the grocery shopping for those who can’t. And offer a little money if you need it.
Salt Lake Valley COVID Mutual Aid is a clearinghouse that is taking applications both for volunteers and for people who could use a little extra help.
Shandra Benito, executive director of Art Access, said she and a few friends started the group Friday, modeling it after a similar mutual aid group in Seattle.
“There’s a lot of people sitting [at home] and saying, ‘What can we do?’,” Benito said. “Creating a place where people can do something helps our general public stay calm and stop panicking.”
— Sean P. Means
Drive-up bake sale this Saturday
Salt Lake City’s Table X will host a drive-up bake sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the restaurant, 1457 E. 3350 South.
Fresh breads, muffins, granola and other baked goods will be available for purchase.
Remain in your car and buy coffee, kombucha, local honey as well as bottles of the housemade lamb ragu and kimchi.
“Come see us (not all at once),” the owners wrote on Facebook, “and get something to warm your spirits in these trying times!”
Table X also offers limited delivery within five miles of the restaurant.
— Zoi Walker
(Rick Bowmer | AP photo) Estela Cortes is handed lunch for her children at West High School Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Salt Lake City. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Salt Lake Education Foundation and Salt Lake City School District are working with community partners to provide emergency "grab and go" food boxes to families.
Utah families can grab students’ breakfast and lunch in one trip
Students and their families in Utah can now pick up both breakfast and lunch at their schools at the same time, under a new federal waiver.
Previously, the two meals had to be separated. Additionally, any children getting SNAP benefits had to be physically present — their parents could not pick up food on their behalf.
Both have been lifted with the coronavirus restrictions in place that have closed schools across the state. State Superintendent Sydnee Dickson announced the changes during a meeting of the Utah State Board of Education on Thursday. Here’s a new map on the state board’s website showing food pickup sites.
— Courtney Tanner
Shades Brewing offering “quarantine kits”
Salt Lake City’s Shades Brewing has created a 24-pack “quarantine kit” with a mix of limited brews and beer styles. The kit gives people a taste of everything the brewery has to offer for about $2 a can.
The kit is a way to keep revenue flowing so that the company can continue to pay its employees and keep its brand active during the pandemic, said brewery founder Trent Fargher.
The food and beverage industry is taking a hit after the announcement that dine-in options statewide are suspended.
— McKehlyn Jones
Utah liquor stores have cut their hours
Staff shortages from COVID-19 are forcing the change at state-run stores, spokesman Terry Wood.
“No DABC employee has tested positive for the disease at this time,” he said. “Should a store employee test positive, that store will be shut down, employees sent home to quarantine, and the store sanitized so it can be reopened as soon as possible.”
All DABC stores are practicing “social distancing,” so the number of shoppers allowed inside and in lines will be limited. Customers also are being encouraged to use credit cards for purchases and discouraged from using cash.
— Kathy Stephenson
Harmons and Smith’s change store and pharmacy hours because of coronavirus
Smith’s Food & Drug and Harmons Grocery stores have reduced store hours and are offering exclusive hours for senior citizen shopping.
Harmons stores are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Chairman Bob Harmon said in a company news release, “so our associates will have adequate time to restock the shelves while practicing social distancing.”
Pharmacy hours also will change to Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harmons stores will open one hour early on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. exclusively to serve these at-risk customers. Additionally, pharmacies will be open for the extra hour on Wednesdays.
At Smiths Food & Drug seniors can come between 7 and 8 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
For all other customers, temporary store hours will continue to be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Smith’s is also evaluating its pharmacy hours to open earlier for seniors.
— Kathy Stephenson and McKehlyn Jones
