Posted on 07/19/2020 3:56:52 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
A dining experience beloved by generations of hungry Americans is in danger of being spoiled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Buffets - from the humblest hotel breakfasts to the grandest casino banquets - are struggling to stay afloat as new health restrictions come into place and wary diners eschew the self-serve dining tradition.
As many buffets go out of business across the US, others are innovating and trying desperately to keep the business model relevant and appetising.
Susan Yin, the owner of Jack's Fresh in downtown Washington DC, tells BBC News that her average sales have dropped nearly 90% after they re-opened two months ago following a two month closure.
Jack's Fresh, which specialises in Asian food and American sandwiches, is currently making around $500 per day, down from an average of $3,500 before the pandemic, she says.
"No people work in this area," says Mrs Yin, referring to the commuters that have mostly been working from home since March. "It's still very quiet."
In March, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates food safety for the federal government, recommended "discontinuing self-service buffets and salad bars" until the pandemic subsides.
Officials said this was due to the communal serving utensils which are frequently touched by multiple patrons who may be contagious, as well as the crowds that can form around some items.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Fear-mongering FAKE NEWS. The ONLY restaurants we’ve been to since March have been buffets. Both have cheap throw-away gloves at the start. Staff wears face masks.
Never did like the buffet. Food was seldom good. Exception was the Bellagio. Fresh crab legs. All you care to eat.
I truly think the entire shutdown was ridiculous except for nursing homes which at least NYS scr*** up royally.
Dad used to say, looking around at all the horribly obese Americans these days, (more so than ever before in our past), folks that can’t even walk in a Walmart anymore but need a cart to get them around....that we should start to institute “All You Should Eat” buffets instead.
“Grandpa, what’s a buffet?”
Buffets, movie theaters, sporting events, state and county and local fairs, concerts, Renaissance festivals, political rallies, public beaches...I remember when...
I’ve been going to Chang’s Mongolian Grill in Tigard, OR for ages where you would grab a couple of bowls and fill them up with meat and veggies and have the little Asian guy cook it up for you. When it reopened recently, they now fill up the bowls for you with whatever you like and as much as you like.
Same great taste and experience. I hope they survive in these crazy times.
Used to love the cheapo buffets when I was single (I called it “bachelor chow”).
The expensive buffets were nice alternatives for special occasions.
But State breadlines are basically the same thing as a buffet, so we should be thankful. /s
‘I truly think the entire shutdown was ridiculous’
if only that’s all it were; but this entire shutdown has been orchestrated to achieve a political end, to alter social interaction to allay the illogical fears of the affluent 35-65 y/o female cohort’s worldview...going forward, this will be the tip of the political spear, that will pierce the traditions that Americans have known and held dear for decades...
at the risk of offending lurking board nazis, one of whom informed me that my use of the term ‘belief system’ made me a communist troll, I place some of the blame for this on Donald Trump, not for his comments nor his actual thoughts on the issue, which I’m sure correlate with my own; but he took the irretrievable step back in March, when saner heads could have prevailed, of taking the Fauci line and extending a national lockdown until April 30, thus exciting the governors to enforce their own lockdown scenarios, and seizing total control of the state in opposition to state law...three-fourths of these governors wish to see Trump unseated, thus we see what we see now, total and complete hysteria, driven by political backstabbing and quiescent public acceptance...we will have these lockdowns until Christmas, and the masks will be required until at March of 2021...
‘Buffets, movie theaters, sporting events, state and county and local fairs, concerts, Renaissance festivals, political rallies, public beaches...I remember when...’
we wonder what our future leisure hours will look like after the power structure has had its way with us; what will we do with our free time...?
Can’t recall the last time there has been a new video of a buffet crab leg fight.
For me the exception is the Brazilian meat places. However, since they really bring the food to your table is not a true Buffet the way we think of it. Well, except for the salad part.
Chinese buffets my second favorite but the truth is it if you go to any Chinese restaurant with buffet and actually order some of those meals separately as an individual meal it tastes a lot better than what’s on the buffet.
The Indian food buffet and Chinese are two life happiness events I savor...I love these and miss them.
All you can eat buffet on a 2” diameter plate. LOL
[[[Dad used to say, looking around at all the horribly obese Americans these days, (more so than ever before in our past), folks that can’t even walk in a Walmart anymore but need a cart to get them around....that we should start to institute “All You Should Eat” buffets instead.]]
I’m routinely astounded at what physical wrecks people are simply from overeating. A friend called it “suicide by food”.
This must make Michael Obama happy.
We had a Mongolian grill in our town for awhile. I think it was called “Hoo-Hot”...really great eating. I thought they were doing a good business, but apparently not good enough as it left town.
I don’t do buffets. I don’t eat enough to pay for them.
“I’m routinely astounded at what physical wrecks people are simply from overeating. A friend called it “suicide by food”.
When I got tired of my survivalist redoubt and migrated to a pro-2nd amendment, Christian community, I was amazed by the size of the porkers feeding at all-you-can-eat farms.
My favorite part was ordering a three egg omelet stuffed with bacon, cheese and sausage with a nod to peppers, onions, mushrooms, asparagus and brocolli thrown in the mix. Eating like that can easily turn a person into a Goodyear blimp.
I discovered that many of these chubby chow hounds were government workers.
Just yesterday, I was lamenting to my husband that Y C’s probably won’t open again. Terrific Mongolian BBQ restaurants in the Phoenix area. Maybe I will look it up to see if it has reopened. Sure hope so!
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