Food News: Some Restaurants Are Turning Into Corner Stores to Survive During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Plus: Lessons from chef José Andrés, rising bean sales, and whipped coffee.

One of the major consequences of the coronavirus outbreak has been the devastating shutdowns of restaurants throughout the country. Some restaurants are fighting back by turning into corner stores, where people can buy produce, panty staples, cleaning supplies, and even toilet paper.[Eater]

A small bright spot in a time of uncertainty is the rising trend of “whipped coffee.” To make, you whip water, sugar, and instant coffee into a light mousse, and then stir it into a glass of milk. The technique is especially popular in South Korea. Citizens are staying in and posting about “dalgona coffee” on social media to stay connected with others. [TODAY]

Stocking your freezer is always a good idea, but it seems especially important right now as everyone stays insides and cooks. New to the whole freezer thing? Ina Garten shared some essential tips for safely stocking your freezer on Instagram. [TODAY]

Chef José Andrés is at it again. With his rapidly expanding charity, World Central Kitchen, he spans the globe, setting up field kitchens to distribute meals where they are needed. From feeding passengers quarantined in the Grand Princess cruise ship in the San Francisco Bay to providing free meals to low-income neighborhoods in big cities like New York, Andrés shows us what it is to be a leader in times of crisis.

Canned and dried beans are flying off the shelves at grocery stores right now, and for good reason. Canned beans are shelf-stable, a great source of protein, and they’re just plain delicious. Goya, one of the most popular brands of canned beans, has reported a 400% increase in sales in the last couple weeks. [New York Times] 

In some lighthearted news this week, a writer figured out the meaning behind the word “Triscuit”. You might think that it seems straightforward — “tri” means three, right? But it turns out it’s not that simple. [Fast Company]

A new potential symptom of the coronavirus might be a loss of sense of smell and taste. Doctors are telling people if individuals have these symptoms they “warrant serious consideration for self-isolation and testing.” [CNN]

Celebrated chef Floyd Cardoz passed away this week after testing positive for the coronavirus. With restaurants like Tabla and Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, Cardoz forever changed the way New Yorkers and the rest of the world thought of Indian cuisine. [Grub Street]