We Need Help, Now—Mark Garofalo
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
A Chef is many things. But at their core, a chef is someone who does not ask for help but knows that their success depends on others.
Today, though I have to ask for help. My business Fire Works Catering as well as other caterers were the first businesses to feel the pain of the Coronavirus crisis. We saw meetings and events cancelled right at the beginning of March and as the calls and emails continued all of March was cancelled, then April and now May and into June. Some will be rescheduled but most won’t.
I had to lay off my entire staff. My FOH manager had been with me for 15 years. My sous chef, 6 years. The rest of my ragtag staff that work so hard and do such a great job for me all were let go. They help prepare the food, wash the pots and pans, deliver the lunches and breakfasts and serve our customers at their events. I am not alone. I know you've heard countless stories already of businesses struggling to survive. We've seen some already close their doors for good.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe thing about chefs and cooks and servers and bartenders and dishwashers is that we are a resilient bunch. Running and working in a kitchen is often described as going into battle. But now we are sidelined. I am not asking for money or empathy. I am asking you all for one simple favor. Let us get back to work! Let us get back to doing what we love to do. There is only one way that is going to happen though. And this, this is really what I am asking of all of you. Please do not engage in behavior that could prolong this crisis. Please. Do what all the experts in medicine are telling you to do. There are far worse things than seeing my staff unemployed or businesses shutter their doors. Healthcare workers are seeing unimaginable scenarios play out before them that in our modern society we all thought were not possible. Some of them will get sick and die trying to save the lives of your loved ones. There are hundreds of reasons why you should do what these medical professionals are telling you to do. But I am asking for my own selfish reasons. I am asking for your help because my employees' livelihoods depend on getting back to work. My livelihood depends on getting back to work. I am a chef. I do not like to ask for help. But I realize that my success depends on others. Today my livelihood and the livelihoods of others depend on your help.
This is not the new normal. But the longer this goes on the more likely the places you go to for your Monday morning coffee, your Tuesday tacos, your Wednesday pasta, your Thursday Pizza, your Friday night drink, your Saturday night dinner and your Sunday brunch won't be there when this is over. And the caterer who brings you, your weekly meeting meal or pour your Champagne for your wedding toast may not be there either. Some of these places are lucky enough to be able to provide curbside meal service. Some are not. Some are doing it because they see it as a way to continue to serve the community and some see it as a way to survive.
So, please continue to support these businesses that are safely providing take out food and drink. One more thing before I go. In regular times hardly a day goes by that I haven't received a phone call or a letter or an email asking for a donation to a charity or cause. I know all my colleagues will tell you the same thing. We all help when we can. Whether it is for a community member that has fallen on hard times or a global charity fighting a deadly disease or a local artist or arts program we as a community help and donate probably more most of us actually can. So, again, please I am asking for your help. It is a simple ask.
Let us get back to work. The sooner all of you do your part to end this crisis the sooner we can get back to work. The sooner you can once again enjoy Taco Tuesday and Friday evening drinks. So, please help me and my staff and all of us in the hospitality and service industries want to do. Help us get back to work.
Mark Garofalo is the chef/owner of Fire Works Catering in Providence. To order from his take out menu click here