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50 Great Ideas 2020

50 Great Ideas 2020

Cooking hotline

Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook, Ill., set up a hotline for novice and experienced home cooks to call with questions about recipes, baking and more.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Neighborhood taco night

Some Moe’s Southwest Grill franchisees organized Neighborhood Taco Kit Nights, taking orders for an entire neighborhood and then setting up a station for people to pick up their orders.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Meals with a soundtrack

Aug. 11, 2020

A number of restaurant operators, looking to bring the dine-in experience to people’s homes, created on-brand playlists. Red Lobster’s featured romantic tunes for date night, while Zaxby’s created a set of ambient restaurant sounds with titles such as “Friday 9:45 PM.”

50 Great Ideas 2020

Donations from the heart

Aug. 11, 2020

For a $25 donation to help keep the restaurant afloat, Romano’s Macaroni Grill locations etched fans’ names on a heart stone placed at the hostess stand. A special ceremony will be held for all contributors later in the year.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Organic play dough

Aug. 11, 2020

Along with breads and other baked goods, Chicago bakery Baker Miller created colored organic play doughs to sell as a kids activity for families sheltering at home; they’re scented with herbs and spices.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Brands in the background

Aug. 11, 2020

Chains such as Dunkin’ and Taco Bell created Zoom-friendly backgrounds to remind consumers of their brands, even when dining rooms are closed.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Belated Mother’s Day deal

Aug. 11, 2020

Chicago fine-dining sister concepts Sepia and Proxi “rescheduled” their Mother’s Day promotions for August, when they will be giving complimentary glasses of rose to moms celebrating the holiday with their families after social-distancing restrictions have eased.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Chains swap meals

Aug. 11, 2020

A number of restaurant chains have tried to help their employees through a bleak time by providing free meals as a perk.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Singing food deliveries

Aug. 11, 2020

Before the pandemic closed its dining room, RTE 47 in Yorkville, Ill., often hired musicians to perform there.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Cooking for supermarkets

Aug. 11, 2020

Brennan’s in Houston employed its chefs to prepare its signature dishes for H-E-B markets, giving the restaurant a new revenue stream and keeping staff working.

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