In an effort to help the millions of restaurant owners and workers impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic, award-winning sommelier Belinda Chang is hosting an ongoing Virtual Boozy Brunch.
In mid-March, Chang hosted her first Virtual Boozy Brunch over the video platform Zoom. The hour-long conversation brought together chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, and other industry professionals to discuss how the pandemic has impacted restaurants. Since then, Chang has continued to host the Virtual Boozy Brunch and each week she invites a different furloughed bartender, chef, or another restaurant worker to share their expertise—whether that's a wine tasting or a cooking tutorial—with the virtual participants. Brunch participants are then asked to send virtual tips through Venmo to support the furloughed workers. As Chang explains, "The primary reason for doing this is to try to raise some funds for people who need it."
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Virtual Social Gatherings
- Opportunity for businesses to create virtual experiences and gatherings to connect with customers and support causes.
- Supporting Restaurant Workers
- Growing trend of initiatives and events focused on supporting furloughed restaurant workers during the pandemic.
- Virtual Tipping
- Increasing use of digital platforms like Venmo to send virtual tips and financial support to those in need.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Hospitality
- Opportunity for the hospitality industry to host virtual events and experiences to engage with customers and support their employees.
- Food and Beverage
- Initiatives like virtual boozy brunches provide a platform to showcase new recipes, products, and experiences.
- Digital Payment
- Opportunity for digital payment companies to facilitate and support virtual tipping initiatives for various industries, like the restaurant industry.
