Restaurants upend industry rules to survive virus crisis

With Tasting Australia and Melbourne Food & Wine Festival postponed, the big question in the hospitality industry is what's next and how will our restaurants survive the crisis brought on by COVID-19?

Europe has already seen widespread shut-downs of restaurants in countries such as Italy, France and Spain, and there are rumblings Australia could follow.

So, how is the industry adapting? With essential providers including markets, food shops (which, weirdly, in Italy and France includes tobacco stores) some clever operators have rebranded as essential home-meal providers.

In the US where some states have shut restaurants and others are pushing through – even top-end restaurants have introduced takeaway menus, some offering subsidised meals to healthcare workers.

Canlis, a third-generation fine-dining institution in Seattle, Washington has closed its dining room and relaunched as a meal-delivery service and bagel shop.

"The game's not over, but the rules have changed," co-owner Mark Canlis told US media.