Chino's Centro Basco was built on family-style dining. Can those traditions survive COVID-19?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing shutdown have left many restaurants uncertain about their future. As they grapple with new realities, we asked some of them to share their stories.

Before the coronavirus shutdown, family-style dinners and holiday celebrations were a central feature of the historic Basque restaurant and bar in Chino.Founded in 1940 as a boarding house for Basque immigrants, it has been an important touchstone for Southern California’s small but deep-rooted Basque American community.

That magic has been foiled by the coronavirus, which threatens family-style dining at places where communal seating and shareable platters are central to tradition but incompatible with coronavirus-era safety measures. ”People keep asking: ‘When are you opening?’ We don’t know what anything is going to look like yet,” she said.Centro Basco has square footage on its side: The restaurant has more than 5,000 square feet of dining space across several rooms, making six-feet-apart rules more manageable.“I watched strangers become friends around the table. It’s hard to lose that,” she said.

She remembers the original boarders, mostly young men in their early 20s, who lined up in the dining room promptly at noon and at 7 p.m. daily when Helton’s mother rang the cowbell.At one point, her mother rented 10 beds to 20 separate boarders.“There was a day shift and a night shift at the local dairy, and my mom managed to rent every bed twice,” Helton said with a laugh.

Centro Basco, and the cultural traditions it sustains, has withstood other disruptions, including the manic growth spurts of the 1980s and 1990s that saw the Inland Valley’s open spaces replaced with housing developments and warehouses.The restaurant has thrived even in spite of relative obscurity: It’s the oldest restaurant in Chino, yet the two-story white stucco restaurant on Central Avenue is relatively plain and unmarked, except for a faded red awning that reads: “French Basque cooking.

Went there many times while growing up in the area! Great food and service!!

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

What Will Make Restaurants Feel Safe in the COVID-19 Era?Expert advice from restaurant consultants and infectious-disease doctors on the safety measures that restaurants can take to make dining out safer in the COVID-19 era. Welcome to the age of stupidity! When will people wake up from this fake pandemic? Interesting read.
Source: foodandwine - 🏆 366. / 59 Read more »

Cancer and COVID-19: What’s the Outlook?Cancer patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who are otherwise generally healthy can and do survive the coronavirus, but the news isn't as good for those who also had other medical issues. alcoholawareness For Cancer and other diseases and medical conditions,for our mental and physical health, and wellbeing, and for safer and healthier communities anytime, including COVID19-Avoid Alcohol consumption!
Source: WebMD - 🏆 709. / 51 Read more »

How To Build A Backup Plan If COVID-19 Forces You Into Early RetirementDespite an unemployment rate that is expected to reach 20% for May, more layoffs could follow. This could leave millions entering an unexpected early retirement. To keep your portfolio safe, build in a backup plan.
Source: Forbes - 🏆 394. / 53 Read more »

America's Assisted Living Residents Are 'Falling Through the Cracks' of COVID-19 ResponseAmerica’s Assisted Living Residents Are Falling Through the Cracks of COVID-19 Response, Families Say
Source: TIMEHealth - 🏆 121. / 63 Read more »

The Hauntingly Beautiful Self-Portraits of 'Girls of Isolation'Olivia Gatwood's 'Girls of Isolation' is an art show for the COVID-19 era. If I see the phrase ‘hauntingly beautiful’ before one more photoset on the internet I am going to lose it. Do better. It may not be their best but Having self portraits like this is cool
Source: ELLE Magazine (US) - 🏆 472. / 51 Read more »

Global Citizen's Next Moves After 'One World'With the help of ladygaga and many other stars, One World TogetherAtHome set two new records: most musical acts to perform at a remote music festival and most money raised for charity by a remote music festival. Here's what they want to do next. ladygaga I feel so honored to be the first comment. All of my hard work and dedication has paid off. Getting the top comment has been a dream of mine for many years, and i would like to thank those who have helped me along the way. First and foremost i would like to thank god for giving m ladygaga ladygaga Queen
Source: billboard - 🏆 112. / 63 Read more »