City of Arlington to Distribute 250K Face Masks To Restaurant Workers

Welcome to AM Intel in the time of coronavirus, a round-up of the city’s newest bits of restaurant-related intel. Follow Eater on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date details on how COVID-19 is impacting the city’s dining scene.

Arlington provides free masks to restaurant workers

Following Greg Abbott’s move to loosen restrictions on social distancing for restaurants and other businesses, the city of Arlington is working to distribute more than 250,000 face masks to restaurant employees through its Roadmap to Reopen and Recover Program, The Dallas Morning News reports. The program aims to provide two masks per worker at participating restaurants on a first-come, first-serve basis. More than 44,000 masks were handed out on the first day. The move comes just days after neighboring Dallas County issued an order that all employees and patrons of restaurants and retail businesses wear masks indoors.

Dallas pastry chef launches nonprofit to feed hungry kids and families

Project La Familia is a new initiative by pastry chef Diana Zamora that aims to make up for the reduction of free meals being handed out by Dallas Independent School District, according to D Magazine. The project, which is crewed entirely by laid off or furloughed food industry workers, has paired with Harvest Project Food Rescue and Promise of Peace urban gardens, among others. Zamora’s new food concept, Hijas De Julia, will serve up “Central American and Mexican inspired elevated comfort food,” according to Project La Familia’s Facebook page, with proceeds partially funding the nonprofit project. Hijas de Julia is launching with a Mother’s Day menu — order here.

The meat-free Impossible Burger hits Texas grocery store shelves

The plant-based, genetically-engineered meat substitute Impossible Burger will soon be coming to a Kroger store near you. At a press conference on May 5, Impossible Foods president Dennis Woodside said the company would be available at more than 1,700 Kroger-owned stores across the state, including all locations in Texas. The burger, which has been available in Whopper form at Burger King for a while, is lauded for its close resemblance to real meat.