Local restaurants, farmers market adapt to social distancing

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Find fresh Italian meals and locally grown produce at three CAWOOD favorites.

Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria and La Perla Pizzeria are now filling Eugene-area diners’ cravings, just like they did before the state’s social-distancing order – but with a twist.

All it takes to get fresh handmade fettucine, meatballs and Neapolitan-style pizza is a phone call. Then, customers just drive up. A restaurant employee brings the order out to the car. Both restaurants also offer food pick-up stations.

“It’s been received quite well,” said John “Gianni” Barofsky, co-owner of the two local favorites. “People were missing our food, so they were happy to see that we were open.” 

Both restaurants closed for about a month before securing small business loans to help offset overhead costs. They reopened on April 22 (La Perla) and May 1 (Beppe & Gianni’s), and continue to follow CDC guidelines for sanitizing and safety. Find menus, hours and phone numbers at https://laperlapizzeria.com/ and http://beppeandgiannis.net/

Meanwhile, at Lane County Farmers Market, shoppers fulfill their need for fresh, locally grown produce in a market that is now spread over two blocks.

“We’ve actually redesigned our entire market space with social distancing in mind,” said Meghan Verberkmoes, membership and marketing coordinator.

They’ve spaced vendor booths at least 10 feet apart. Assigned staff ensure rules are followed. Separate staff handle food and money. They offer hand sanitizing and hand washing areas.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback,” Verberkmoes said. “I think people feel comfortable, particularly in this larger open-air space.”

The farmers market is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Eugene. The first hour is designated for seniors and those who are at high-risk. Learn more: https://www.lanecountyfarmersmarket.org/

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cara Murez

Cara Murez

Writer / Editor

Cara is a storyteller. Naturally curious about people, she enjoys learning about what makes a person or a business interesting, successful and unique, and then figuring out the best combination of words to highlight that information.