In this perilous time

All of us who love Italy, the Italian people and the Italian food culture should take a moment to think about our friends in family restaurant businesses there who are confronting a near existential crisis. Over the last few days, we have received reports that many of our favorite restaurants have closed in the face of dwindling business and concerns about spreading the virus among employees and customers. Just moments ago, we learned that the Italian government has shut down all commercial activities, save for food stores and pharmacies. There is little any of us can offer at this point to better the lot of these family businesses and the wonderful people who run them, but there is much we can do to help them in the future by making plans to return once the crisis passes. In the meantime, please consider sending a few words of sympathy to the people you know or to their restaurant websites.