Hey, foodies! As you may have heard, Governor Northam announced plans to begin slowly reopening businesses starting May 15th. Virginia’s Phase 1 plan includes restaurants (yay!) except for those in Northern Virginia. The Coronavirus is serious business, so there will, understandably, be a lot of changes to your favorite spots to dine. Eating out might feel a little different so we wanted to share a guide for what you can expect.

You can be forgiven for being unfamiliar with, even skeptical of, the term “Virginia barbecue.” When most people think barbecue epicenters, they probably think North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Kansas City—but not necessarily the Old Dominion. And while you’ve long been able to enjoy fantastic American barbecue in the state of multiple styles, homegrown Virginian preparations are enjoying a smokin’-hot, finger-lickin’-good revival well worth celebrating.

Whether you’re crunching the shells under your feet at the bar, digging into a bag during the ninth inning, or whipping up a classic PB&J, peanuts rank among America’s most iconic foods. Virginia has been a peanut hotspot since the 19th century, and gives its name to a variety celebrated as the “Cadillac of peanuts.”

These are scary times, foodies. COVID-19 has upended the normal way of life for almost everyone, but there is also a lot to be hopeful about. Local communities all around the state, nation, and world are chipping in and helping their neighbors in need. Wondering what you can do? Or maybe you, yourself, need a little help. Either way, this article is for you. It’s broken down by region to give you a good idea of resources near you. We also have some state-wide resources that apply to all Virginians, including small food businesses..