But this January and February, some changes are taking on added significance for chefs and restaurateurs.
There are promising signs that business is improving. In North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the easing of restrictions for restaurants and bars last week as cases of COVID-19 decline. And across the county, restaurant sales are projected to climb more than 10% this year, according to the National Restaurant Association.
It isn’t quite enough to cover from the pandemic, though, the group said. Instead, 2021 will be a year of transition and rebuilding for the industry. In these cases, that’s in a literal and not just figurative sense.