by Patricia B. Mirasol Restaurateurs have to rethink and change their managerial mindset in order to create a resilient food sector, said Carlos Martin-Rios, an...

SINCE THE pandemic has effectively frozen our lives, we might as well freeze the treats it took away from us, and enjoy them at home. BusinessWorld talked to two institutions (one of a considerable age; the other of a considerable size) that have offered their usual fare on ice.

Normally during early part of Spring, between late March to first week of April, Bordeaux is bustling with thousands of wine professionals from all over the world, including wine critics, importers, sommeliers, and restaurateurs, in anticipation of the en-primeur of the previous vintage — but not this year! The COVID-19 pandemic has changed this Bordeaux tradition, perhaps forever. It is quite interesting to note that prior to the pandemic, the 2019 vintage had already been much talked about. It is, after all, coming after a great 2018 vintage. And as a shadow vintage (one that comes after a spectacular vintage), the vintage can never be all that bad — however, 2019 proved to be even better than expected. Thus, a huge dilemma. The 2019 vintage should be fetching similar prices as the previous 2018 vintage, but the menacing effect of COVID-19 caused the world economy to go into recession mode. With this in consideration, the 2019 en-primeur will go down perhaps in recent history as one of the biggest bargains of all time.

THE Catsup Museum, an interactive educational museum created to “immortalize the story of banana catsup,” has gone digital as it now offers virtual tours for children for free.

JOHNNIE WALKER scotch whisky will be available in plastic-free bottles from early 2021, Diageo Plc said on Monday, as the world’s biggest spirits maker ramps up efforts to tackle plastic waste.

LONDON — Britain’s royal family has begun selling dry gin infused with lemon, verbena, hawthorn berries and mulberry leaves collected from Queen Elizabeth II’s gardens at Buckingham Palace.

ST. JUST, England — Man walks into a bar, and into an electric fence. It’s not a joke, but rather the novel measure taken by one Cornish pub to enforce distance rules to stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).

NOW THAT COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) quarantine protocols have allowed restaurants to start operations again, Conrad Manila’s award-winning restaurant, China Blue by Jereme Leung, has reopened, offering its modern interpretation of authentic Chinese cuisine curated by celebrity Master Chef Jereme Leung and Executive Chinese Chef Eng Yew Khor.

SINCE THE pandemic has made sure that one will be staying at home a lot, one might as well fill it up with treasures. And treasures are what one will find in Leon Gallery’s 16^th edition of its online auction LeonExchange, which will be held on July 18 and 19 at 11 a.m. Up for grabs are Picasso lithographs and etchings, a Zobel serigraph, and watercolors by Botong Francisco and Jose Joya. And that’s just the first day, running under the theme “The Collector’s Vault.”

A NUDE by Roy Lichtenstein led Christie’s relay-style auction that played out virtually Friday in four cities around the globe.

ISTANBUL — Turkey will inform the United Nation’s cultural body UNESCO about steps being taken regarding Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday, after Ankara converted the museum back into a mosque.

PARIS — The Rodin museum in Paris reopened on Tuesday and is hoping the sale of limited-edition cast bronzes of work by the 19^th century sculptor will help make up some of its financial losses from a fall in visitor numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.