Let's Talk: Coronavirus, Earthquake, and Indian Food

(Photo by Justin Prather / Strange Lake Photography)

As hard as this past week has been with a pandemic and a magnitude 5.7 earthquake during a week of self-quarantine it also has been a time of profound reflection. Every so often Mother Nature pushes the reset button so we can stop, prioritize and move forward with renewed energy and respect for the world that we live in.

Perspective

The isolation has given me space and time — two of the most precious gifts anyone could ask for during a period of constant chaos — to process everything and find a way forward.

This morning I looked through old pictures of Saffron Valley dating back to when we first opened our doors in South Jordan ten years ago. Feelings of fear, pride, sacrifice, success, but most especially, GRATITUDE crashed over me like a tidal wave, and I realized what a beautiful journey it has been.

Saffron Valley didn’t prosper in a vacuum; the employees, customers, vendors, consultants and communities who have stood by us through thick and thin have built this business to where it is today. Or, where it was a week ago, anyway.

Small Business Struggles

With the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the world seems to have come to a standstill. People all over have been affected. Businesses of all sizes are feeling the economic impact; some small businesses may never recover.

Monday, March 16th was one of the most trying days of my life. The Salt Lake County Health Department ordered restaurants to stop dine-in services; only takeout and delivery would be allowed. Saffron Valley complied, and then we had to make the difficult decision to cut back our staff by 60%.

Hope and Resilience

As we made the announcement to our staff, I was braced for mixed emotions of sadness, worry and disappointment. Instead what we got from them was a feeling of hope, reassurance and ongoing commitment.

Many Saffron Valley team members expressed their willingness to do whatever it takes to get us through this hardship. Needless to say this gesture from the very same people we’re trying to provide for gave me even more strength and resilience to not give up.

Stronger Together

So we got to work creating a new limited menu, updating all our online channels, and rolling out the new takeout and delivery menus to all four Saffron Valley locations. We are now on day three of this new model and the support from our patrons has been overwhelming.

We are thrilled to be able to bring back a few more employees to keep up with the work load. Soon we hope to bring back most, if not all, of our staff. This could only be possible with the love and support of patrons who have showed up whether ordering takeout and delivery, buying gift cards, or posting about us on social media. We are encouraged by your posts, pictures and stories when you tag us. We read and respond to your reviews. Your actions have kept us and so many other local businesses going so please don’t stop.

We continue to follow strict hygiene and sanitation practices as we adapt to this new model and work towards the foreseeable future. The hope is for things to get back to ‘normal’ as soon as possible but no one really knows. They might stay the same for a while, or God forbid, they might get worse. No matter what, we are going to get through this together and become much stronger and kinder.

Thank You

Last but not least, I extend my thanks to all our healthcare professionals who are risking their lives to keep us safe and healthy. To all the grocery store workers who are stocking their shelves to keep our stomachs full. Thank you to our friends in the hospitality industry who have stood the test of time and continue to adapt and change. This too shall pass. Stay safe!

Warmly,
Lavanya Mahate, Owner
Saffron Valley Restaurants & Catering