With an estimated 10 per cent of establishments already permanently shuttered due to COVID-19 and patio season winding down, Restaurants Canada is calling on the feds to renew their commitment to the industry and help it avoid further closures and job losses as winter approaches across the Great White North.

Some fast facts:1. One out of every five jobs lost in the wake of the pandemic was in foodservice and hospitality; 2. Employment in the foodservice sector remains 260,000 jobs short of where it was in February; 3. Total foodservice sales in Canada could drop by nearly half in 2020, representing $44.8 Billion in lost sales compared to 2019; 4. More than half of respondents to a survey conducted by Restaurants Canada in the summer said they are continuing to operate at a loss and expect to take at least a year to return to profitability.

There are plenty of things to which you can subscribe these days, but the only one that has our current rapt attention is General Assembly’s new pizza subscription service.

Here’s the lowdown, you lucky Toronto crust-n-sauce lovers: sign up for a stack of four, six, eight or 10 GA pizzas to be delivered to your door starting at just $39 per month. That’s it. Break yourself off a slice and ciao down.

Check out the link in General Assembly Pizza’s bio to get in on this revolutionary new subscription service.

The winner of our Dine OutSide giveaway is… @mnguyennnn!

Her prize? $500 in gift cards to restaurants participating in the inaugural summertime edition of the annual food and drink celebration known as @dineoutvanfest.

BTW, you still have until September 21 to take advantage of all the great Dine OutSide deals being offered by the hundreds of local dining establishments offering expanded patio service and prix-fixe menus at $15, $25, $35 and $45 price points as well as special promotional offers or take-outside and picnic packs for those who love to dine in true al-fresco fashion (once the smoke clears...)