Post made at 12:25 p.m. on Monday, March 30. Please note that details of offers may change.

Marilynn’s Place and Ralph’s Place are two popular Shreveport restaurants owned and operated by Chef Boz Baucum. Like all local restaurants, both businesses have been severely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are currently limited to offering takeout and to-go service.

On Tuesday, March 31, an anonymous supporter of both restaurants will match 100% of all purchases and tips at both businesses for the entire business day. If you purchase $30 worth of food and tip $5, for example, the restaurant will receive $60 and the tipped staff will receive $10 from your transaction. Over the course of the day, the doubled purchases and tips could really add up. They’re calling it “Woo Hoo Day,” and you can RSVP to participate on Facebook. If you’re comfortable grabbing takeout, consider this option as a way to double your support.

On Tuesday, March 31, Ralph’s Place will be open, 6:30 a.m. ’til 2 p.m., and Marilynn’s Place will be open, 9 a.m. ’til 9 p.m. You can see the Ralph’s Place menu here and the Marilynn’s Place menu here.

A fried shrimp po’ boy from Marilynn’s Place in Shreveport.

In other news from the local restaurant community, Chef Blake Jackson’s Whisk Dessert Bar has launched a new, online retail program called “Pinpals.” Visitors to the Pinpals site can send a single box of sweet treats from Whisk Dessert Bar to loved ones anywhere in the U.S.

Jackson has been among the most visible local restaurateurs during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and has also introduced a program through which customers can purchase cookies that will be delivered to police, fire, hospital workers, and other Shreveport-Bossier first responders. Here’s the Facebook post announcing that program:

Finally, be on the lookout for a new restaurant gift card program being offered by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. Though the program appears to still be under development, Shreveport Tex-Mex restaurant El Cabo Verde is already selling gift cards through the online program (you can purchase El Cabo Verde’s gift cards here).

The gift card vendor for this program, Yiftee, has waived all processing fees for participating restaurants through August. Those fees can be as high as seven percent for some gift cards, which is incredibly significant to restaurants, which typically maintain a profit margin of fifteen percent or lower. Not only are Yiftee cards entirely contact-free (customers can print the cards on-demand at home or just save them as an e-mail), they’re also essentially free for participating restaurants to use through August.

20×49.com is a publication of The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.