Famous Food

Kid Rock's Nashville honky tonk says it will NOT shut down over coronavirus ... despite the city's orders ... and Kid's joint ain't alone in taking this defiant stand.

Restaurateur Steve Smith -- who co-owns Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk & Steakhouse -- put out a blistering response Sunday to Nashville Mayor John Cooper's recent directive that all bars in town close up, and restaurants cut their capacity in half.

The move -- which several other cities across the country are starting to implement -- is in direct response to the coronavirus pandemic -- but even so, Smith is saying ... kick rocks to the government.

He says rather matter of factly, "We appreciate the efforts of Mayor Cooper to combat the COVID-19 virus, but unless there's a statewide mandate that directs all bars and restaurants to be closed, the request made by Mayor Cooper is unconstitutional as he is targeting a select group of businesses."

Smith adds, "[A] Tootsie's patron as immediate as last night, mentioned having lived through the polio epidemic and didn't recall such extreme measures being handed down in history." He continues, "In response, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Rippy's, Honky Tonk Central, Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk & Steakhouse and The Diner will continue to remain open to serve the public until such statewide mandate is issued from the Governor of Tennessee."

Smith's snub of the Mayor comes after a viral video captured the scene this weekend inside a downtown Nashville bar -- the joint was packed with patrons, out and about without a care.

Interestingly enough, Kid Rock himself hasn't spoken on the issue of closing up yet -- even though he co-owns one of the bars threatening to stay open.

Heidi Klum's husband is rolling the dice ... because he decided to venture out into some busy public spaces while awaiting the results of his coronavirus test!!!

Heidi's hubby, Tom Kaulitz, went shopping for groceries Sunday with his brother, Bill Kaulitz, at the super-popular Los Angeles supermarket, Erewhon Market ... this after falling ill and getting tested for the deadly virus.

Tom and Bill wore face masks and gloves during their grocery run ... but masks and gloves aren't a steel curtain.

Heidi says ... "Like many of you, I also have been sick all week and, unfortunately, my husband who returned from his tour a couple of days ago is also feeling ill. To be safe, we are staying apart until we get the results of our coronavirus tests.”

Dave & Buster's is a place where kids and adults alike love to play -- which, by and large in Cali, has NOT closed its doors up to this point ... but that could change soon.

TMZ spoke to at least 9 different D&B locations up and down California, and they all pretty much told us the same thing ... they haven't closed up shop, but they are seeing way less traffic come through these past couple weeks -- part of which isn't even their own doing.

We're told a lot of these Dave & Buster's have been instructed by their local governments to reduce the number of people they let in the building down to just 100, including employees. That said, it sounds like it's just slow all around in the arcade/bar/restaurant these days.

Still, we're told those who are working shifts have changed their routines a bit. Some locations tell us certain staffers have been designated to just wiping and sterilizing the joint, from individual game stations and tables ... right down to the menus and ketchup packets.

Of course, it appears D&B might be one of several different venues across the state that will be directed to close up shop -- whether it's locally here in Los Angeles or anywhere else. Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday instructed bars and clubs to shut down.

And, when it comes to restaurants, he says they should start scaling back their capacity by at least 50%. Ditto for L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti -- so it looks D&B could be on a hiatus, along with many other bar/restaurant locales.

The funny thing is ... it feels like a lot of residents aren't heeding the directive of health officials, because L.A. was pretty poppin' this weekend. Same for Nashville, too, apparently ... viral video of a massive gathering at a bar there proves some folks aren't taking coronavirus all that seriously.

Starbucks customers are being tasked with a tall order -- to leave their reusable cups at home to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.

There are stores all over that have posted signs telling customers it has temporarily paused the use of reusable cups. The store added, "In addition to sanitizing procedures in all our stores, this is one more step we can all take to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)."

And, get this ... we're told that at some Starbucks, stores have also pulled the communal milks, creams and sugars. Customers at those particular stores must ask baristas for the additives.

The coffee giant clearly feels minimizing contact between employees and customers -- less customer-to-employee cup exchange -- will help stop spreading germs. Same with the milks, stirrers and sugars ... no need for every customer to literally get their hands on them.

Ronda Rousey is not worried AT ALL about the coronavirus panic -- SHE'S GOT FOOD, WATER AND ENERGY FOR DAYS, SON!!!!

The UFC legend and current WWE superstar showed off her situation at Browsey Acres in Riverside, CA -- where she lives with her husband, Travis Browne.

They've got freezers full of frozen meat, coups filled with chickens, tons of livestock, fruits and veggies galore, clean water tanks ... and they're solar-powered by Tesla!

In other words, Ronda and Travis were built for this!!!!

"Our coronavirus panic shopping list is: Nonexistent," Ronda said. "It's no secret I've been a proud preppier for years -- but let's all learn from this pandemic panic and be a little more self sufficient and prepared in the future."

Ronda says if you want to follow in her footsteps ... she's got some advice -- start small and build up!!

As for those who ain't currently as prepared as Rousey ... good luck at the supermarkets -- have ya seen the Costco lines lately??

Buffet-goers in Vegas are outta luck because of coronavirus, but family-style feasters everywhere else in the good ol' U.S. of A. can still get their fix ... for now anyway.

Four of the biggest buffet restaurant chains in the country tell TMZ they have no plans to close up shop amid what is now a global pandemic -- but they're not blind to the concerns about COVID-19. Meaning, they're taking new precautions.

For instance, Golden Corral says it's installed multiple new hand sanitizer stations in most, if not all, of its 500 locations -- and workers are now on a different kinda clock.

A rep tells us GC employees have been instructed to wash their hands a minimum of every 20 minutes, or between tasks. They're also wiping down all guest touchpoint areas every half hour.

The ever-familiar HomeTown, Old Country and Ryan's buffet chains are also following that spic-and-span approach. A rep for Ovation Brands -- which owns and operates all 3 -- says they're going hog wild on the cleaning and sanitizing as well.

Interestingly, Ovation says the reason it's not panicking just yet is because most of their customers are homegrown in the U.S., and not from overseas. That theory seems flawed, though, since there's no telling where those customers have traveled recently.

We're told if things change over the next few weeks -- and it seems obvious they will -- Ovation says it'll reevaluate.

Congressman Matt Gaetz apparently made the rounds before he self-quarantined ... because we got this pic of him chowing down Friday at a West Palm Beach taco joint.

Gaetz hit up Rocco's Tacos and according to eyewitnesses, he was having a great time ... problem is, he had been exposed to someone diagnosed with coronavirus. Gaetz had been at a Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland late last month and came in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the virus.

The Congressman flew on Air Force One with President Trump Monday. Sources close to Gaetz tell TMZ ... the Congressman found out he had been exposed just after boarding the Presidential plane. We're told he then separated himself from others during the flight. Trump has not yet been tested for the virus.

We're told Gaetz is asymptomatic and was tested for the virus and he'll get his results later today. So far he's showing no signs of the virus.

Gaetz took heat for apparently clowning people on the House floor late last week by wearing a contraption over his face. Days later he was self-quarantined.

Yo Bloomberg ... STOP TOUCHING YOUR MOUTH AND RUBBING IT ON THE FOOD!!!

Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg is spreading awareness -- and maybe more -- at a campaign event in Virginia ... where he wiped his mouth and then put his hands all over the staff snacks!

Unclear what Bloomberg was picking at when he got hungry during the campaign event on Monday, but you can see him shove food in his mouth and then go back to the snacks with his unclean hand!

DON'T YOU KNOW THE CORONAVIRUS SONG?! (Seriously, it's a real song released in Vietnam instructing people how to protect themselves against the virus.)

But things go from bad to WORSE for Bloomberg ... who then sucks the crumbs off of all his fingers before going BACK to the snack bar!!!

In other words, this is a perfect example of how NOT to nosh if you care about your co-workers.

C'mon Mike ... use tongs next time.

The coronavirus has people freaking out and stocking up on basic survival supplies -- like hand wipes, for example -- but there's a problem ... not enough to go around!!!

TMZ spoke with Dutch Harbor Brands -- one of the biggest hand wipe manufacturers in the country, which produces the popular Wipex brand and other antiseptic products -- and they tell us their company (and their customers) are about to see a massive shortage.

A rep says in a week ... all wet wipes produced by Dutch Harbor will be SOLD OUT, like completely. We're told demand has been through the roof these past several weeks -- mostly via Amazon and mostly overseas in places like Hong Kong, where folks are buying up wipes in bulk. Because of the surge, Americans are gonna be s*** outta luck pretty soon.

Not to worry though, we're told DHB is working around-the-clock on producing more wipes to meet the massive demand. They're also putting a limit on individual purchases.

That's not the only company facing supply and demand woes right now -- we've learned Costco is also hurting because of the coronavirus scare. A high-ranking manager from corporate tells us some of their staple "survival" goods, if you will, are running low.

For example, we're told stuff like water, canned goods, paper products and sanitizer have been flying off the shelves across America. Oddly enough, fresh meat too!!!

Our sources tell us Costco brass are having meetings this week to discuss the spree, and are considering putting limits of their own on what members can buy -- specifically, in California. People should be good for the next few weeks, but we're told they're feeling coronavirus fever too.

In other words ... get your stuff now!!! We're at threat level midnight here, people.