StartUp Kitchen

StartUp Kitchen helps local restaurants find their footing

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:49:54 -0400

StartUp Kitchen helps local restaurants find their footing

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at DC Dosa through...

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:48:00 -0400

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at DC Dosa through (StartUp) Kitchen Confidential journals!

Check out photos from the opening night of DC Dosa last...

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:46:02 -0400

Check out photos from the opening night of DC Dosa last month!

Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Parker Photography.

thinklocalfirstdc: Join us for the first StartUp Kitchen...

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:14:07 -0400

thinklocalfirstdc:

Join us for the first StartUp Kitchen restaurant, DC Dosa, next Monday!

It’s going to be yummy!

Be the first to get tickets to the DC Dosa StartUp Kitchen! 4...

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:00:41 -0400

Be the first to get tickets to the DC Dosa StartUp Kitchen! 4 weeks, limited seats, and a chance to shape a local business!

The next StartUp Kitchen project will be hosted by Penny Karas...

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:44:02 -0400

The next StartUp Kitchen project will be hosted by Penny Karas of Hello Cupcake! Stay tuned for more information soon!

Rebecca Gunter of operation:eatery, Kera Carpenter of Domku,...

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:41:30 -0400

Rebecca Gunter of operation:eatery, Kera Carpenter of Domku, StartUp Kitchen winner Priya Ammy, and Stacey Price of Think Local First DC.

View more photos of the StartUp Kitchen Launch Party, which was held during Eat Local First Week 2012, here!

StartUp Kitchen finalists from left to right: Priya Ammu (DC...

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:34:41 -0400

StartUp Kitchen finalists from left to right: Priya Ammu (DC Dosa), Julien Shapiro Worthwhile Meats & Provisions), and Bettina Stern (Chaya).

Photo

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 23:58:13 -0400

http://eatlocalfirstdc2012.eventbrite.com/

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:45:43 -0400

http://eatlocalfirstdc2012.eventbrite.com/:

Reserve your tickets for the Chopping Block Competition (July 18) and Launch Party (July 20), both being held at Domku during Eat Local First Week 2012!

And the StartUp Kitchen finalists are… Thank you to those...

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:59:00 -0400

And the StartUp Kitchen finalists are…

Thank you to those who applied! Submissions were reviewed and the three finalists competing for the chance to open their own pop-up restaurant at Domku during Eat Local First Week 2012 are…

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Finalist: Julien Shapiro

Food concept: Worthwhile Meats & Provisions

Food concept description: Julien Shapiro’s concept, Worthwhile Meats & Provisions, is a full-service specialty butcher store with prepared foods, bar and dining room offering classical French-themed bistronomique cuisine. The fixed-price three-course menu would feature specialty cuts and charcuterie in addition to dishes created from the products of the whole animal butchery. Julien is passionate about using his culinary repertoire to provide charcuterie, classical fabrications, and butcher’s cuts not readily available anywhere else in the city.

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Finalist: Bettina Stern and Suzanne Simon

Food concept: Chaya

Food concept description: Bettina Stern and Suzanne Simon have developed Chaya, a “restaurant with a purpose — mostly plants, less meat, and superior taste and quality.” The menu will focus on their house-made griddled corn tortillas filled with vegetables, legumes, and whole grains finished with various fresh sauces and toppings. They hope to focus their efforts in the Shaw/Little Ethiopia and Foggy Bottom/West End markets.

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Finalist: Priya Ammu

Food concept: DC Dosa

Food concept description: Priya Ammu’s DC Dosa offers dosas, the popular Indian lentil and rice pancake, three ways—3 fillings and 3 chutneys—made to order and ready to go. The fillings and chutneys vary seasonally and are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. DC Dosa expects lunch and late night to be popular times for dosas among its urban, well-traveled, international, foodie clientele base.

The deadline for submissions has passed.

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 01:26:06 -0400

Thank you to those who applied to the StartUp Kitchen project!

The next step of the process involves hosts and panelists reviewing applications in order to choose finalists.

Stay tuned!

Final call for StartUp Kitchen project applications! If...

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:34:19 -0400

Final call for StartUp Kitchen project applications!

If you’re an aspiring DC restaurateur, submit your completed business plan today for the chance to incubate your food concept and launch your own restaurant during Think Local First DC’s Eat Local First Week 2012!

Read the requirement and find the application here.

Domku lends helping hand to would-be restaurateurs

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:43:11 -0400

Domku lends helping hand to would-be restaurateurs :

Read about StartUp Kitchen in the Washington Business Journal!

Only one week left to apply for the StartUp Kitchen project! Make sure your application is...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:07:22 -0400

Only one week left to apply for the StartUp Kitchen project!

Make sure your application is submitted by June 20!

More information can be found here.

Wannabe Restaurateurs to Test Ideas, Host Pop-Ups at Domku

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:56:00 -0400

Wannabe Restaurateurs to Test Ideas, Host Pop-Ups at Domku:

Check out this great Washington City Paper article about our project!

Domku to Host a StartUp Kitchen on Monday Nights for Six Weeks Starting in September

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:01:10 -0400

Domku to Host a StartUp Kitchen on Monday Nights for Six Weeks Starting in September:

Thanks, Prince of Petworth, for the coverage!

StartUp Kitchen Press Release

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:35:00 -0400

Amy Friedlander

startupkitchen2012@gmail.com

202.674.2005

For Immediate Release

Organizations Boost Culinary Economy By Launching an Emerging Restaurantuer

StartUp Kitchen applicants must apply by June 20

When Kera Carpenter opened DOMKU, a Petworth neighborhood game-changer, she could have benefited from a mentor, a space to test her concept, an opportunity to “play kitchen”. Seven years later it is in her own restaurant’s kitchen that she will provide these opportunities to one emerging culinary entrepreneur through StartUp Kitchen.

StartUp Kitchen, set to launch late July during Eat Local Week is an initiative of CARPENTER and her new organization, NURISH: The Center for a Creative Culinary Economy. Through a competitive process loosely modeled on the Kauffman Foundation’s StartUp Weekend, food entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to present their concepts before a panel of food industry veterans who will critique their business plans, offer constructive advice, ask probing questions, and review the general soundness of the concepts. The selected winner of the competition will be given access to an existing restaurant during its off hours and afforded all the marketing support of Think Local First DC.

“The local independent culinary class in DC has the largest projected independent business growth over the next two years, explains Stacey Price, Executive Director of Think Local First DC. “Projects like StartUp Kitchen allow us to make an impact and mentor our emerging restaurant industry.”

Applicants must be DC resident, have a basic business license, and present a concept that works in the space along with a viable business plan. Interested entrepreneurs must apply by June 20 to be eligible. Select applications will be reviewed by a committee of food industry judges and finalists will be announced July 3. On July 17, finalists will present formal plans to the committee. The winner will be announced on July 20th at the StartUp Kitchen Launch Party.

NURISH: Center for Creative Culinary Economies is currently searching for funding and infrastructure. The concept includes a commercial kitchen, education and restaurant space for pop-ups and events.

“StartUpKitchen is a way to live out the mission of NURISH on a grassroots level while we secure what is needed for the entire concept,” explains Carpenter. “DC is full of industry leaders hungry to share their expertise. Our hope is to incubate emerging culinary entrepreneurs at a variety of StartUp Kitchens around DC.”

The StartUp Kitchen incubation lasts six weeks starting September 3rd. Each Monday night starting September 17th consumers can buy tickets, test the food, and give feedback on the winning concept. Applicants must apply online at http://startupkitchen2012.tumblr.com/ or www.eatlocalfirstdc.com. For more information please contact Kera CARPENTER at startupkitchen2012@gmail.com.

StartUp Kitchen is an exciting new project to provide a start-up...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:16:00 -0400

StartUp Kitchen is an exciting new project to provide a start-up food entrepreneur an opportunity to partner with a local restaurant to temporarily operate their food concept in a restaurant setting without the risk and investment normally required.

Through a competitive process modeled on the Kauffman Foundation’s StartUp Weekend, food entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to present their concepts before a panel of food industry veterans who will critique their business plans, offer constructive advice, ask probing questions, and review the general soundness of the concepts. The selected winner of the competition will be given access to an existing restaurant during its off hours and afforded all the marketing support of Think Local First DC.

Process Timeline:
June 5 - Call for applications
June 20 - Deadline for applications
June 20-22 - Host Review
June 22-27 - Panel Review
July 3 - Finalists announced
July 5-15 - Finalists preparation time for Shark Tank
July 17 - Chopping Block Presentations @ Domku
July 20 - StartUpKitchen Launch Party @Domku
September 3-October 14 - StartUp Kitchen Incubation
September 17-October 14 - StartUp Kitchen Restaurant

Application Requirements:
• Applicant must have a completed business plan
• Applicant must have a federal tax ID
• Applicant must be a DC resident
• Applicant must have a workable concept
• Applicant must be able to meet the fee requirements

Benefits for the Food Entrepreneur:
• Invaluable mentorship from a panel of industry veterans.
• Low-risk, low-investment opportunity to test their concept
• Generating early buzz around their concept
• Opportunity to test recipes in a commercial kitchen
• Opportunity to serve a large number of guests and obtain feedback from the public
• Building a following for the future

Interested in taking part? Applications are due by June 20!

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