3D: Culinary Talent + Experiences
Support efforts to expand local culinary talent through accessible, formal and informal training and through programs that reduce the costs and risks of starting or expanding a culinary business. Such efforts should reach into immigrant, ethnic, and communities of color, providing pathways for entrepreneurs while expanding the international cuisine available in the city. In addition, we must support the rapid recovery of local restaurants, bars, and producers and more strongly embed them into the Indy experience, including development of immersive food experiences that transform a meal or drink into an event.
Value to the Community
Food and drink are perhaps the most approachable way in which cultures are shared and people of diverse backgrounds can be brought together. Oftentimes, they are the motivation for travel, allowing food to serve as the gateway to a broader experience and understanding of different neighborhoods and people. Also, food-based businesses provide pathways of economic opportunity for residents.Value to the Hospitality Industry
Unique culinary experiences drive tourism. Finding ways to increase and diversify culinary talent, and reduce the barriers to opening and sustaining a restaurant, will help satisfy this demand while also increasing Indy's cosmopolitan flair.Updates
- January 2024. New Irish Pub. Snug, a small 600-square-foot bar, opened in Indianapolis, striving for a small neighborhood Irish pub vibe with a diverse whisky collection of 90 different labels. Although their food menu is small, they aim to be a good spot to grab a drink before or after dining at nearby local restaurants.
- November 2023. New Scratch Kitchen and Culinary Lab. In Indy’s far east side, a new school cafeteria called the Circle City Prep in a school known as “C3” was a $1.5 million investment to provide this new scratch kitchen and culinary lab. These new facilities allow the school to host an on-site chef with a learning laboratory space for an after-school culinary club. Alongside this investment came an overhaul for student lunches from prepackaged reheated lunches to fresh produce and made on-site meals.
- October 2023. Wine & Food Experience. Indianapolis’ White River State Park hosts the Wine and Food Experience featuring local chefs, brewers, and vintners with food and drink samples, live music, and other entertainment.
- October 2023. Soul Food Reopens. Popular soul food restaurant Kountry Kitchen Soul Food Place reopens after a devastating fire in 2020. Owners express their gratitude to the community and organizations who helped with the construction of their new building.
- May 2023. New Cajun Restaurant & Arcade Bar. Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux will be opening in downtown Indy, featuring Cajun-inspired dishes like blackened chicken and crawfish etouffee. On the second level will be Park & Rec, a bar featuring drinks, arcade systems, and live music, hoping to create a safe bar atmosphere. And on the third level of the building will feature a small event space and stage.
- March 2023. New Southern Kitchen and Bar. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar has a new location in downtown Indy. Their menu is a modern twist on southern favorites and traditions, along with a range of mimosas, Bloody Marys, and 20 beers on tap from Indiana-based brewers.
- March 2023. Kevin Hart Gives Local Business a Grant. Black Leaf Vegan, a vegan restaurant in Indy that started as a food truck and opened its first brick-and-mortar store in 2022 received a $10,000 business grant from Kevin Hart. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramio Tequila announced funding for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs; out of the fifty small businesses chosen, Black Leaf Vegan was the only one awarded in Indiana.
Priority + Progress
Monitoring priorities are the middle 60% or so of actions that TTI is keeping its eye on and supporting as needed.
TTI Role
The encourage role means TTI is offering encouragement to partners pursuing this action. This is the least-involved type of role and typically applicable when partners don't need much help.
