On April 16, the City of Fishers announced it would be searching for chefs to become the first occupants of the Fishers Test Kitchen, which is a culinary accelerator the first of its kind in the state. Fishers Test Kitchen is planned for the Yard at Fishers District, where it will open this fall inside the new Sun King Brewery.
The culinary accelerator will include three kitchens in a food hall setting. The Fishers Test Kitchen will allow aspiring chefs, restaurateurs, food truck operators, farmers market vendors and other culinary experts to experiment with a new concept and build a following. Eventually, the goal is for the chef to open his or her own restaurants. The short-term lease concept will allow an ever-changing line-up of chefs to cycle through the Fishers Test Kitchen. While they are leasing in the Fishers Test Kitchen, chefs will be provided with business coaching and mentorship through Launch Fishers.
“Fishers has seen success with tech companies in the area, and we’re now taking the tech accelerator model and applying it to the restaurant industry,” says John Wechsler, entrepreneur and CEO of the IoT Lab and Launch Fishers. “We hope this not only surfaces local talent but also brings in chefs from across the country and introduces them to what Fishers has to offer.”
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, food writer Jolene Ketzenberger, Wechsler and Sun King’s Clay Robinson will select the chefs. The first group of chefs will be announced later this spring. Once the first group is selected, the Fishers Test Kitchen will accept applications on a rolling basis.
Applications for the first group are open through May. To apply, visit fisherstestkitchen.com. As a part of the application, chefs can upload a menu, resume and video explaining their restaurant concept.
Also housed in the culinary accelerator is a culinary performance space called the Fishers Kitchen Table. This area will seat a small a small group for ticketed dinners, tastings, private events and classes.
