By Marcus Woodruff
Northside News
Like a young child, a growing community needs nutrition. The concept of a food desert is often, sadly, a reality. The Northside’s past has seen the razing of Brennan’s Market, the shuttering of Jacobson’s Deli, and our only grocery store has changed hands multiple times. Our side of town is on the brink of a massive expansion. Hundreds of living spaces will soon be occupied. The need for new food sources is now, and in the friendly confines of the former Cafe la Bellitalia, like a child a young business has begun to grow. This child is being fed by a Fabulous family and soon all of us are welcome.
“If you don’t like our food,” stated veteran chef Ben Hunter, “you don’t like food.” He, along with chef extraordinaire Kyle Kiepert and brainy beauty Emily Julka, formed the principles of a new venture called This is All Fabulous.
“We’ve been building this business model for years,” recalled Hunter, “but renting kitchen space was holding us back, so we decided to build our own.” Months of renovation were required to change Bellitalia’s kitchen into a modern multi-use facility.
“It’s been plastering, painting and permits,” said Hunter, “but now we’re up and running.” In recent weeks, they’ve serviced a dozen catered events, some with over 200 attendees. “This kind of business is our bread and butter,” said Hunter, “but catering is seasonal, and we will have to diversify to remain relevant.”
To that end, a liquor license has been applied for, health department paperwork is processing, and the final goal of being a walk-in retail deli is on the horizon. “We hope to be selling wine, cheese plates and turkey with all the trimmings by November,” Hunter forecast.
All the ingredients of their creations come from local farms and suppliers. “We’ve always done it that way,” said Hunter, “we wouldn’t know how to do anything se.”
As for just the three of them servicing large events, they have a cadre of old restaurant friends who are more than happy to sign a 1099, put on their dress whites, and get the food to the table. “We have years of contacts with hundreds of people who we’ve spent thousands of nights with, banging pots and pans till the early morning. You can’t buy that kind of help.”
Yes, the Northside is about to expand. And yes, there will be need. But there is a child. Let us say, a brainchild. And like the Magi, there are three special people who will herald and shepherd this child to its intended destiny. And this child will feed the world.
“We’re in the right place, at the right time,” mused Hunter, “all we’ve done has led us here, and this is where we want to be.”
