GRAND RE-OPENING!

We are beyond excited to announce our GRAND RE-OPENING with the launch of two new, wonderful businesses to our space!

We are thrilled to announce our newest restaurant in residence, Neutral Ground. Neutral Ground is a Modern New Orleans Style Po-Boy and Yakamein Shop reminiscent of the neighborhood corner stores that feed many New Orleanians. It is a friendly and welcoming neighborhood restaurant where you can expect modern interpretation of Classic New Orleans Po-Boy and Yakamein a creole take a Chinese noodles (ramens older cousin). Led by Chef Kenyatta Ashford, this new venture will bring a unique perspective to the Chattanooga area food scene (and one we cannot wait to enjoy!).

Chef Kenyatta Ashford studied at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY. Before returning to Chattanooga, he gained experience and inspiration while working in New Orleans, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. He recently was awarded Jean-Louis Palladin Professional Work/Study Grant by the James Beard Foundation that he used to study cuisines of the African American diaspora and West African. Chef Ashford recently started a new dinner series called "4 Courses and " which is aimed at bringing people of diverse backgrounds together for engaging dialogue around various topics covered in a musical project over four courses.

In addition to our new restaurant in residence, we are also excited to announce our first commissary kitchen tenant and food truck, Poppytons Patisserie (and farm!) led by Kendra and Delaina Elmz.

Kendra was a professional dancer and teacher for over 20 years and wanted to explore herself in a new career. Having been inspired by years of working alongside her dad and his endless pursuit of the perfect pizza crust and puff pastry, she trained to become a pastry chef at the International Culinary Center in New York City. Delaina’s career led her to high-level corporate positions ever so very far from her dream of working with her hands to produce food for her community. She traded in her power suits for farm boots and a bakery apron. Taking inspiration from chefs Dominique Crenn, Jeong Kwan, Francis Mallmann and Dan Barber all of whom have a farm where they produce food for their restaurants, they left the hubbub of the Bay Area in search of a place to call home.  Chattanooga, TN is where the dream of Poppytons Patisserie and Poppytons Farm has come to light.

In addition to these two new businesses, we will continue featuring food from our current restaurant in residence Lil Oso as well as snacks from our consumer goods tenant, Lolo Bars!

Chatt Taste will also be launching their newest food tour - an MLK Food Tour - on Friday!

Because all celebrations need great food, drink, and entertainment - we reached out to some of our favorites in the city to bring you a night you won't soon forget! We will have music from Frank Bumpass as well as performances by The Pop Up Project spread throughout our two seatings.

While we know offering a Grand Opening in the midst of a global pandemic can be a bit... scary for some? We assure you, we put the health and safety of our guests and staff before everything else in planning this event. We hold ourselves and our partners to the strictest health and safety standards (you can view our Guest Protocols here to better understand what is expected of our guests) and are accepting reservations for our dining options to keep our numbers at a comfortable level.

To ensure we can keep a safe, controlled, and sanitary establishment, we will offer 2 seatings - one from 5 - 7pm and the other from 7:30 - 9:30pm. Each seating will be able to enjoy all food options as well as see the performances by our entertainers (which will be outside). You also have the option to designate whether you'd like to sit outside on our patio or inside our establishment (please note this on your reservation in the NOTES section). Between the seatings, we will be sanitizing and disinfecting the entire establishment for our next arrivals.

To reserve your seats now, please visit our OpenTable site and select FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH. Please note - the reservation times are from 5-7pm or 7:30 - 9:30pm. If you pick 5:15 or 5:30pm, you will be able to claim your table any time between 5 and 7pm, but we will need to clear the restaurant for sanitization from 7 - 7:30pm. Our bar will stay open Friday evening until 11pm and we will be able to accept walk ins after 9:30pm.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@proofincubator.com. We cannot wait to celebrate with you!