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The Over-the-Rhine Museum and Findlay Market are delighted to announce that we will move back to in-person events when Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine: Findlay Kitchen Edition takes place at 5:30 pm on Thursday, June 10th at Jane's at Findlay Market (on the Elm Street Esplanade). This program is the latest installment in the quarterly lecture series, “Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine,” and is a celebration of the five-year anniversary of Findlay Kitchen.
The Findlay Kitchen shared-use incubator kitchen is an important part of Over-the-Rhine’s recent history. Opened in 2016, Findlay Kitchen is committed to uplifting local entrepreneurs, championing inclusivity, and empowering the community by providing training, mentorship, scholarships, and growth opportunities to small food business entrepreneurs in the region. The Over-the-Rhine Museum is pleased to help Findlay Kitchen celebrate their fifth anniversary!
Beginning at 6:00pm, Marianne Hamilton, Director of Food Innovation for the Corporation for Findlay Market, will deliver opening remarks about the local food business incubator and introduce three Kitchen members who will share their entrepreneurial stories. The featured businesses are: The Arepa Place, Flavors of the Isle, and Honey Child Artisan Pops.
Check-in for the event will begin at 5:30pm. In addition to some food samples from participating businesses (while supplies last), there will be several additional food options available around the market. Jane's, the market's outdoor bar, will also be open, serving local drafts and cocktails during the event. Advanced registration is encouraged. Reserve your seat today by clicking this Eventbrite link.
Isis Arrieta-Dennis of The Arepa Place
In Isis Arrieta-Dennis’s home country of Columbia, arepas, which are a pastry stuffed with ingredients such as chicken, beef, cheese, and plantains, are a staple dish. In 2016, inspired by her restaurateur mother (also named Isis), Isis began the journey to start her own establishment. Isis began as a member of Findlay Kitchen, using the facility to prepare arepas and other Columbian-inspired recipes created by her and her mother. She sold her food out of a pop-up tent on the weekends until October of 2018 when Isis opened The Arepa Place, her first brick-and-mortar restaurant located at 131 W. Elder Street at Findlay Market.
Ebony Pickens of Flavors of the Isle
As a young girl in Detroit, Ebony Pickens’s stepfather introduced her to the wonderful flavors of his homeland, Jamaica. She helped him as a junior kitchen assistant, experimenting with recipes using Jamaican spices, root vegetables, fruits, and local delicacies. Ebony also grew up spending quality time with her maternal grandmother and great-grandmother, whom they called "Big Mamma." These women taught Ebony the family's soul food recipes, focused on baking and canning techniques. Ebony went on to attend culinary school and perfect a BBQ sauce recipe written by her maternal grandfather Perin Griffin II who was a chef in the U.S. Army. This sauce became the foundation of her restaurant’s Original Jerk Sauce with her own Jerk Seasoning added. Flavors of the Isle, which has an outdoor stand open on the weekends at Findlay Market, offers a unique experience that combines American soul food and Jamaican cuisine.
Sarah Ford and Damien Thompson of Honey Child Artisan Pops
Husband and wife team Sarah Ford and Damien Thompson started Honey Child Artisan Pops out of a desire to find wholesome treats for their kids to enjoy without all of the added sugar and fillers. By becoming members of Findlay Kitchen, Damien and Sarah have expanded their business to give the Cincinnati area delicious frozen treats in a variety of flavors, now available from major retailers including Whole Foods.
Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine is an innovative series designed to expose attendees to stories of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Each event features three, fifteen-minute talks on the history of Over-the-Rhine. All three presenters answer questions together at the end about their talks.
The Over-the-Rhine Museum welcomes your support for these provocative stories. Donate online at otrmuseum.org/donate. In addition, you can support the Findlay Kitchen through a contribution via findlaykitchen.org/donate.
The Over-the-Rhine Museum inspires understanding and respect for the people who have created and lived in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood by working with community members to uncover, present, and preserve their stories.
Historic Findlay Market connects farmers, producers, sellers and customers in a dynamic, diverse public marketplace.