LAB TALKS: Crafting Culinary Experiences

LAB MPLS

In this fall's LAB Talk, we're bringing together some of the Twin Cities' most innovative, awarded chefs and designers.

Glass House

<h2>LAB Talks: Crafting Culinary Experiences</h2><h2> </h2>How can a restaurant concept blend the deeply personal with the shared experience of gathering for a meal? From interactive dining themes that engage all five senses to colorful menus that honor Southeast Asian street food to cozy, to innovative interiors that are food for the eye, our LAB Talk panelists have done it all. This fall, we're thrilled to welcome James Beard award-winning Christina Nguyen of <a href="https://www.haihaimpls.com/" title="https://www.haihaimpls.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hai Hai</a> and <a href="https://www.holaarepa.com/" title="https://www.holaarepa.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hola Arepa</a>, Aaron Wittkamper of <a href="https://www.wittkamper.studio/" title="https://www.wittkamper.studio/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Wittkamper Studio</a>, and Mike Brown, James Beard semi-finalist and part of the Chef-Owner team behind <a href="https://www.travailkitchen.com/" title="https://www.travailkitchen.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Travail Collective</a> and the forthcoming Stargazer for a panel conversation. Alison Arth of <a href="https://www.saltandroe.com/" title="https://www.saltandroe.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Salt + Roe</a>, an expert in helping culinary entrepreneurs bring their vision to life, will guide our morning.From the moment you walk through the door to the food on your plate, a dining experience stretches far beyond the first bite. In this conversation, we're bringing together some of the Twin Cities most innovative, awarded chefs and designers to share how they create restaurant concepts that establish them as local staples to our dining scene and push the boundaries of what a dining experience can be. Join us for this FREE event! Event Schedule:Doors Open and Check-In: 9 am-9:30Grab a free cup of coffee and say hello to others before the panel begins!Panel: 9:30-10:15 am:The panel begins with an introduction from <a href="https://www.labmpls.com/" title="https://www.labmpls.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">LAB</a>'s owner &amp; creative director, Mollie Windmiller, and then we’ll dive into the conversation with Alison Arth of Salt + Roe guiding the conversation as moderator.Connect with fellow attendees + panelists: 10:15-10:30 amMeet the panelists after our conversation, connect with others, and enjoy an inspirational kickstart to your Wednesday morning! Meet the PanelAbout <a href="https://www.haihaimpls.com/" title="https://www.haihaimpls.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Christina Nguyen:</a> Christina Nguyen is the 2024 James Beard award-winning chef behind <a href="https://www.haihaimpls.com/" title="https://www.haihaimpls.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hai Hai</a> in Northeast Minneapolis and <a href="https://www.holaarepa.com/" title="https://www.holaarepa.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hola Arepa </a>in South Minneapolis. Hai Hai is a Southeast Asian street food restaurant &amp; bar in Northeast Minneapolis. Hai Hai means two two in Vietnamese - a nod to the building's past life as the infamous 22nd Avenue Station (aka Deuce Deuce), a dive bar &amp; strip club. Inspired by dishes that Chef Christina Nguyen grew up eating at home, at family celebrations, in Vietnamese Sunday school basements &amp; during several trips to Southeast Asia, you can expect to find more than just the standards like pho &amp; pad Thai - Hai Hai shines the spotlight on some lesser-known delicious regional dishes. Hola Arepa was founded by Chef Christina Nguyen &amp; her partner Birk Grudem as a food truck in 2011. They opened their brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2014, you can always enjoy their arepas, other dishes &amp; cocktails in a space inspired by their travels to beach towns and charming old cafes in South America, Central America and Mexico. About <a href="https://www.wittkamper.studio/" title="https://www.wittkamper.studio/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Aaron Wittkamper</a>: Wittkamper Studio is a Minneapolis-based, hospitality focused interdisciplinary design studio. Aaron Wittkamper, Founder and Design Lead, opened his studio in 2017 with the intention of creating thoughtful social/spacial experiences that coalesce along the intersections of design, architecture, interiors, digital media, art, and branding. The design of recent projects, most notably Dario and Berlin Music Bar, have been featured in The New York Times, Wallpaper Magazine, Hospitality Design, and locally in MSP Mag's MSP Mag’s “<a href="https://mspmag.com/shop-and-style/creative-class-wittkamper-wow/" title="https://mspmag.com/shop-and-style/creative-class-wittkamper-wow/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">How Wittkamper Studio Became the Go-To Design Firm for Restaurants.</a>” Other noteworthy projects include Brother Justus Whiskey Co., All Saints, Mr. Paul's Supper Club, Picnic Linden Hills, Parcelle Organics, and Marc Heu Patisserie Paris. Aaron has a Masters' Degree in Architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alongside architecture and design, he is an oil painter, showing local and national work, including a 2020 show at Artifact Gallery in NYC. About <a href="https://www.travailkitchen.com/" title="https://www.travailkitchen.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mike Brown</a>: Mike Brown is part of the Travail Collective with Bob Gerken and James Winberg, a group of culinary innovators and event curators passionate about hospitality. They create dining experiences in downtown Robbinsdale, Minnesota at <a href="https://www.travailkitchen.com/" title="https://www.travailkitchen.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Travail Kitchen and Amusements</a>. Their other concepts include <a href="https://www.nouvellebrewing.com/" title="https://www.nouvellebrewing.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Nouvelle Kitchen &amp; Brewery</a> featuring small-batch brews and craft pizzas by Pig Ate My Pizza located across the street in downtown Robbinsdale and <a href="https://www.dreamcreamerymn.com/" title="https://www.dreamcreamerymn.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dream Creamery</a> in Northeast Minneapolis offering premium ice cream and one of the best smash burgers in Minneapolis. Their newest concept is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stargazer_mpls/" title="https://www.instagram.com/stargazer_mpls/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Stargazer</a>, which includes an elevated cocktail program by Robb Jones and bite flights by Travail Kitchen. About <a href="https://www.saltandroe.com/site/about" title="https://www.saltandroe.com/site/about" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Alison Arth</a>: Alison Arth of <a href="https://www.saltandroe.com/" title="https://www.saltandroe.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Salt &amp; Roe</a> is a consultant, leadership coach, and author whose career is dedicated to working with hospitality leaders and teams to get clear on their vision, chart an achievable path towards it, and then provide the support, expertise, and accountability needed to realize it. Since graduating from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, she has helped lead over 40 restaurant openings including Michelin-star concepts for Chef Daniel Boulud in New York City, multiple James Beard-nominated restaurants for Chef Gavin Kaysen in Minneapolis, and Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurant in America in 2018, Nyum Bai. Alison is a proud San Francisco native, an honorary New Yorker, and grateful to call Minneapolis home. Alison helps hospitality professionals find greater joy and deeper purpose in their work, and achieve personal and professional change in the direction of what's most meaningful to them. Follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltandroe/" title="https://www.instagram.com/saltandroe/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Instagram @saltandroe</a>!

LAB MPLS A creative agency connecting local community to brands &amp; businesses through creativity, connection and collaboration. <a href="https://labmpls.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">LABMPLS.COM </a><a href="https://instagram.com/labmpls" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@LABMPLS</a>CREATE. CONNECT. COLLABORATE.

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