In early 2019 Sociable Cider Werks purchased a mobile food trailer with a specific vision: provide the best possible guest experience for fans of the cidery and taproom while highlighting the culinary skill of Twin Cities chefs and entrepreneurs. The partnership is structured as a low overhead model for testing new food concepts. Simply put, Sociable provides the capital and the fan base, the chef provides the skill and the vision for great food.
Sociable co-founder Jim Watkins says of the program, “we bought our own trailer to provide a more consistent food offerings to our guests. What we quickly realized was how big of an opportunity it was to showcase the freshest newest concepts being dreamed up in kitchens across the metro. I guess you could say our goal evolved into growing and supporting new potential draft customers.”
Not all vendor’s goals, however, include a brick and mortar establishment. Chef Ian Gray, the first resident truck at Sociable, became a fixture in the local food truck scene with the Curious Goat’s famous cheese curds. More recently Chef Sammy McDowell and his Sammy’s Avenue Eatery concept, a fixture on West Broadway, grew his business’s profile in NE Minneapolis. Other standouts include James Beard nominated Chef Yia Vang’s Union Hmong Kitchen concept. Yia and his team are set to open Vinai in NE Minneapolis in 2022. Current resident, Francis, a plant based burger joint is set to make some big announcements about what’s next for the team of first-time restaurateurs.
What is Sociable looking for in their next food truck partner?
Sociable seeks a team with a great idea looking to take their concept to the next level.
“Maybe they’ve done a few pop-ups with success and are looking to grow their market and audience, or maybe they are long time service industry veterans with a brilliant idea,” Watkins added.
Anyone with a can-do attitude, flexibility to make the space their own and a mindset focused on guest experience and creativity (think: cider infused jams, seasonal offerings, etc) will set themselves apart as an applicant.
Watkins stresses the collaborative nature of the resident chef program, “really to the person we’ve had wonderful partners at Sociable. With each new vendor, we’ve learned and further refined the guest experience. We can’t wait to help bring that next great concept to life at Sociable.”
How does one apply?
Applications to be Sociable’s next resident restaurateur are due by Thursday, June 30th. You can learn more and apply at: https://sociablecider.com/resident-kitchen
Sociable Cider Werks is hoping to have a partner identified by the end of July and able to start in September. After the application deadline (June 30th) they’ll start getting in touch with applicants to see if it’ll be a good fit for all parties involved.
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