Cameron Mitchell Restaurants adds five new chef partners to food launchpad’s roster

COLUMBUS, Ohio (October 3, 2019) – Budd Dairy Food Hall announced today its final five chef partners – Boni: Filipino Street Food, Cousins Maine Lobster, Pokebap, Stauf’s Coffee Roasters and Tacos Rudos. The budding concepts will join other previously announced chef partners, Alphabetical Comfort Kitchen, Borgata, Darista and Modern Southern Table early next year when the highly anticipated food entrepreneurial launchpad opens.

Budd Dairy Food Hall is the first chef-driven food incubator in Columbus and is currently under construction in Columbus’ bustling Italian Village neighborhood. The innovative dining and entertainment venue will give the city’s top up-and-coming chefs the opportunity to grow as entrepreneurs and to serve their community in a unique gathering space.

“These chef partners are going to bring an amazing diversity of food to Budd Dairy Food Hall,” said Steve Weis, Cameron Mitchell Restaurant’s vice president of development. “This effort is an exciting marriage between two of Columbus’ strengths: food and entrepreneurship.”

Boni: Filipino Street Food
This collaborative team will bring contemporary, authentic Filipino street food to Budd Dairy Food Hall with three main offerings including rice bowls topped with delicious, sautéed meats and veggies, fried spring rolls filled with traditional Filipino flavors and sweet and tangy grilled skewers. Inspired by stories of Filipino immigrants, Krizzia Yanga wanted to bring an authentic Filipino dining experience to Columbus. Yanga and her team take pride in their teamwork and are excited to be part of a tight knit community of dedicated chefs. The food hall will be the second Boni: Filipino Street Food location in Columbus.

Cousins Maine Lobster
Cousins Maine Lobster brings customers the most authentic Maine seafood experience and proudly serves 100 percent premium, wild-caught, sustainably harvested lobster from Maine. After watching the brand owners on the popular show, Shark Tank, Kathryn Nuss opened the Columbus food truck in 2018 and quickly grew a strong following across the city. She is ready to move to her first brick and mortar location at Budd Dairy Food Hall to continue to share delicious Maine lobster.

Pokebap
Pokebap will offer fast-casual, create-your-own fresh poke bowls that can accommodate every palate and dietary need. Seas Kim, owner of Pokebap, has always enjoyed traveling to different places and immersing himself within the local cultures and food. His culinary experiences from Hawaii, along with his Korean-American background, inspired him to bring the Hawaiian staple to Ohio. Kim is looking forward to his second location inside Budd Dairy Food Hall.

Stauf’s Coffee Roasters
Also joining Budd Dairy Food Hall is Stauf’s Coffee Roasters. Stauf’s president Mark Swanson already has a variety of locations around Columbus, serving specialty coffee, pastries and teas. As Columbus’ first micro roaster, Stauf’s is determined to provide the finest cup of coffee to every guest. Swanson and his team are excited for the unique opportunity to work with a diverse group of restaurateurs at Budd Dairy Food Hall.

Tacos Rudos
Rounding out Budd Dairy Food Hall’s impressive roster is Tacos Rudos. Team leader Ana Cruz understands what gives Mexican street food its authenticity and is excited to bring her favorite flavors to Columbus through Tacos Rudos’ first location. Along with great customer service and consistently delicious dishes, Cruz incorporates her family’s passion for Lucha Libra (Mexican wrestling) into the company.

The food hall’s lineup includes nine chef-driven restaurant concepts and an ever-changing pop-up space. Budd Dairy Food Hall will bring the fares together under one roof with community seating, a top-notch beverage program and live music and entertainment. The one-of-a-kind gathering spot also will feature a rooftop deck, event space and more.

The concept is a partnership between Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and local developer, Kevin Lykens. CMR will provide management of the overall concept and will provide all services related to Budd Dairy’s culinary, beverage and entertainment programs. For more information, visit www.BuddDairyFoodHall.com.

About Cameron Mitchell Restaurants:
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) is an independent, privately-held restaurant group known for developing compelling dining concepts, offering outstanding cuisine complemented by genuine hospitality. Cameron Mitchell founded the company in 1993 on the powerful guest philosophy, “The answer is yes. What is the question?” Today, that commitment to delivering extraordinary guest experiences fuels 37 award-winning restaurants under 16 different concepts, including the nationally-acclaimed Ocean Prime brand, now coast-to-coast in Beverly Hills, Calif., Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Naples, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tampa and Washington, D.C; the Cameron Mitchell Premier Events catering company; and Buckeye Hospitality Construction, responsible for developing and managing the company’s new construction, remodels and special projects. CMR also oversees the growth and development of its sister company, Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern, with 23 locations in six states. CMR celebrated 25 years of restaurant excellence in October 2018.

With a penchant for building tomorrow’s hospitality workforce, Mitchell is the largest alumni donor to the Culinary Institute of America and, as a Columbus State Community College Foundation board member, is a leading contributor to the expansion of the school’s top-rated hospitality management and culinary arts program.

Mitchell shares the key to his company’s more than 25 years of success and the lessons he has learned in his tell-all book, “Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?”, now available for purchase at www.CameronMitchell.com.  

For more information, visit www.cameronmitchell.com and follow CMR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@CMRColumbus), and on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Katie Lundy, 614.353.6476, katie@inspireprgroup.com