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Bistro On Madison

Bistro On Madison is a small bistro opening in the historic Reservoir Hill neighborhood in Baltimore Maryland. We will serve our own "NouvoSoul" cuisine daily.

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Bistro On Madison

Bistro On Madison

Bistro On Madison

Bistro On Madison

Bistro On Madison

Bistro On Madison is a small bistro opening in the historic Reservoir Hill neighborhood in Baltimore Maryland. We will serve our own "NouvoSoul" cuisine daily.

Bistro On Madison is a small bistro opening in the historic Reservoir Hill neighborhood in Baltimore Maryland. We will serve our own "NouvoSoul" cuisine daily.

Bistro On Madison is a small bistro opening in the historic Reservoir Hill neighborhood in Baltimore Maryland. We will serve our own "NouvoSoul" cuisine daily.

Bistro On Madison is a small bistro opening in the historic Reservoir Hill neighborhood in Baltimore Maryland. We will serve our own "NouvoSoul" cuisine daily.

Chef Hicks
Chef Hicks
Chef Hicks
Chef Hicks
1 Campaign |
Baltimore, United States
$485 USD 7 backers
3% of $14,250 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

 

Need to know more about the Bistro?

 

The team here at Bistro On Madison is ready to go and we need your support to help us finish the build-out, get kitchen equipment and cafe furniture and secure the fixtures for the inside and outside of the Bistro. This Bistro is about the people and our chef's desire to create for them. Located in the historic Reservoir Hill neighborhood in Baltimore city, our Bistro will be a staple for sustainable cuisine. Our neighborhood is a green dessert and we are working with Baltimore urban gardens and farms to bring healthy options and organic protein choices to the people. There is a real need for a healthy food establishment in this part of Baltimore city and the community is clamoring for something that will serve delicious coffee in the mornings, great innovative sandwiches during lunch hours and fantastic dinner options in the evenings.  "We want great food Chef Mookie and we will support you 100%!"...This is what we are being told by a multitude of potential customers who live on Madison Avenue and the surrounding blocks in the neighborhood. The Bistro is located just 1/4 mile south of Druid Hill Park (the second largest urban park in the country), 1 mile from the Baltimore Zoo, 1 1/2 miles from MICA (Maryland Institute of Creative Arts) and the neighborhood is home to artists, educators, and city leaders; contains historic churches and synagogues; boasts one of the most diverse, intact collections of late 19th and early 20th century urban architecture in Baltimore City. The community is an important part of the Jewish and African-American history of Baltimore. We need individuals who believe in us. Who believe in delivering high quality farm sourced foods to urban areas. It will be because of your support that we will accomplish our goals; you are the key to our success. We are searching for people to fund our Bistro who seek to be a part of something bigger than just food. Our ultimate goal is to change this community with our presence. We are seeking $25, $50, $100, $250, $1000 and $2500 contributions to help reach our grand opening day. Our goal is to get 250 people to "plant seeds" of $50 each and we want to get 75 people to "plant seeds" of $100 each. We are also looking for two "angels" who will come in on our $2500 contribution level. Now, what will you get? Some amazing well thought out perks of course! For each contribution level, we have innovative gifts, including a “Black Tie” party for you and nine of your friends with a National recording artist at the Bistro! ($2500 “seed” level)

 

Your contributions will go to:

 

  • Finishing the build out of the Bistro
  • Connecting our brand new exhaust system to the building
  • Connecting the fire suppression system and paying for the inspection
  • Securing the fixtures, furniture, licensing and marketing tools

 

The entire goal we need to reach is a little over $14,750.00 to finish the items listed above. Your contributions will be integral in helping to make this happen! The money that you sow into our Bistro goes directly to pumping life into this business. There are many things to get done and none of these items can be accomplished without you and your support.

 

Our Impact on our community will be two fold;

 

  • We are striving to bring affordable farm sourced ingredients from the surrounding counties of the city into a neighborhood with no real sustainable options. We have found for every "from scratch" food service operation within a six block radius in this part of the city there are 15 processed, high fat, fried food establishments. Our reach is going to be awesome; we will give the neighborhood a clean alternative to the high calorie foods being offered right now. We also will work with three urban farms in the city, securing hybrid and organically grown produce for our menu. This will not only help the farms with daily operational costs, but will also expose the youth of Reservoir Hill to fresh organic produce. Chef Mookie will conduct monthly “healthy living” cooking classes utilizing the produce secured from our urban farm partners and he plans on having an “Urban Farm Expo” at the bistro every spring after we open. A yearly event, the “Urban Farm Expo” spring show will be an opportunity for the farms to come together with Bistro On Madison and have a real conversation with the community about their needs for fresh produce availability in our neighborhood.  
  • We will strive to fulfill the need for a safe environment with wholesome food choices. The Bistro will bring a business truly wanted by the community. Our location has been the sight of great anticipation for many years. The community needs a place within walking distance where they can come relax, have coffee, use our WiFi, have community meetings, get a great dinner, have an awesome fresh salad or enjoy one of eclectic Paninis. This Bistro will serve its community well. There is an important need for an establishment that that allows its patrons not to leave the neighborhood, but to venture out on a small walk with our Bistro being the destination of choice. We want to create a hub of conversation and a meeting place where people will come and enjoy themselves. Feel free to bring their dogs and sit at our outside bistro tables and soak in the summer sun. This Bistro will impact of community and our neighborhood is such a positive way, food is a great medium to useful and thoughtful conversation. We are looking forward to contributing to this community not only with our food but our cooking classes, seminars, food shows and festivals.

 

Helping My Dream Become My Reality...

Ever since I can remember, I loved being in the kitchen. I loved the feeling of security and commitment that radiates from the oven.  I feel safe and warm there and it is my refuge. The kitchen has always been a place of comfort for me and coming from a large family of women cooks, it is where I've experience many meaningful conversations with my aunts, mom and awesome Grandmother. Some of my fondness memories as a boy include me sitting in my church's kitchen with Grandma! Every Sunday morning was spent watching her cook these amazing dishes.  People would travel from as far as North Carolina just to get her Sweet Potato Pies, Fried Chicken and Pot Roasts. My inspiration to be a cook comes from her, from seeing her create amazing recipes and also seeing people's positive reactions to her cuisine. From that moment I knew that being a cook was all I wanted to do with my life. I would dream of my sauces, fish and chicken dishes, smoked meats with glazes, my awesome salads and incredible dressings! They would haunt me in my sleep, my food consumed my every thought and I was totally sold out on my desire to create my cuisine in my way. I created this need inside myself to change people's perception of food. From the age of 14, I began cooking in professional kitchens. I learned as much as I could and worked for some of the best chefs in DC. This allowed me to garner a good reputation for being a strong cook. To this day, I still hold that same level of commitment. My passion has become my food and I take my craft very seriously. I love to enhance a client’s or customer’s environment with my cuisine. My life has never been the same since my first "real cooking" job and my desire to open my own kitchen has finally come to life. My reality is not just dreaming anymore, but living in the moment of opening my first culinary space. I am so 'amped' about where this food-thing has brought me to and I need your to help me finish the course.

Who is Chef Mookie Hicks?

“Soul food is everywhere. You just have to know where to look.” Washington Dc born and a long time Maryland native, Chef Mookie Hicks' reach expands beyond his geographical borders. He has been featured in Ebony and Jet magazines, He has served as personal chef for celebrities like Serena Williams, been tapped to cater events for a variety of high profile corporate and personal clients, cultivated menus and concepts for several area restaurants and cafes, and is the recent winner of the Food Network’s 24-Hour Food Restaurant Battle, (June 2010). From his food preparation to his cooking style and methods, He is slowly becoming the “go-to” chef when needs require quality and innovation. His path-one of creativity and consistency results in inventive dishes that not only taste good, but reflect his continuing mission to push soul food out of its box and into the world. What does this ultimately mean? Well, to truly understand, you must experience it for yourself. Among my most notable accomplishments are my collaborations with some of the hottest chefs on the East Coast. Jose Andres (Jose Andres Catering by Ridgewells/Think Food Group) / Stephen Starr (Stephen Starr Catering Group) / Mark Miller (Red Sage, Raku China Bistro) / Timothy Dean (Timothy Dean’s @ The St. Regis) / Larry Levy (Biddle Street Catering Company) / Jeff Tunks (DC Coast Restaurant). Since workingn for these amazing chefs, Chef Mookie has started his own movement of cuisine called "NouvoSoul". This is authentic Southern American Cuisine that has been infused with his love of Caribbean ingredients and his attraction to Asian cooking methods and techniques. The result is eclectic foods that jump of the plate. He wants to change people’s perception of what "Soul Cuisine" is and take it to levels never tasted before. We really appreciate you coming to our Indiegogo and spending a few moments learning about our chef, our cuisine, and our new bistro! Together we will bring a historic neighborhood in Baltimore a quality healthy sustainable Bistro with great flavor profiles and superior customer service.

Your money is not the only way you can help...

We really need your support financially; However, we totally get that some people just can't contribute money. Guess what? There are still ways you can help us! There are social media sharing tools attached to this campaign. Please share our campaign on your Twitter, Facebook, Linked- In and Gmail profiles! Take a picture of yourself, attach our information with your picture and upload it on your Instagram page! The more people who are aware of our campaign, the closer we will get to reach our goal. Word of mouth is key to any successful venture and we need your help in order to create the buzz that will push us over our limits.

Together we can create an opportunity that will change a community, while helping a chef realize his dream all at the same time. We thank you for the opportunity to share our vision with you and we appreciate you taking time and making contributions.

Chef Mookie Hicks and The Bistro On Madison Team

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Choose your Perk

Our True Believers

$25 USD
For your contribution to our campaign, you will receive a gift certificate for a free beverage. You can choose from one of our Handmade Ice Teas, Organic Lemonades or our Freshly Brewed Organic Jamaican Mountain Coffee. A $7.00 value.
1 out of 200 of claimed

"Pressed Soul" Believers

$50 USD
For your contribution to our campaign you will receive a gift certificate for a free "Pressed Soul Panini" when you buy a "Pressed Soul Panini" at regular price. Made with Farm Fresh Cheeses, Organic Vegetables and Sustainable, Steroid Free Meats, these sandwiches are amazing. A $14.00 value.
3 out of 250 of claimed

Taste and Believe

$100 USD
For your contribution to our campaign we will will ship you an authentic 100% cotton T-shirt design by Chef Mookie Hicks! The T-shirt will say "Taste and Believe" on the front and have our "BOM" logo on the back. Wear it everywhere you go! A $22.50 value.
0 out of 50 of claimed

Team BOM (Bistro On Madison)

$250 USD
This one is for our football lovers! All contributors at this level will be invited to BOM for our "Big Apple" Super Bowl Party at the end of this 2013/14 football season! You will also get your very own "Team BOM" football jersey designed by Chef Mookie Hicks. A $99.00 value.
Estimated Shipping
February 2014
1 out of 20 of claimed

"A Couple" of Believers

$1,000 USD
For your contribution to our campaign, you and a special guest of your choice will receive a "candle lit" meal prepared by Chef Mookie Hicks at our Bistro. This meal will consist of five courses, a dozen long stem roses and a live acoustic set by a local Neo-Soul artist. A $295.00 value.
0 out of 5 of claimed

A BOM Full of Believers

$2,500 USD
A "Black Tie" Affair! You and ten of your friends will get your very own party at BOM! Yes...Chef Mookie will create a wonderful appetizer menu for your group as you enjoy hot tunes spun by one of Baltimore's hottest DJs. In addition to great food, awesome music and a really cool vibe..Chef Mookie will invite one of his friends, a nationally recording artist, to come into the bistro and perform a couple of Neo-Soul songs for you all! What's better than that? A $999.00 value.
Estimated Shipping
October 2013
0 out of 2 of claimed
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