Successful Central Kentucky food entrepreneurs launch summit to help others
.png "Culinary entrepreneurs Ouita Michel of Holly Hill and Toa Green of Crank & Boom are launching a new event to help others in the food business.")
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Ouita Michel and Toa Green host Shared Table; Brian McCarty appears as guest on March 9.
- Half-day event will feature solo talks, lunchtime panel on business challenges.
- Tickets cost $100 and include breakfast and lunch; organizers aim to build connections.
Some of Lexington’s most successful food entrepreneurs are launching a new event to inspire others.
Holly Hill founder Ouita Michel and Crank & Boom founder Toa Green will host Shared Table, a half-day summit for current and aspiring food entrepreneurs on March 9 at Fasig-Tipton Sales Co.
.jpg "Ouita Michel by Sarah Jane Sanders for VisitLex (1).jpg")
Brian McCarthy, co-founder of Bluegrass Hopsitality Group with Bruce Drake, will be a special guest.
All three have enjoyed popular success, but have had their own less successful ventures as well. The summit will be a chance to share what they’ve learned.
“Being an entrepreneur is a lonely venture. You oscillate between being so happy in what you do, feeling crazy for loving it, then feeling defeated from all the setbacks,” Green said in a news release announcing the event. “It’s a unique roller coaster ride. Being in the food industry has always been hard, and it feels even harder right now. Ouita and I really wanted to expand our own table and invite others to build connections together and cheer each other on, and especially to shine some light at a time when the world can seem so dark.”
Green, Michel and McCarty will speak individually, then team up for a lunchtime panel discussion, according to the release. They’ll discuss the real-world challenges of building a culinary-based business. It’s not a how-to conference but more “an opportunity to reflect, learn and sit alongside others who understand the work,” according to the release.
Michel added that they want everyone to feel welcome.
“Connecting with others and sharing ideas and experiences is fun and inspiring; and always reminds me of how much I love my community and our restaurant group,” she said. “Toa and I want to share as much as we can about our own journeys — to hopefully smooth the path for others. I can’t wait to listen and learn from Brian and his amazing growth story at BHG. We hope by bringing folks together like this we can support one another and continue to build our amazing food community.”
Tickets for Shared Table are $100 per person and available online at Crank & Boom. Tickets include breakfast and lunch, both provided by Holly Hill Events.
Shared Table: A Summit for Food Entrepreneurs
When: March 9, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Fasig-Tipton Sales Co.’s Seattle Slew Dining Room, 2400 Newtown Pike
Tickets: $100 at crankandboom.com
