REV Birmingham is excited to announce the next chef in REVeal Kitchen at The Pizitz Food Hall. Andrea Foster will soon put her elevated soul food concept, The Preservery, to the test in REV’s restaurant accelerator space in the popular downtown food hall.
“No matter where you’re from or what language you speak, food is the family soul,” Foster said. “With the Preservery, I want to unite people from all walks of life, dialects and generations around a common plate of food.”
Foster will serve her upscale soul food that incorporates international flavors in The Pizitz starting in early February. Foster is the third chef in REV’s REVeal Kitchen, a business accelerator for culinary graduates of REV’s BIZ 1.0 and Create Birmingham’s CO.STARTERS programs.
REVeal Kitchen’s current tenant, Chef Kimberly Brock of Bitty’s Living Kitchen, will continue to prepare Bliss Bowls and other whole fruit and vegetable-based dishes for Pizitz diners through January 29. Following her time in REVeal, Brock plans to cater private and corporate events and deliver her fresh-pressed juices to gyms and other health-conscious businesses. Follow her journey at bittyslivingkitchen.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
“We can’t wait to see Birmingham fall in love with Andrea’s elevated soul food, and we’re looking forward to working with Kim as she shares her deliciously healthy dishes with new audiences,” REV CEO David Fleming said. “When culinary entrepreneurs come into REVeal Kitchen, they’ve already put in hard work developing their recipes and their brand. REVeal Kitchen allows them the space and support to test, tweak and build upon that foundation to take their business to the next level.”
While operating in REVeal Kitchen, Foster – like Brock – will work with REV’s business consulting team to solidify her business model, secure financing and other resources needed for sustainability, and identify permanent space.
Foster, a CO.STARTERS graduate and 2018 Big Pitch finalist, has been developing and testing her concept through catering opportunities and popup events like Birmingham Restaurant Week’s Harvest Brunch. Foster uses fresh, local ingredients through REV’s Urban Food Project to prepare dishes in which comfort meets creativity – like jambalaya fried rice and fried chicken with watermelon chow chow. Visit thepreserverybham.com for her full menu, and follow Chef Foster on Facebook and Instagram.
REV’s REVeal Kitchen at The Pizitz Food Hall is a partnership with Bayer Properties. Sponsors include Buffalo Rock, Red Diamond, Regions Financial, Wood Fruitticher, Appleseed Workshop, Maynard Cooper and Gale, the Fred and Ellen Elsas Fund and the Alice M. Bowsher Fund.