Iso Rabins Announces Forage Kitchen, Triumphant Return of Underground Market

Iso Rabins is a name you probably associate with the notorius and ground-breaking Underground Night Market that got the Department of Health all fired up last year. After his markets were ordered to cease and desist, Rabins said he'd be coming back with a business incubator kitchen and a "viable" form of the market. Today we get more juice on the matter. Rabins isn't ready to say where the kitchen will be yet, but we do know it will be called Forage Kitchen, it's an "astoundingly expensive" project with a rooftop garden, and the eventual plan is to create a place where costs for new food businesses are streamlined. Now it's time for fundraising with all kinds of expectedly outside-the-box-sounding events to get people excited.

The first happening is a scavenger hunt for a "secret boar and pig roast," and a party surrounding said roast with beer and live music (more info and tickets here). Then there's a Basque family-style feast in partnership with Slow Food (more info and tickets here). But perhaps most interesting is Rabins' plan to bring the Underground Market back with the health department on his side. Only vendors with catering permits or commercial kitchens will be included, and everyone will obtain the special event permit needed to be part of such an event. (**Sidenote**: the $400-600 permits will be cost prohibitive for many, no doubt.) "Lots of vendors have been advancing and doing cool stuff since we shut down in June," says Rabins. "It's going to be great to get everyone back together." The market is planned for June 2 at Public Works, leaving lots of time for talks with his buds at the DPH. Rice Paper Scissors, Ina Jam, and Sidesaddle Kitchen are among the many vendors expected to participate.

· All Iso Rabins Coverage [~ ESF ~]