Chew on This Recap
On May 10, more than 150 people at nine locations around Indianapolis were talking and tweeting about food and ethnic identity, and contemplating how the West 38th Street/Lafayette Square area could capitalize on its independent, locally-owned ethnic restaurants. (See pictures)
Special thanks to our facilitators and notetakers, as well as the Food for Thought presenting sponsor, Indiana’s Family of Farmers, and our after-party collaborators: Yelp, Big Car, Upland Brewing Company and Georgetown Market, for making the night a success!
Conversation flourishes at Machu Picchu.
Once the notes are collected and compiled, we will share them here, so that the community can learn about our collective conversation. The blog will also feature briefs from our designated note-taker at each location.
Here is a sneak peek at some of the conversations that buzzed around Twitter (to see the entire conversation, search #ChewOnThis, or view this PDF):
- Food is a language. We speak with our kitchens and listen with our stomachs.
- If eating with strangers is this nice, we should do this more often.
- It’s become obvious that even though this conversation needs to happen, we need 5K more.
- This area needs a name, like Broad Ripple.
- Indy needs a “DEVOUR ETHNIC.”
- You may not be rich enough to travel the world but true ethnic food allows us to experience part of another culture w/out leaving.
The conversation continues at the after-party.
- Reviews are crucial to small ethnic restaurants, and can really help with search rankings. We need to spread the word.
- Conversation has morphed into transportation, walkability and its importance to access to places like 38th Street corridor.
- What’s needed in this neighborhood? “bookstore,” “population,” “density,” “urban paintball arena,” “pedestrian & bike access.
- It all comes down to public transportation. This area needs it!
- Putting Indy’s international food scene on the map starts with awareness. Leave the urban fear behind and explore.
- We’re wondering if the idea of “ethnic” creates a sense of otherness that might make people uncomfortable.
Finally, after dinner, we asked participants to describe Chew on This using three words. Click the image below to read the responses ranging from engaging, to tasty, to thought-provoking, educational and fun.
