Tag: San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance

Hopscotch now accepting proposals for ‘Hop-Up’

Hopscotch announces a pop-up restaurant incubator series to benefit the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance. Photo: Hopscotch, used with permission.

Hopscotch, a uniquely curated immersive art experience created by entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, is excited to announce a new restaurant incubator series, Hop-Up. Hopscotch is currently soliciting proposals for unique pop-up food concepts to be included in its inaugural Hop-Up series benefiting the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance (SAFWA). (Hopscotch, 2021)

Hop-Up will be an excellent opportunity for local up-and-coming food concepts to test out a longer service format, as well as an opportunity for out of market concepts to gauge San Antonio for a potential long-term restaurant. Each selected concept will operate during a two-month residency at Hopscotch, providing food service during Hopscotch’s regular business hours and any special events, they will also be able to operate independent of Hopscotch on days the gallery is closed. The monthly rent will be a total of just $1,000, which includes water and electricity, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting SAFWA.  Concepts will rotate every two months, with new concepts being announced via social media, newsletter and more. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with Hopscotch on the Hop-Up Series,” said Mariam Parker, Executive Director of the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance. “We can’t wait to highlight the diversity, passion, and brilliance of San Antonio cuisine.”

All chosen concepts will operate on the open-air Hopscotch patio, located in downtown San Antonio across from Travis Park and the St. Anthony Hotel. Hopscotch is located at 711 Navarro St Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78205. Concepts can operate out of a food truck, food trailer, or pop-up tent. Proposals are being accepted starting now until May 7 via San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance’s.

During the era of COVID-19, Hopscotch will be taking enhanced precautions to make sure the experience is safe for both staff and guests. 

“Hopscotch strongly believes in cultivating lasting relationships and synergy with the local creative community — we feel that food and beverage is an important part of a holistic immersive experience. We like to include a multitude of contrasting styles and mediums in our art gallery, and we would like the same for our Hop-Up Series, showcasing an array of different flavors and unique concepts.  We’re excited to support and partner with the San Antonio Food and Wine Alliance.” – Nicole Jensen, Co-Founder of Hopscotch.

Hopscotch is an immersive and experiential brand that brings together artists in collaborative environments to create distinctive shared experiences. Co-founded by entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, Hopscotch provides distinct experiences through the curation of local-centric, immersive, and experiential art. Hopscotch creates platforms for local, national and international artists to experiment with a wide spectrum of mediums and technology. Hopscotch’s aim is to elicit a sense of joy and wonder in the curated spaces, where guests may explore beyond their day to day reality. Hopscotch strongly believes in cultivating lasting relationships and a synergy with artists and the local communities they are in.

Under the Texas Food & Wine Alliance umbrella, the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance is dedicated to fostering awareness, support, and innovation in South Texas culinary communities through grants, educational programming, and events. Guided by an all-volunteer board of directors and committees made up of culinary- and- community-minded professionals, the Alliance’s work ensures a strong local food system and promotes the next generation of culinary businesses and nonprofits throughout South Texas.

 

San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance mobilizes restaurants to feed South Texans

La Panaderia was one of 17 local restaurants that helped feed South Texans after devastating winter storms. Photo: La Panaderia, used with permission.

After an unprecedented winter storm devastated San Antonio in mid-February, the South Texas food and beverage community quickly organized to provide relief. To help, the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance (SAFWA) collaborated with World Central Kitchen, Good Match, and Hopscotch to provide more than 8,600 free meals to neighbors in need. (San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, 2021)

The relief efforts were focused on vulnerable residents living in San Antonio’s District 5, many of whom experienced power outages for 1-4 days. Working with Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, the Alliance arranged meal delivery to 21 community sites.

“The San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance stepped up when District 5 needed help the most,” said Gonzales. “When so many of our neighbors were stranded with no food, water, or electricity, we relied on the Alliance to feed our most vulnerable. Their network of selfless community members became a lifeline. Their energy was our fuel, and their quick response was our inspiration.”

Although the Alliance’s work typically focuses on its culinary grant and educational programs, it realized the city would need all hands on deck. The nonprofit utilized its network in San Antonio’s culinary community to ensure hundreds of free meals could be prepared per day. The hospitality industry is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, but San Antonio’s food and beverage professionals were eager to join the efforts.

Meal deliveries were made possible by dozens of community volunteers, including representatives from the San Antonio Housing Authority and the San Antonio Fire Department. The initiative even drew the support of some high-profile helpers like U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and actor and activist Eva Longoria.

In total, 17 local restaurants, food trucks, and caterers distributed free meals February 20-23. Participants included:

• Botika
• Chelsea Catering/ Tony G’s Soul Food
• Full Belly Café + Bar
• The Good Kind
• Grupo La Gloria
• Guerrilla Gourmet
• Hello Paradise
• J’Dubs Burgers & Grub
• La Panadería
• Little Em’s Oyster Bar
• Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar
• Naco Mexican
• Pedrotti’s Ranch
• Pharm Table
• Southerleigh Hospitality Group
• Teka Molino
• Toro Kitchen + Bar

The San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance was established in 2020, following a near-decade of success with the Austin Food & Wine Alliance. Even though the organization expanded in San Antonio just last year and will focus on culinary grants, educational programs, and events, the nonprofit jumped in quickly to support the city during its time of need.

“When a crisis hits, folks who want to help go with what they know. Our expertise is in bringing people together. We have an enormous amount of gratitude for the folks who were able to help. Despite the many challenges they were facing with their own businesses and in their own lives, so many people in the hospitality industry enthusiastically lent a helping hand. It has been an incredibly inspiring thing to see.” – Mariam Parker, SAFWA executive director