When the announcement was made that The Yard would be coming to Fishers, it was an effort by the city to up the ante on the quality and quantity of the local restaurant scene.  Part of what was promised at the time of that announcement was a place where chefs could experiment with short-term, affordable leases.

With The Yard now under construction along 116th Street near IKEA, the City of Fishers is putting out the call – if you are a chef and want to be part of the new Fishers Test Kitchen Restaurant Accelerator, now is the time to apply.

The chefs will be trying different culinary creations.  The accelerator will feature three completely built-out kitchens in a food hall setting adjacent to the Sun King Brewing tap room, according to a city news release. Customers will be able to order from the food stands then have their meal within Sun King’s 350-seat dining area.

“Fishers has seen success with tech companies in the area, and we’re now taking the tech accelerator model and applying it to the restaurant industry,” says John Wechsler, entrepreneur and CEO of the IoT Lab and Launch Fishers. “We hope this not only surfaces local talent but also brings in chefs from across the country and introduces them to what Fishers has to offer.”

These new chefs will be selected by a board of directors, consisting of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, food writer and industry veteran Jolene Ketzenberger, John Wechsler, and Clay Robinson of Sun King.  The first list of chefs for the accelerator is expected to be announced in late spring.

The City is accepting applications for the first group of chefs through May at FishersTestKitchen.com – where chefs can upload a menu, resume, and video explaining their restaurant concept.

“There is so much culinary talent in Central Indiana, and the performance kitchen will provide a space for chefs to cook right in front of guests,” says Jolene Ketzenberger,  “It will be a way for diners to meet the chefs, talk with them, watch them cook and really enjoy a unique culinary experience.”