Meet Chef Ariya Taylor, our newest culinary artist-in-residence at Retreat at Currency Exchange Café (@retreatcurrencyexchange)! Chef Ariya Taylor (@ariyataylorfood) is our third resident chef as part of our culinary incubator and hospitality training program, a four-month residency created to support emerging BIPOC entrepreneurs in the culinary and hospitality arts. During her residency, Chef Taylor will work under the tutelage of former Parachute executive sous chef, Ellison Park, to develop a menu, learn hospitality business fundamentals and support her growth as an artist and creative entrepreneur. Chef Taylor - a South Side native - will serve a limited menu at Retreat from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm daily and from 5:00 pm to 9:00pm on Thursday and Friday evenings. ​This week’s menu includes Karaage Chicken with Papaya Slaw (Karaage Cauliflower option) and Turkey Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers. Launched in July 2021, Retreat’s residency model fosters and encourages creative entrepreneurship while providing historically under-resourced communities with the ability to refine their hospitality business acumen, collaborate and learn from one another and build a customer base on the South Side. To date, Rebuild Foundation has supported five emerging creative entrepreneurs working in hospitality and the culinary arts through Retreat’s residency program. Rebuild Foundation has provided a brick-and-mortar space, mentorship, an honorarium and community for Monday Coffee Company, Pour Souls Cocktail Club, Chef Jazer Syed, CTRL Z Coffee and Dozzy’s Grill. 📸: @zandboxphoto