Local chefs, artisans and urban farmers are selling their goods and making exciting food at a new food hall in Prince George's County.
Savor at Studio 3807 is the county's first food hall of its type. It gives a brick-and-mortar home to chefs who have been serving tacos, all-day brunch, coffee and more from food trucks and pop-ups.
In a model very similar to Union Market in DC, the owner is creating a launching pad for up-and-coming chefs while creating a new community space.
"We live by one rule: No rules. Just good food," Chef Damian Brown said. He spoke to News4 while simmering a pot of home-style gumbo for his all-day, all-week brunch spot, The Uncaged Chef. Other dishes include warm butter pecan biscuits, funnel cake waffles and jerk shrimp and grits.
The 8,500-square foot food hall in Brentwood boasts several very different food concepts under one roof.
Kathy Voss of Voss Food serves nourishing plant-based foods at her spot in the hall.
"This really is truly a plant-based food apothecary, where every ingredient is really thought out. Where there's a health benefit to every component in that dish," Voss said.
April N. Richardson, founder and owner of the food hall, wants Savor to be something like an oasis within Brentwood, which is considered a food desert.
Richardson thought it was time to change that narrative.
"The way that I figured we could answer the food deserts is by collectively answering it together with some really great culinary, food and some exciting and inspiring chefs," Richardson said. "I grow to make."
There's also a farmers market, Relish Market, with fresh spices, vegetables and juice and a small artisans' shop, Curated DMV, offering opportunities to support local businesses along Prince George's County Rhode Island Avenue corridor.
For many of these chefs, who operated food trucks and pop-ups, Savor officers what's hard to come by: a real brick and mortar dining space
"Our customers are the main ones that are like, 'Where you at? Where are you located?' They can't find us," said Jamar Johnson of LuvPlates Soul and Grill. "Now we have set spot."
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It's also more than a location: The food hall incubates chefs by offering classes, legal representation, social media support, insurance and more. That's all so chefs can focus on the food.
Savor Studio 3807 has its grand opening on Thursday, Oct. 24 and the celebration continues through the weekend.
Other food options include specialty tacos at Little Miner's Tacos, the Community Cocktail bar, DC Sweet Potato Cake and Redemption Coffee.
"My goal is to create the next restaurants in Prince George's County so that D.C. folks can run over to Prince George's County and give us some of that revenue," Richardson said.
You can find Savor at 3807 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, Maryland.
