AGENDA

• Welcome & Introductions
• Bill, Jessica, and Lindsey share their updated Downtown Restaurants Toolkit, and welcome discussion around this tool.
• Jessica facilitates discussion on The Next Supper, leading with discussion topics below.
• Jessica facilitates discussion on Next Steps and Updates from colleagues, businesses, and community partners.
• Closing Comments

DISCUSSION TOPICS

• The importance of supporting immigrant entrepreneurs in our communities & How to do so.
• Trends in the restaurant industry: customer preferences, employee experience, and “good” jobs.
• The “virtuous restaurant” — opportunities and critiques.
• Bring your discussion ideas as well! 

We are excited to share this book with our colleagues and community members!

The Next Supper by Corey Mintz is available to purchase online, and UW-Madison staff have access to the audio book through the UW-Madison Library.

Mintz raises some interesting and provocative questions that will be exciting to discuss with colleagues, restaurant owners, and community partners.

Mintz reminds us that while “14 percent of all US companies are founded by immigrants, in the restaurant field it’s nearly 30 percent.” Small business development is an important wealth creation strategy, especially for new immigrants and other marginalized groups; the question is how can we best support these food entrepreneurs to increase their success?

Mintz outlines the process through which a culinary artist becomes a chef, while criticizing the hierarchical nature of the kitchen and highlighting inequities and barriers to access to this elite space.

Mintz suggests a path toward ethical changes in the food system when he quotes: “There are plenty of towns where Wal-Mart is the only place to shop, and The Olive Garden is the only place to eat. So the difference we’re trying to make with ethical dining choices mostly happens at the margins. If people want to affect change, at some point, consumer choice needs to level up to policy action.”

Mintz writes, “If you learn one thing from this book, or put it down after reading this introduction, I hope it’s that the customer is not always right.”