Ep 6. Movin' Out

In the sixth episode of Restaurant Startup season 2, titled "Movin' Out," investors Joe Bastianich and Tim Love are presented with two unique restaurant concepts hoping for funding and support. The first concept comes from a young mother, Jodi, who has been working in the restaurant industry for years and is now looking to start her own gastro pub that focuses on elevated pub fare and a unique beer selection. She hopes to call it "Jodi's Joint."

The second concept comes from two friends, Shola and Steven, who have been running a successful catering business for the past few years, and are now hoping to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Their concept, called "Studio Kitchen," is a unique twist on Asian fusion, featuring a mix of Japanese and Caribbean flavors.

After both concepts are presented and discussed, the investors then challenge each competitor to complete two tasks in 36 hours - one focused on the restaurant concept and one focused on marketing. The tasks for Jodi include creating a signature dish that showcases her gastro pub concept and creating a social media campaign that will attract younger customers. The challenges for Shola and Steven include creating a signature cocktail that complements their Asian fusion cuisine and designing a promotional video that will showcase their catering business.

At the end of the 36 hours, both teams present their completed tasks to the investors. Jodi presents her signature dish, a sausage and pepper grilled cheese sandwich served with homemade ketchup, along with a social media campaign utilizing hashtags and imagery to promote her gastro pub to a younger audience. Shola and Steven present their signature cocktail, a spiced rum punch, along with a promotional video showcasing their catering business and highlighting their passion for Asian fusion cuisine.

After deliberating, the investors ultimately decide to invest in Shola and Steven's concept, "Studio Kitchen," as they feel that the unique fusion of Japanese and Caribbean flavors has a lot of potential to appeal to a wide audience. They see the potential for "Studio Kitchen" to be successful not just as a restaurant but also as a catering business.

With the investment secured, Shola and Steven must now work with the investors to create a successful restaurant and catering business that can thrive in the competitive culinary industry. The episode ends with a look at how the newly-funded "Studio Kitchen" is faring after opening its doors to the public.

Overall, "Movin' Out" is a compelling episode that showcases the challenges of starting a new restaurant concept and the importance of marketing and promotion in the culinary industry. It highlights the creativity and innovation necessary to succeed as a restauranteur and the importance of having a strong concept that can stand out in a crowded market.