Arepa Zone Takes Home Number One Spot at Launch Pad Competition

Last Sunday marked the second year of the Launch Pad culinary competition at Union Market’s roomy warehouse space, Dock 5. The contest seeks to identify a food concept with the most growth potential in the booming DC market.  Beyond bragging rights, the winner is given prime real estate space in food incubator Mess Hall located at Union Market.

Behind makeshift food counters, with the help from their teams, five finalists Bao Bros Bar, Arepa Zone, Half Smoke, Whisked! and Bene Ristorante worked feverishly to serve up a chance at victory while visitors casually moseyed from booth to booth trying a diverse range of their offerings from dainty kale quiches to hearty half smokes.

After sampling the featured fare, guests were invited to sit alongside an all star panel of judges to listen to the finalists pitch their concepts and business plans. Using stories, pictures and economic projections each contestant described their path and their hope for a promising culinary future.

While the judges deliberated, guests attempted to make room for a second round of samples from more local food vendors including Bullfrog Bagels and Ris. At the announcement of Arepa Zone as the winner co-owners Ari Arellano and Gabriela Febres cried and hugged their team.

Having been in business selling Venezuelan-inspired fare for over a year and a half with an existing operational kitchen and popular food truck, the judges recognized it to be the most feasible concept. The people’s choice award went to the Bao Bros Bar who brought high energy to the stage despite only getting two hours of sleep in preparation for the event.

Besides leaving with a buzz from sponsor’s signature cocktails, guests were showered with freebies including salty oatmeal and Nutella cookies from Whisked!, bottles from Capital Kombucha and covetable Moscow mule mugs from Pallini Limoncello. Although there could only be one winner, there were definitely no losers!